Gadgethead 1 6

MAGAZINE

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ISSUE 1 6

www.gadgetheadmag.com

Height Adjustable Desks

R6 Arkiv Field Pack

SPOT 3 Satellite Messenger

UK

ÂŁ4.95

INSPIRED BY YOUR SUCCESS

DriveStation™ Quad Direct Attached Storage USB 3.0

HD-QHU3/R5

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

tation Quad

Editor in Chief Daemon Sands daemonsands@littlegatepublishing.com Sales Director Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com Corporate Director Anthony Letchumaman anthonyl@littlegatepublishing.com Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com Editorial Team

● Alex Smith ● Alina Sandu ● Emma Hilling ● Marcus Sladden ● Steve Warman

● AnySharp 5-1 Scissors and The World’s Best Knife Sharpener ● Penclic B3 Bluetooth Mouse ● Adidas Ultra Boost ● Insteon LED Light Bulb and Hub Page 10

● On Running Cloud ● SPOT 3 Satellite Messenger ● Height Adjustable Desks ● Ball Coach Radar Page 20

● Pipewerx ● Polar M400 GPS Running Watch ● Cycliq Fly6 ● Jabra Solemate ● Runtastic Orbit ● Helinox Chair One, Ground Chair and Camp Table Page 30

● Minipresso ● Gaems Vanguard G190 ● Aurender Cast-Fi 7 ● R6 Arkiv Field Pack ● Mammut T Advanced GTX Men Page 40

Beat Buddy ● Peli 350QT Elite Cooler ● Keen Durand Mid Boots ● Crown Audio XLS1502 Amplifier ● Turn Signal Cycling Gloves ● iN-CAR CAM™ 402G Professional

HD-QHU3/R5

Gadgethead Magazine

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ANYSHARP 5-1 SCISSORS AND THE WORLD’S BEST KNIFE SHARPENER The 5-1 scissors are AnySharp’s answer to the Swiss Army Knife, but instead of having pointless nail files and letter openers they have useful things like tough hardened steel blades that can cut through blister packs and chicken bones, a bottle opener, nut cracker, garlic crusher and, perhaps not so necessary in the kitchen but always useful, wire cutters. It’s great to have all these products in one item the only thing that did worry me was using a sharp pointy object to open beer after already having a few beers but hey not everyone is as irresponsible as me. The blade is designed with a curve to keep your hand away from freshly cut edges and promotes a more comfortable position for your wrist. All the different

functions of the scissors work well but it’s the super tough scissors that are the best feature and as you can tighten the tension of these scissors they have a much longer life expectancy than regular scissors The World’s Best Knife Sharpener has a big claim for such a little thing and without testing every knife sharpener out there I could never say for certain that it’s a fact however having had experience in catering and limited experience in our own kitchen I can honestly say this is a good sharpener.

From when I first took it out of the box it felt and looked like a quality item, much more than I expected for the price. It has a suction cup that you fix to your kitchen counter allowing you

to keep your hands at a safe distance whilst using the sharpener. AnySharp have used tungsten carbide technology to bring dull edges back to life on almost any knife, it works on serrated edges and hardened steel blades so unlike most knife sharpeners you will only need this one for virtually all your blades. I only needed to run the blade through a couple of times to get the knife back to its original sharpness.

All in all two great little products that won’t leave you out of pocket but you will find yourself using over and over again.

Pros: • Value for money • Get the job done • Built to last Cons: • There are better products out there but not in this price range Star Rating

www.anysharp.com

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Pros: • Attractive • Comfortable • Simple to use • Battery life last up to 1 month Cons: • Not suitable off the desk • Takes some getting used too Star Rating

www.penclic.se

Penclic B3 Bluetooth Mouse My first impression of this mouse was how impressive the packaging was, it showcases that this mouse is different from the start. It comes with everything you need including its own little carry case for the commute. We love it when something has the term “Swedish design” in its description as it normally means it is creative in its design and takes a deviated step away from the traditional. Penclic completely redesigned the typical mouse by using a shape we are all familiar with and it immediately feels comfortable in the hand which in turn reduces the risk of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). It took me about a day to get used to it but after my brain had got over that hump it was fairly simple to use. I do like to use my netbook on my lap at times and I did find it difficult to use the mouse away from the desk as it was difficult to negotiate the Pen whilst the base was at an odd angle. Another issue, if I’m going to be picky, was because

the buttons are quite long I found I would occasionally “click” when I didn’t mean to “click” but I’m sure after more practise I would get used to this. The B3 is symmetrical which means it can be used by both left and right handers, it also has a wheel in between both buttons which also doubles as a middle click button. It connected easily to the Bluetooth on my netbook and because It connects via Bluetooth it means it is compatible with many different operating systems that support HID 1.1 (Windows XP or later, Mac OSX version 10.1 or later and most Linux/ BSD flavors). We only tested this mouse as an everyday tool but as there are options to change the DPI from 800-1600 that would suggest it could also be used for gaming.

Personally this wouldn’t replace a stylus for me as it hasn’t quite the same delicate control but it could be a great ergonomic replacement for a mouse especially for those suffering with RSI.

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ADIDAS ULTRA BOOST Pros: • Very Comfortable • No Upper Rub against your socks • Boost Technology softens your landing Cons: • Expensive (RRP £130) Star Rating

www.adidas.co.uk After having these shoes for about 4 months now I thought I would give them a review.

I’ll start first of all by saying they are the comfiest shoe I have ever run in, being a neutral gait runner I expected the shoes to be comfy because they are made for neutral runners but these blew the scale of comfiness!

Being made of Adidas Prime Knit you get a smooth upper without any rubbing against your socks (Which I get in most shoes during or after a long run!) I have never suffered from blisters in these shoes and it’s almost like wearing a slipper while you are running even wearing them for the first few times or races over 10 miles.

I’ve run about 250 miles in these

shoes and they are still fully intact with no wear or tear and the cushioning is second to none with Adidas Boost technology. I really feel the shoe working when I am doing speed work training or racing with a cadence of about 180 steps per minute. I have quite a heavy gait when running but I felt no heaviness wearing these shoes as the Boost technology softens your landing as if you’re running on thin air.

The shoe has a snug comfortable fit and stretches around your foot with the knitted upper, I’ve used this shoe for races ranging from 5k to half marathon and felt comfortable throughout.

Adidas boast that this is ‘The greatest running shoe ever’ and if you don’t mind the price tag of the shoe (RRP £130) they’re not far off.

If you want a light, comfortable and durable shoe for your long runs, speed work and races then this is definitely the shoe for you!

Insteon LED Light Bulb and Hub The internet of things has been rumoured to be taking over our lives for a few years now, yet it’s still tricky to explain what it means. Home automation is the most simple and visible way of referring to it – just imagine light bulbs knowing what time you come home and welcoming you with the light on! The future will be great!

In fact, it already is. Smart lights that connect to your wifi and that you control through compatible apps on your phone are now available even to those not looking to spend thousands.

The Insteon Light Bulb is a good introduction to what home automation can do for you without getting lost in options and features. A bright, warm colour, a timer, the ability to dim the light, all packed in a particularly good looking lightbulb make the Insteon good value for money.

The hub itself is a discreet white box that you can access remotely and that connects you to lights, wall switches outlets and thermostats, sending you emails and notifications triggered by motion, water leaks or smoke alarms

Pros: • Easy to set up • Cheaper than other brands Cons: • Only one colour • Clunky app Stars:

www.insteon.com

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On Running Cloud

I have run for many years however a few years ago I was almost crippled with agonizing shin splints and the only method I could find to fix them was to rest, and rest along time. On my return to running I read up about how to prevent these dreaded shins splints and my solution was to run barefoot which changes your gait to shorter and quicker with less stress on your shins. It worked for me and I continue this way of running however we are getting to the darker nights and sometimes you need to be shoed as you can’t see the obstacles to avoid. I have tried lots of Barefoot shoes and most are a marketing gimmick and rubbish. I have run several times in the ON cloud which are a neutral shoe. They look great, are incredibly light and have a wide toe area to let the toes spread out, essential for barefooters.

They have an ingenious sole which is very cushioning and replicates barefoot running so I can run and not worry about stones and dangers.

However there is a problem with the ON’s as they have a middle gap in the sole which runs from toe to heal, I can only assume it is there to look good but in reality it picks up just about every stone you run over. I find I have to stop often to remove stones from them or it’s as painful as running on shingle.

ON say that you can have the best of both worlds: cushioned landing, barefoot takeoff. Move freely as if barefoot, but protected from the shock of landing on the road and I have to agree they are a great shoe for barefoot runners however I do hope they change that gap in the sole.

Pros: • Very Light • Look Great • Wide Toe Area Cons: • Middle Gap Picks Up Stones Star Rating

www.on-running.com

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SPOT 3 SATELLITE MESSENGER The Spot Gen 3 is the newest model from the Spot Crew, who are building a name for themselves in the outdoor adventurer market with their satellite based personal locator beacons and communication devices.

I originally planned to take this with me to Singapore but as an inner ear problem got in the way I had to wait and test it out in the less exotic but still beautiful surroundings of North Wales, so I couldn’t go hunting for the Merlion but I could still frolic with the Sheep.

So before we talk about the functionality and my experience let’s talk about the appearance, It comes nicely packaged in a cardboard box - inside you will find the SPOT Gen3, Instructions, USB Cable, wrist strap and Carabiner. The SPOT Gen3 on first appearance looks like you can lob it from the top of Snowdon and it wouldn’t even show a scratch, made of orange plastic and black rubber it fits perfectly in the palm of your hand.

There are six buttons on the device, you will find the power button on the left hand side and there are five function buttons on the front – SOS, Help/SPOT Assist, Tracking, Custom

Message and Check in. All buttons are labelled with self-explanatory labels and come with corresponding LED’s to show their status. On the back of the device there is a USB port which is covered by a rubber protector, you can either charge it with this or run it off four AAA batteries.

Now the main use of this device for me would be if I went trekking alone somewhere I can let the other half know I am ok and set her mind at rest – you can do this via the check in button which will send a text message or email to your loved ones to let them know you are safe. However as the other half went with me I used this to let the mother know our whereabouts and plot our journey which she found fun via the Tracking button – very similar to when you have friends and family running the London Marathon you can track their course and plot roughly when they will finish. The Tracking Button records your location over 5, 10, 30 or 60 minute intervals via Google Maps, I can record this while people who are interested can follow. I also preset a custom message on SPOT’s website simply stating “We have Made it!”,

which sent as we reached the summit and was sent simply by pressing the message button.

The other two buttons are purely for emergencies and were actually deactivated during my demo period, the SOS button when pressed will send a signal and location to the GIERCC who will contact the nearest emergency services to rescue you – so no prank calls! The other button is Help

which sends a message and location to a telephone number of your choice.

To Summarise I am now going to buy one of these as when I go off on my own it does unsettle my partner and for her to know I have this on me will relax her and in turn relax me. The RRP is £159.95 for the device but you will also have to pay for the yearly plan to accompany it, check it out here..

Pros: • Strong durable design.

• Easy to use • Tracks well Cons: • Cost of year plan (bit pricey) Star Rating

www.findmespot.com

Gadgethead Magazine

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heightadjustabledesks.com 01823 668 429 info@heightadjustabledesks.com

Height Adjustable Desks I am curious when it comes to health. I have been a runner for several years and I have run marathons and train at least three times a week. I also cycle and walk lots to try to keep fit, however, I feel the biggest Achilles heel to this is the fact that I work in an office and sit for the majority of the day, so any activity I do is battling against this enforced sitting.

I have suffered with the usual activity injuries such as a bad stress fracture, known as shin splints, when I increased my running to harder and further, the result was pain and rest. I put this down to my legs being too weak and not used enough and then suddenly I want them to run a faster 10 miles!! Something gave and it was the shins.

A friend of mine has been training hard for an important triathlon and slipped off his bicycle and broke vertebrae in his back. The result was a back brace and loads of time off work. On his return, he ordered a standing desk, based on his doctor’s advice. I have spoken to him about his standing desk and he waxes lyrical about the benefits for his legs and core. I decided I wanted to try one.

I thought initially it was a bit of a gimmick, but hey I love gimmicks. I run barefoot as I believe it strengthens your legs and is more natural, but other people

Gadgethead Magazine

15

think I am mad. However, my legs have never felt stronger and I haven’t had any return of the dreaded shin splints.

Gimmick or not, the standing desk does have a history and was very popular for the upper classes back in the 18th and 19th century and people such as Ernest Hemmingway and Charles Dickens produced their best works on one. Winston Churchill, Leonardo De Vinci and Napoleon Bonaparte also used them, so I am in good company.

In Scandinavia it is estimated that 90% of office workers have the use of a standing desk and the UN announced this as the happiest place in the world.

It can’t be a coincidence can it?

Let’s face it, humans aren’t designed to sit all day. Apparently, the average office worker sits for around nine of their waking hours and that is a huge percentage. It is believed that this non-activity has an enormous impact on health, increasing diabetes, obesity and even cancer. Standing, pacing and general movement has to be a more natural default position.

So our friends in the business at heightadjustabledesks.com have given us one of their flagship models for me to use and test. I have the E:Lift Transition and it is a beautifully heavy piece of equipment that you can lean against, with no fear of movement.

It has a black top without cable port holes, but with a cable tray. It measures an impressive 1400mm wide x 800mm deep and I love the look of it.

It also has an electrically operated height adjuster, so if your legs get tired you can draw up a chair and used it as a normal desk. I rarely do this though, as my legs don’t get too tired.

I seem to suffer less from writer’s block at this desk, as I find I am constantly moving and repositioning.

This has to increase blood flow and I like to think some of that went to my poor overused brain. I have even noticed I am using a notch less on my belt and I am sure my core is stronger.

The mechanics that this desk uses are top notch thanks to the Piezo Anti Collision Technology and this is confirmed by not only the smoothness of the movement but the five year warranty that comes as standard.

Is sitting all day at a desk going to be the new smoking issue? Are we suddenly going to be aware of just how much harm we are doing to our bodies?

I would love for the UK to adopt Scandinavia’s attitude to standing desks and make them the mainstream desk of choice.

We will do follow up reports on this as I genuinely feel a change in our fitness on the whole is necessary.

Height Range

625mm to 1275mm

Available Top Depths

600 / 800 mm

Available Top Widths Rectangular

800 / 1000 / 1200 / 1400 / 1600 / 1800 mm

Corner

1400 / 1600 / 1800 x 1200 mm

Wave

1400 / 1600 / 1800 mm

Cable Tray in Silver Finish

1000mm, 1300mm or 1600mm

Top Options

Beech, Maple, Oak, White, Black, Grey, Walnut

Veneer Finishes POA

Maximum Load

145kg nom

Frame Finish

Silver / Grey RAL 9006

Twin Actuators

2 No 3 Part Chain Driven Actuators

Crossbar

No Crossbar for Ease of Access

Switch

Soft Touch Press Button Up / Down

Maximum Speed

38mm per sec

Anti Collision

Piezo Hard Surface

Sound Level

Low Noise

Castors

Optional

Levellers

Included.

Battery Control

Optional Retro Fit if Required

Memory Control 3 Position

Optional. Retro Fit if Required

Desk Control Fitness Software

Optional Retro Fit if Required

Wellness Switch

Optional Retro Fit if Required

Remote Control

Optional Retro Fit if Required

Parallel Drive

Optional up to 16 Columns

Guarantee

5 Years Parts Only inc Electrical Components

Delivery

Pre-Built Delivery included (Delivery Terms Apply)

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BALL COACH RADAR If you are serious about your golf, tennis or cricket you may have used a Doppler gun at some point to measure the speed of your ball. The Ball Coach Radar is a discrete piece of equipment that automatically give you the fastest speed for the ball in a very simple to use way.

Simply hold the button down before the balls in flight and let go of the trigger once the speed is displayed on the screen. The Ball Coach measures from 25 mph to 130 mph and up to 120 feet of range. The accuracy of this little thing is sharp enough to rival the larger hand held guns (like the ones that get you speeding tickets in your car).

It claims to be accurate to the nearest mile and we haven’t found anything to dispute this. One thing I would like to see in the future is an app that can run alongside this tool that can collect all your data so you can look as you progress over the weeks and months because as it stands it can only hold the last 25 readings.

The great thing about the Ball Coach is you don’t need to use a timer or press anything to measure the ball, if you set it to Constant Use it will trigger automatically which means with a tripod you can measure your speed whilst practising by yourself. It comes

with a smart case that you can attach to your belt and a wrist strap.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow the only accessory you may wish to purchase is a tripod.

Ideal for individual use or coaching.

The biggest downside for me is the price (RRP $299.99), this is a very accurate piece of equipment but it is not without rivals but if you are looking for a professional measurement and money is no problem then this could be the training accessory for you.

Pros: • Very Accurate • Easy to Use Cons: • I would want it to be able to record more data • On the Expensive Side Star rating

www.pocketradar.com

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Pipewerx.com bikes@pipewerx.com 01704 89 52 52

Pipewerx

I have owned many motorbikes over the years and throughout this time I have had some realisations about the unsaid rules of owning one.

Firstly, always buy the best you can because you get what you pay for and cheap is always rubbish. Secondly, always nod to other riders even if they don’t nod back, thirdly, get yourself on courses to keep yourself sharp and lastly get a nice, louder than standard, exhaust to be safe.

All of my bikes have had after market cans and one of the most memorable was a Honda Fireblade with an exhaust from Pipewerx. It made the Blade sound beautiful throughout the whole rev range and stood out with the distinctive X in the outflow. This has always been one of my favourites as I love a bit of branding in my outflow pipes.

Imagine my delight when Pipewerx agreed for GadgetHead magazine to test their latest offering, a new exhaust that hadn’t even been released yet.

Allow me to introduce to you the Titanium Tri-Oval R11 street legal exhaust. This pipe is a quality piece of workmanship from the boys in Lancashire who have been producing Street Legal or Race cans with a lifetime guarantee since 2006.

Exclusively, the Pipe is so new that these are the first pictures of it.

The official launch date for the R11 outlet will be at on the 28th November at the Motorcycle Live Show at the NEC so this is an exclusive for all you petrol heads. The 1st cans are being used in the BSB Superstock.

We will be writing a follow on piece with a full review and video in the winter/Spring when the pipe is fitted so you will see and hear it in all its glory!

The R11 Ti Tri-Oval’s are a steal at just £300.

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Polar M400 GPS Running Watch I would consider the Polar brand to be one of the entry level prices for running watches and I was excited to see what you got for your money and could they really compete with the likes of Garmin and TomTom. The Polar M400 won the gold ISPO award for 2015/16, which is a yearly award for the most exceptional sporting goods, so I hoped so.

My first impressions is that it looks and feels really good. The buttons are

large and the scrolling really simple to use. It comes with a chest strap which tends to be more accurate than the built in optical heart rate (OHR) however I didn’t find the chest strap uncomfortable as to other reviews I have seen. The heart rate tracking has built in accelerometers to keep tabs on indoor runs too. There are further features like heart rate zone training and interval session programs.

The Polar M400 is a Waterproof

GPS running watch with 24/7 activity tracking and has been developed for runners who want a comfortable and durable running watch with sporty design and advanced GPS and training features. You can track and record your runs as well as your other exercise, monitoring your performance accurately.

The Polar Flow web service gives: • Planning and in-depth analysis of training • Track pace, distance and altitude with the built-in GPS • Follow your 24/7 activity, calories and steps • Plan, sync and share your training with Polar Flow mobile app and web service • Set targets to beat your personal best • Polar Flow mobile app • Syncs automatically and displays training data instantly • Find your way back home with Back to Start • Train at the right intensity within your personal heart rate zones • Supports smart notifications: receive alerts and notifications from your phone to your training computer (iOS only) • Track your total calorie intake and expenditure by connecting with MyFitnessPal app (iOS only) The M400 is available in black, white, pink and blue.

Pros: This watch will do everything that • Easy to Use the majority of runners would need and • Waterproof expect from a running watch however • Reasonable Priced I don’t see many of them at my running club so I will be promoting this with. It doesn’t have to be all about Garmin, FitBit and TomTom you can save a load of money and have an equally capable watch from Polar.

I like being a bit different and really like the fact I have a different watch to talk about with fellow runners.

Star Rating

www.polar.com

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CYCLIQ FLY6

It is becoming increasing popular for people to have cameras mounted in their cars as a fool proof record of any incidents they have whilst out on the road. So it seems only logical that this trend spreads to the most vulnerable road users, cyclists. We have probably all seen the Facebook video of a very irate motorist chasing after a cyclist only to trip up over his own feet and fall on his face, Golden moments like that would be missed if it wasn’t for a rear-facing camera. The Fly6 isn’t just an HD camera but a rear light to boot and although it possibly isn’t part of the design, I like the fact that it is instantly distinguishable as a camera. Maybe it’s the undercover agent in me but I feel if I did have a mishap and the perpetrator wasn’t aware they were being filmed it maybe more likely to confess to being responsible to the accident. The Fly6 isn’t just about protecting yourself

from the dangers of the road but also about capturing the pleasurable side to cycling with 720p video, audio recording, 6 hours battery life and an 8GB SD card included in the price you can use it straight from the box and enjoy watching your journey back once you have transferred your bum to a more comfortable seat, its especially good for club rides and scenic journeys.

The camera also boasts a 100-degree lens angle and 30 frames per second which produces a clear enough picture to capture license plates as well as a time stamp on the picture. The light itself has a 30-lumen LED with flashing, steady, and variable brightness modes to keep you visible. It comes with all the straps you could possibly need to attach it to your seat-post the downside to this is there is no option to mount it elsewhere so if you have any packs on

Pros: • Good Battery life • Clear Picture and easy to use Cons: • Can only be mounted on the seat post Star rating

www.cycliq.com the back it may block the view. There is no fear of failing to capture something due to lack of memory as it will rewrite previous footage by filming in a continuous loop, I would recommend however upgrading the SD card to a 32GB (the maximum that is compatible with the Fly6) which will fit the entire 6 hour battery life without over lapping.

Another tip is to not attempt to use this without mud guards! Although it is weatherproof it won’t take long for the lens to get covered in muck rendering the camera useless. Sometimes combining two different functions into one product can result in a compromise in quality but this is not the case where the Cycliq Fly6 is concerned, it’s a product that is still being developed and is now on its second generation and I am excited to see how far Cycliq can take this design.

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Jabra Solemate Bluetooth speakers are everywhere at the moment and we have had our fair share arrive into GadgetHead to test, this was definitely one of the better packaged ones though and that is something that has always impressed me with Jabra as a brand.

The Jabra Solemate is right up my street as it is small and packs a real punch which as I mainly tested this outside is a big selling point. It’s well designed and tough with three really powerful front facing speakers. The battery life is really good offering 8 hours continuous play and the one I tested was closer to 9 hours which is more than enough to have constant music for your day on the beach.

It comes in a nice durable bag so you can take your Solemate anywhere with its robust design and it is even dust and splash resistant, so feel free to take it on the beach with no worries of damage.

The sound is obviously very important from a Bluetooth speaker.

It gives strong, deep bass from an integrated subwoofer and rich acoustics from dual tweeters.

The SRP at launch over a year ago was £149, but shop around and you can find it for around £65 which is an absolute bargain.

Pros: • Good Battery Life • Reasonably priced • Nice Design • Good Sound Star Rating

www.jabra.co.uk

RUNTASTIC ORBIT Fitness and wellbeing is a billiondollar business and there are many trackers that can help you monitor your whole daily routine.

Runtastic Orbit is a tactile wrist band that covers all eventualities. It gives you a 24 hour activity, fitness and sleep tracker. You can monitor your daily activities, learn more about your sleep habits and set personal goals.

The Orbit provides information about your steps and distance covered, your calories burned, your sleep duration and cycles. I was stunned at the small amount of sleep I survive on and the low quality of it, no wonder I am a grumpy old git!

Orbit also boasts time and alarm modes, so you can do away with your old boring wrist watch!

It has a long-lasting battery and wireless feature via Bluetooth as well as the fact that it’s waterproof up to 100m/300ft. The Orbit is the perfect device for round-the-clock tracking.

Orbit includes two wristbands (Blue and Black), as well as a clip in Black.

Pros: • Long Battery Life • Waterproof up to 100m Star Rating 4

www.runtastic.com

HELINOX CHAIR ONE, GROUND CHAIR AND CAMP TABLE The initial reaction when my partner presented me the Helinox Chair One was that’s not going to take my weight.

Now I am not particularly heavy but the thing was so light I was a little dubious as to how strong it was, I rather tentatively lowered myself into the seat and was pleasantly surprised at how stable it felt. I needn’t have worried either as the Chair One claims to be able to support up to 22 stone thanks to the specifically developed light weight alloy poles. The whole chair packs down into a bag the size of a man’s trainer (35 cm long X 10 cm wide X 12 cm high) and takes seconds to put together with self-locating shock cord technology snapping the poles into place almost by itself. It passed on all the comfort tests, you can lean back in it and rest your back, there aren’t any arm rests but I didn’t find myself missing them and its low enough to use the ground (30cm) as a cup holder.

The Ground Chair is even more compact at 30 cm long x 9 cm wide x 10 cm high and only 12cm from the ground. Its capacity is slightly less taking up to 18 stone. It’s the same bucket shape as the Chair One and is reasonably comfortable. I did have an

issue with this chair but I feel it was mostly down to user error, If I leant over to grab something it wouldn’t take a lot for it to tip over completely, resulting in the sentence, “has she fallen out of her chair again”, being used rather more than often than I would have preferred, I must point out my partner didn’t have this problem which makes me think it has more to do with me being a fidget bum. Although this chair is perfect for hiking, camping, fishing or cycling Helinox does not claim it to be “beach ready” and it turns out is doesn’t fair too well on sand. As the joints where the poles fit together sit directly on the sand, they got clogged up and it became difficult to pull the poles out to pack it down again.

We were really excited to test out the Camp Table as we haven’t seen anything like this before. In the true Helinox style it is light, weighing in at roughly the same amount as two cups of tea and uses the same technology in their poles so the whole thing snaps together easily. They have used a mesh that stretches tightly over the frame to create the table top. It isn’t as stable as a hard top table but it gives it a good run for its money and it obviously much

more portable, it also hosts two cup holders to help keep everything steady.

It is designed to go perfectly with the Chair One as its 38cm off the ground and you can keep your speakers, phone camera etc of the damp ground.

So to round up here we have fallen a little bit in love with Helinox, they are state-of-the-art designed products which are truly aimed at reducing the pack weight of any adventure and takes out any possible stress you could face in the assembly process. Helinox also produce a Swivel Chair, (perfect for sports events or bird watching), a Camp Chair, (Chair Ones big brother), and the Sunset Chair, (a full height recliner with head rest) plus camp beds, trekking poles and even a brolly all using there innovative designs. The only downside is that they are at the higher end of the market and maybe out of some peoples price range but you get what you pay for and it is well worth scraping your pennies together for.

Pros: • Light weight • Portable • Comfortable (chairs) • Sturdy • Easy to use • Durable Con: • Might be out of some people’s price range Star rating One Chair

Ground Chair

Camp Table

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Minipresso Last month we reviewed the Handpresso as a standalone product and I have just got my hands on the Minipresso GR by Wacaco, so for this review I will be playing them off against each other.

Both are attractive pieces of kit with the Minipresso being slightly smaller and compact, although I felt the Handpresso came in much better packaging – the price of the Handpresso is £73 against the lower price of the £48 Minipresso.

The proof is in the pudding as they say and what I want to find out is which makes the better coffee, I used the same ground coffee in both, the first differences to be seen here are when packing the coffee in the Portafilter with the Handpresso I needed to invest in a Tamper but with the Minipresso the back of the scoop works as a Tamper itself. Point one to Minipresso.

Before adding the coffee and hot water to the Handpresso you need to pump up the device to build up the pressure, with the Minipresso you add the coffee and hot water and then start pumping. You then continue pumping

the Minipresso and a few seconds later the expresso will be dispensed and you just keep pumping until it’s all been released, with the Handpresso you release the pressure valve and it then just poured out, I prefer the action of the Handpresso on this one. Point one to Handpresso.

Looking at the appearance of both espresso’s made the Minipresso’s looked a lot more like what I make at home then the Handpresso which looked watery. Upon taste I tried the Handpresso’s first it tasted fine but lacking in crema, I then tried the Minipresso’s and was amazed at the quality in tasted rich and smooth I was very impressed – point two and the most important point to Minipresso.

If I had to advise which product to choose hands down it would be the Minipresso, cheaper than the price of the Handpresso and it produces an amazing cup of espresso, the only negative I have for them is just to improve on the packaging – other than that loved it!!

Pros: • Makes Great Coffee • Very reasonably priced Star Rating

www.thefowndry.com/ products/minipresso-portableespresso-maker

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GAEMS VANGUARD G190 Gaems has filled a gap in the market here and created a portable personal gaming environment or basically a secure house for your console with an inbuilt screen to allow you to play anywhere as long as there is a plug socket to hand although it is possible to run it in a car with the appropriate adaptor. It is compatible with HDMI however anything with only a component cable will not be able to run with this device, it has two inputs for headphones, headsets or speakers. It comes with a small remote although I’m not sure how necessary this is as with a 19 LCD screen you won’t be sitting across the room from it but it’s a nice touch. If you plan on taking this with you abroad the Gaems website claims it is TSA friendly meaning you shouldn’t have any trouble getting it though

airport security as hand luggage but strangely it comes with a sticker set with enough provocative images on it to land you in a room bent over with the sound of latex gloves snapped into place behind you so perhaps it’s not a sensible idea to adorn your Vanguard with bombs, grenades and biohazard symbols before trying to hop on a plane. Inside the case you can store your battery pack, controllers and games in protected bags and there is a special piece of foam to protect the screen from you gaming essentials.

It’s compatible with all types of Xbox as long it has an HDMI lead, the PS3 Slim (the old PS3 is too heavy and could break the screen) and PS4. The monitor is 720p resolution, similar to a tablet which you can enjoy watching

movies on as well as gaming, it’s not a mind blowing picture but it does the job good enough but I may cause a few issues if you try forcing 1080p through it, aside from that is has an excellent response time. The speakers produce a good sound too but you can always attach you own speaker if needed. As well as being a good portable piece it also has its uses in the home, for example if you can’t agree with your partner on to weather to watch TV or play a game but would prefer to stay in the same room this is ideal, also if you your mates get one of these you can gather together and 2v2 or 4v4 in the same spot. All in all a great idea for a serious gamer.

Pros: • Strong • Reasonably priced • Good picture quality • Excellent response time Cons: • Provocative stickers • HDMI only Star Rating

www.gaemspge.com

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Pros: • Innovative in filling a need • Good sound • Good Picture Cons: • Only Mains Powered Star Rating

www.aurender.com

Aurender Cast-Fi 7 I have reviewed many tablets, I have reviewed many Bluetooth speakers – but the Aurender Cast-FI 7 is the first product I have reviewed that can act as both and do it well.

I have a Bluetooth Speaker that lives in my Kitchen at all times, whether I am washing up, cooking or simply busting a groove I do get my monies worth from it. The Aurender Cast-Fi 7 can work as a Bluetooth speaker with its 24W Power but with its 7 inch 1024 x 600 HD LCD Touchscreen it can cross the

threshold as an all in one media device.

In order to get the best out of the Aurender Cast-Fi 7’s LCD you need to own a media device such as a Chromecast Dongle, Roku Streaming Stick or an Amazon Fire TV Stick. The negatives of this is it isn’t as flexible as an iPad or Nexus with the ever growing array of apps but the positives are the quality of video you are streaming is much higher. To test it out I stuck on Die Hard, the picture quality was very good and the sound quality which is

powered by a bi-amped one inch tweeter and three inch woofer delivered a really crisp and punch sound and handled the explosions very well.

The device is easily portable weighing in at 8 lbs although it will only run through the mains, I think this is definitely an area they can work on as bringing this camping would be great. It comes with a remote control, which is a nice touch but only really adds to the audio side of things as if you are changing the movie from the other side of the room you will not really tell from the 7 inch screen.

I found myself using this a lot in the kitchen particularly for getting recipes from Youtube it was very handy and there is definitely a place in the market for this with an rrp of ÂŁ185, so to summarise I really enjoyed the product and it delivered both good sound and visual however I think upgrades need to be made allowing it to be powered by battery opening it up for the outdoor market.

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R6 ARKIV FIELD PACK

Working at GadgetHead there is a tendency to form a rather extreme addiction to innovative products, I am also the sort of person who feels everything should have a place. Being prepared perhaps isn’t one of the cooler traits someone could possess but I must admit when I saw what Mission Workshop had created it excited the organiser in me.

Not only do I feel like I can design this bag myself there is a pocket or pouch accessory for nearly everything. Starting with the basic R6 shell we have a choice of 20L or 40L before we start adding on the extras.

There is one small external pocket, the main body of the bag that can be extended by rolling the top of the bag up and a separate internal pocket that could house up to a 15” laptop. Just because your laptop could fit in there doesn’t mean it should however as aside from the padding to protect your back there isn’t any at the bottom and I can see myself dumping my bag on the table only to wince as I remember my laptop is in there. Do not fear however as there is an add-on for

that which I will get too later. All the components are fully weather proof and features urethane-coated YKK zips with an internal frame sheet. The patented Arkiv Modular System is what makes this bag distinctive, as it has what I can only describe as “rails” on the exterior of that you can slide and secure additional storage pockets too. There are currently 10 different accessories for the R6 that you can mix and match to customise your bag for any need, these include a laptop bag, the Folio, a vertical pocket (perfect for water bottles) and Internal Tool Roll.

There is also an additional strap so you can convert the smaller accessories into individual bags. The rails are strong and secure so it can take a good deal of weight and there is no worry of somebody removing anything without you noticing on the commute. This bag is perfect for people who need to switch their cargo regularly whilst still being able to keep things stored, ready to be attached when needed, what this bag isn’t good for however is poor people. The R6 body costs roughly £140 before you get your extras. If you want the waxed canvas (personally

I would as it looks nice) you will have to pay extra for the pleasure.

The accessories range from around £15-£57 nevertheless this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the money as not only is it a strongly constructed item but you could potentially use this bag for office work, manual work, hiking, holidays or daytrips so the initial cost could be worthwhile as it is quite possible you would never need another bag again.

Pros: • Weather Proof • 10 accessories to allow for a bespoke design • Bag for all seasons and occasions Cons: • Expensive (RRP £140) Star Rating

missionworkshop.com

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Pros: • Light and Comfortable • Reasonably priced Star Rating

www.mammut.ch

MAMMUT T ADVANCED GTX MEN Last month I went trekking in Snowdonia and was given the opportunity to try out my first pair of Mammut Hiking Boots the Mammut T Advanced GTX Men. I received them the day before I was to drive up to Snowdonia, so there was going to be no bedding in time with these they were going to be thrown straight into the deep end!

First thing when putting the boot on is you notice how light they are considering they are mountain ready, they have cushioning memo foam so feel more like slippers then Hiking Boots and also have a Base Fit lacing system which secures your foot in the boot which Mammut say is to ensure comfort and blister free walking.

We ascending up the Miners’ Track from Pen-y-Pass which starts off with a very gradual incline until you reach the rather steep climb at the end, for the gradual hike the boots fared really well – the lightness of the boot made the hike fun and I was enjoying the amazing scenery. Upon the climb the test really started, getting a little

overconfident I started skipping over the rocks and where normally I should have turned my ankle – the boot did save me, this would be the integrated Mammut rolling concept.

We climbed up a waterfall for lunch and although the rocks were very slippy, the boots along with very cautious steps (previous slip fresh in the memory) held me in firm stead – it took us 3 hours to reach the peak and eat a well-deserved sandwich and rather than catch the train down we decided to descend down the Pyg Track which I found was easier but less spectacular then the Miners’ Track we ascended on.

The next day we went on a smaller trek to Aber Falls, my feet weren’t blistered from the day before although they ached a little which is to be expected from a six hour hike. I am very impressed with the Mammut T Advanced GTX and would be interested in testing out more products of theirs in the future, the rrp of these are £155 which I feel is a good price for what you get.

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BEAT BUDDY Calling all budding guitarists we have something brilliant here for you.

The Beat Buddy is the first Pedal Drum Machine that gives you all the fun of a Drum Machine with the simplicity and ease of use of a pedal, now it is here it seems obvious that this is what the market has been missing. It comes with 200 songs already installed in 21 different genres including some you may not expect like techno, Hip-Hop and Salsa and 10 different drum sets also including some unusual ones like hand drum, voice drum and electronic ethereal. The Beat Buddy gives you full control over beats, fills, transitions and accents, it has dials for drum set, volume and tempo, and there is also a smart little function where you tap in the tempo physically with your finger.

They have kept things user friendly by displaying the beat as a visual metronome across the screen in real time allowing you to learn new time signatures and practice keeping your rhythm and the beat will always land on time so you don’t need to worry about hitting the pedal on the beat. The colour coding display tells you where the song is, for example, transitioning, in the main loop or in intro or outro and just adds to the ease of use so rather than being a distraction it just allows you to lose yourself in the music. They have won awards for the sound quality and you really can’t fault it, the standard drum machine sounds, tinny synthetic drum beats, really can’t compete with the sound of the non-quantized beats

from recordings of real drummers.

There are infinite songs out there to play with by downloading more songs from the online Beat Buddy Library or by using the inclusive software you can create your own. We had so much fun jamming with this little gem and by simply tapping or holding the pedal you can move through the song, I love how much freedom it gives you to be creative whether you are practicing, jamming alone or with mates, recording or even performing. I have focused on using this with a guitar as it is the only instrument I can play but there is nothing stopping you experimenting with different instruments. In one word, fun! In three words, so much fun!

Pros: • Realistic sound • Simple user interface • Endless drum beat possibilities • Good build quality Cons: • No battery power option • No option for songs to play though without triggering each stage Star Rating 4.7

www.mybeatbuddy.com

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Pros: • Actually Works • 10 Day Ice Retention • Guaranteed for Life • Well Designed Handles for Easy Transport Cons: • None I Found Star Rating 5.0

www.pelican.com

Peli 350QT Elite Cooler My family and I camp a lot through the year. I find camping to be an escape from the pressures and stresses of day to day life, but we always experience the same problem and that is my wife hates warm milk*!

I have searched high and low for cool boxes that actually do what they are designed to do, I don’t care if they can charge my devices or have Netflix – I just want them to keep stuff chilled! Generally, they all look very similar and all have the annoying knack of being useless warming up very quickly and ruining the wife’s glass of milk.

I tasked one of our reviewers to find the very best of the best and wow, they found me the Peli 350QT Elite cooler.

This is a quality item, well made and heavy. They claim that it has up to 10 day’s ice retention which I cannot confirm but it certainly kept the milk for the 5 days we were away.

It has clever rotating handles that tuck neatly away and then can swing over to make carrying easier as well as a molded in lock with a stainless steel plate so you can padlock it to avoid your milk being stolen.

And get this it is Guaranteed for life so you know it is top notch, so would I recommend this cooler, most definitely as it is the only one I have ever used that really works!

*Please replace Milk for Wine.

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KEEN DURAND MID BOOTS These are indisputably the most comfortable hiking boots I have ever worn. After six hours in Snowdonia there was no rubbing around the toes, no bruising from the ankle support, my feet were warm and dry. I took the rather risky decision of wearing these straight from the box on this particular hike as I had heard good things and took the leap of faith, they did not let me down. These European made boots use a PU blended midsole and a dual compound rubber outsole, which for the wearer means good shockabsorption and minimal compression.

Where 1 million steps could compress a boots sole by 50% this material should only compresses by 3%, the result being your boots will remain comfortable and responsive throughout. This doesn’t mean that these boots are dense clumpy things they are actually quite light on the foot. I found there was a perfect balance of room around my toes and hold around the ankle, flexibility in the sole and sturdy support and the sole wraps up and over the toes to

give them extra protection. My walking partner slipped at least 5 times on the descent but these boots have excellent traction and gave me confidence, I even walked over some slimy rocks to get to a waterfall and they thankfully kept me upright. If I am going to be ultra-critical I found the cushioned tongue got in the way a bit whilst doing the laces up tight but perhaps without this extra padding there would be some rubbing. Either way I had to battle with it a little bit but once the laces were done up everything was comfortable and stayed put. I put them to the test by deliberately splashing through puddles and stomping through marsh land and KEEN’s waterproof Nubuck leather & breathable mesh proved to be quite reliable and I had dry socks at the end of my trip. If I had to sum up these shoes in one word it would be comfortable. These are a great all round below snowline hiking boot that allows you to forget about feet and truly enjoy whatever adventure you are embarking on.

Pros: • Very Comfortable • Light yet Durable • Will Keep you Dry Cons: • Tongue can get in the way when doing laces Star Rating

www.keenfootwear.com

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Crown Audio XLS1502 Amplifier

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when trying out the XLS1502 from Crown Audio but with an rrp of $399 I was very pleasantly surprised!

Crown Audio released their new XLS DriveCore 2 Series in August 2015 bringing out four new models the XLS 2502 (775W), XLS 2002 (650W), XLS 1502 (525W) and the XLS 1002 (350W). They all incorporate Crown’s Proprietary DriveCore™ Class D amplifier design, which is the size of a postage stamp yet combines the amplifier driver stage into the power output stage along with additional audiosignal functions to provide remarkably efficient, cool-running operation that conforms to HARMAN International’s GreenEdge™ environmental initiative.

Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers can power 8- 4- or 2-ohm loads and can be bridged for 8- or 4-ohm mono operation. Additional features include Peakx™ limiters that deliver maximum output while protecting the speakers; balanced XLR, 1/4-inch and RCA inputs; touchproof binding post and Speakon® outputs and more. All Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amps are covered by a three-year, no-fault fully transferrable warranty.

Crown XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers now offer a bandpass filter on each channel in addition to the previous low and high pass filters, enabling more precise DSP crossover tuning, loudspeaker matching and system EQ capability. All models allow the front-panel LED indicators (except the clip and thermal indicators) to be turned off if desired, reducing distraction in dark venues. All the amplifiers have selectable input sensitivity of either 1.4 Vrms or .775 Vrms, facilitating their use in a wider variety of applications and enabling the amplifiers to be driven at full power.

XLS DriveCore 2 amplifiers now offer a sleep mode trigger function, to turn the amp on and off from a distance. The amplifiers also feature a display sleep mode that turns the display lighting off after a specified time. All models provide a security setting that disables the front-panel menu buttons; the menu is locked and unlocked by entering a simple button combination. In addition, a system reset function enables all factory settings to be restored.

The front panel is very sleek and simplistic and the LCD provides good interaction allowing you to easily navigate around the systems and it’s just 2U rack spaces high which is the same for each model. I ran this through my Denon Pre Amp and found the Bass range to be excellent handling Alice in Chains and Metallica very nicely, mid range was good too but I found the upper lacking at points. For the price of this I am very impressed and it certainly packs a punch, it took about 200 hours to really settle in for me and reach its peak sound. I keep going back to the price as I can’t believe how cheap it is, I have tested amps four times the price that haven’t been as good - hope to try out more Crown Audio equipment soon!

Pros: • Very Good Price • Great Bass and Mid Range • Three Year Warranty Cons: • Upper Range Not Fantastic Star rating 4

www.crownaudio.com

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Turn Signal Cycling Gloves Cycling is becoming a huge past time and many have joined the millions who enjoy social rides to races. I am amongst this new cycling fraternity and I am constantly amazed that there are so many accessories for this way of life, I am always interested in those products that combine practicality with safety.

The Zackees’ award-winning Turn Signal Gloves look like any ordinary fingerless cycle glove with all the padding in the right places. They are comfortable and look good and have a safety innovation twist for cyclists.

Simply press your thumb to your index finger to activate your LED blinker.

Â

Designed in California by a former Google Engineer, Zackees Turn Signal Gloves make it easy to communicate with cars.

So when turning and indicating following traffic of your intention we all lift our arms and assume we are seen. By touching your thumb and finger together the back of the glove illuminates an arrow pointing the way we intend to go. They are really bright and because other road users are not used to seeing anything like this they will grab the attention of everybody around you.

Pros: • Comfortable • Simple to Use Star Rating

zackees.com

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Pros: • Looks Great • Technology State of the Art Star rating 4.5

www.nextbase.co.uk

IN-CAR CAM™ 402G PROFESSIONAL Where there’s blame there’s a claim is an overused statement and very much the world we live in today.

The Nextbase InCarCam is a dash cam which is a small, windscreen mounted in-car camera recording everything in front of the driver. It can be a motorist’s independent witness when involved in an accident, while also saving motorists money on their insurance.

I have an example of where I wished I had a dash cam. My wife was putting our young child into his rear seat with the door slightly a jar in front of his school. The road is wide enough for parked cars and two rows of moving traffic. A bus went past her when the road was clear however came so close to our car that he removed the door with the front of his bus. We had numerous witnesses and the bus driver was adamant it was his mistake and thankfully no one was hurt. Even the police came and took statements.

An easy insurance claim you would think but no. The bus driver got back to his depot and changed his story saying we had opened the door onto him. Even with witness’s statements

were not used as his insurers said they had to be ignored as their kids also went to the same school and we might have known them.

A dash cam would have eliminated this issue as it is nobodies word against the other it is a video, an independent witness.

The Nextbase InCarCam records on a continuous loop and includes technology which automatically senses a crash and saves the video files before, during and after an incident. 3 Axis G forces are also recorded and shown graphically alongside your video files. GPS data records speed and location providing all the important information in case of an incident.

This is a quality made product which leads the market. The 402G Professional has won many awards including the Sunday Times Driving Best Buy in 2014 and Which Best Dash Camera in 2015. When it comes to something as important as this I would suggest you buy the most reliable and the best which is Nextbase InCarCam.

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Roberts Radio WhatHiFi Advertorial.indd 1

06/05/2015 15:48