Gadgethead 4.01

GADGETHEAD Issue 4.01

UK

£4.95

www.thegadgethead.com

Inspired By Your Success

EXPLORE. ENJOY.

MAXIA 4

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

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

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

Sponsor of the LCR Honda MotoGP Team.

Find more than 900 accessories at www.givimoto.com

GADGETHEAD Senior Writer Emma Hilling emmahilling@littlegatepublishing.com Sales Director Alex Smith alexsmith@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor Alice Instone-Brewer alice@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor James Lapping james@littlegatepublishing.com Junior Copy Editor Will Girling willgirling@littlegatepublishing.com Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com Publisher Stephen Warman stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

Contents Greentom Classic• Silva Trail Runner 3X• Skeleton Candle Owl and Gummy Bear Page 10 ONE by Optic Nerve Steelhead Glasses• Pawbo+• SnugPak Softie Expansion 5• Appkettle• Bettacare Gate with Lockable Cat Flap Page 20 Fantasia Retro Mistral Desk Fan• Hiplok Z-Lok• ICEBIRG PRO• myHummy Snoozy Page 30 Nomad • Skins TRI400 Compression Sleeveless Suit• SITU Smart Food Nutrition Scale• Reviber Zen Physio Deep Tissue Massager• Tifosi Synapse - Light Night Lens Page 40 Thinkware Dash Cam F800 Pro Front and Rear• Straight Up Chess Vertical Chess Boards • Livia

Greentom Classic As we are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of keeping our carbon footprint to a minimum, more and more companies are trying to do their part. Greentom are the creators of the first ever green stroller.

The Greentom Classic has a frame that has been made from recycled polypropylene and the seat is made of recycled PET bottles, making it the first 100% green buggy. As well as being environmentally friendly the Classic is lightweight at only 7 kg due to the plastic frame and wheels, its features include a bumper bar, two hooks behind the shopping basket to attach the new Greentom changing bag or Greentom shopping bag. The Greentom Classic is a buggy for children from the age of 9 months up to 4.5 years.

Greentom also offers the Greentom Carrycot for newborns and the Greentom Reversible

4

for children from 6 months to 2.5 years.

The Greentom Classic has three positions, full recline at 150°, relax at 120° or upright and uses a five-point safety harness with pads to keep your little passenger safe. There is a 10L shopping bag underneath, it comes in a variety of colours with a choice of black, grey or white chassis and 14 different fabric colours. The Classic comes with chassis, fabric, canopy and shopping basket.

This push chair can be used from the age of 9 months to approximately 4.5 years (110 cm/15 kg), It handles OK, it is light on its wheels, the front wheels swivel 360˚, and

they move smoothly but due to the lack of treads on the tires it doesn’t have a lot of traction; making it most suitable for life in the city.

The Greentom Classic is BPA, PVC and Phthalate free, the soft materials are removable and washable, it folds in seconds and folded it is nice and compact at 72 x 55 x 25cm. I love that the Greentom Classic is made from recycled materials, being such a green product, and I believe that it is most suitable to life in the city. RRP €249. RRP for Classic including Limited Collection fabric is €349 from January 1, 2018.

http://www.greentom.com/webshop-13/ lightweight-stroller.html Pros Modern looking design Lightweight 3 frame and 14 fabric colour choices 10L shopping basket Easy to fold Compact both set up and folded down Smooth ride

Cons Wheels lack grip when used on uneven surfaces

 Gadgethead Magazine

Silva Trail Runner 3X There are many good excuses out there to avoid running during the winter months: its cold, its dark and Stranger Things 2 needs watching for a second time; but winter is when we need to exercise the most; it keeps your mind healthy in the gloomy months, not to mention burning off all that extra booze and mince pies. The Silva Trail Runner 3X could make things slightly better by brightening up your evening runs.

This powerful little head torch designed specifically for running, with three different light modes: Max, Min or Blink, you can find the right setting to light your way. The Trail Runner uses a rechargeable 1.8Ah LiPo battery in an external battery pack that comes in a multiattachment Velcro soft case. It provides a burn time of up to 18 hours depending on the setting, and it recharges via USB (4 hours for a full charge) - there is also an indicator with a low-battery warning.

The Trail Runner 3X is lightweight; the

6

battery pack is quite large, but the torch itself is discrete and kicks out some big light for its small size - 250 Lumen to be exact.

The ‘SILVA Intelligent Light’ provides you with two light patterns: a long reach spot light (up to 65m) to pick out all those glowing eyes in the hedgerow, and a close flood-light to make sure you avoid any obstacles. The Trail Runner is water resistant and the head band has silicone grips to keep it in place whilst you get your sweat on, and at only 124g it feels light on your head.

Running with the torch was a lot of fun; because of the welldesigned way the two beams are produced it doesn’t bounce about, and the torch also rotates up and down so you can get the perfect angle. My only complaint is that the plastic the torch is fixed onto could be softer, as it isn’t the most comfortable.

It’s not enough to put you off wearing it, but you will need to get the adjustment of the headband just right. All in all, the Trail Runner 3X is a great little running buddy and will help you keep fit and visible on dark trails.

RRP £99.99

http://silva.se/product/headlamps/headlampsheadlamps/trail-runner-3x/ Pros Lightweight Two beams long and short distance Water resistant 250lumen 18hour burn time Silicone grip on head band

Cons Plastic mount could be more comfortable



Gadgethead Magazine

Skeleton Candle Owl and Gummy Bear Being an animal lover, I felt a little at odds with the idea of melting a cute little bear to reveal its singed skeleton beneath. But, being a professional, I went against my instincts and set fire to its adorable head.

Fear not, however, as this is exactly what they have been designed for!

Choose from a sweet and fruity scented gummy-bear in either red, blue, purple or green; these are slightly larger than your average gummy bear at 4.5” x 3” x 2.5” (if only the real sweets came in at this size too). Alternatively, you can go for the Angry Owl Candle - this wise old bird comes in for 8

pastel colours purple, green, blue or pink and is larger at 6” x 4” x 3”. Made from paraffin wax, with a cotton wick and an aluminium skeleton inside, the bear will provide you with 5-7 hours of burn time whilst the larger owl goes for 10-15 hours. However, the guys at Skeleton Candles recommend

that you don’t keep the candle lit longer than 2-3 hours at a time.

The candles don’t come with any kind of base - make sure you read the instructions and place it on a heat resistant surface before lighting! Do not put it straight on the mantle piece and get drunk with you mates, otherwise you will discover in the morning that you have stalactites of wax all over said mantel-piece, as well as pools of wax mixed with red wine mashed into your

carpet (results may vary).

For an even burn keep the candle away from drafts, and to prevent the candle from smoking trim the wick to ¼ inch.

I enjoyed using the candles and watching the flame reveal these cool steam-punk style skeletons is so satisfying! Due to the shapes of the animals, it doesn’t burn cleanly from top to bottom, but it is still good fun. In fact watching the Gummy Bears face peel away from its head made it even better! RRP Owl Candle $35 Gummy Bear $30

https://skeletoncandles.com/ Pros Gory fun Cool detailed skeletons Long burn times Nicely designed

Cons Scented bear doesn’t produce a strong smell

 Gadgethead Magazine

ONE by Optic Nerve Steelhead Glasses The ONE Steelhead Glasses have been designed specifically for fishing and water sports; with a sports wrap design, polarised lenses and wide temples to keep the light from getting in your eyes, whether its coming from the sun above you or the water below you.

The polarised lens eliminates light reflected from off the water’s surface and the ‘Zaio’ mirror coating helps reduce glare.

They are available in two designs: a Shiny Black with a Polarized Brown with Blue Mirror

10

lens, and Shiny Dark Demi with a Polarized Brown with Green Mirror lens (the variety we received). The sunglasses are gender neutral and fit average to wide face sizes, round and square face shapes and offer 100%

UVA/UVB protection.

You won’t have to worry about breaking the bank with these glasses; they are quite reasonably priced, so maybe its too much to expect that they come with a protective hard case…but even my novelty ‘Adventure Time’ glasses came with a little scratch proof bag - come on guys!

My face shape is on the small and narrow

https://www.opticnerve.com/products/steelhead Pros Robust

Polarised lenses

Dark tint

Cons Tight, causes pressure points

No grip on ear pieces

Wide arms blinkers view

Non adjustable nose pad

No case included

 side (that made me sound like Beaker from the muppets) and I still found these quite tight, the right arm especially causes a pressure point behind my ears (apparently, I have a wonky, small and narrow face?!) Even after wearing them for 15 minutes they become uncomfortable, and once I removed them it still felt like they are on my head. The chunky frame helps to reduce peripheral glare but also blinkers you - a lens that

wraps around further would be better for protection against the light, whilst also maintaining optimum vision. The frames feel robust and I would expect they could handle a bit of rough and tumble, however I feel that shiny finish will scratch easily. The lenses provide clear optics but the tint is dark, so they wouldn’t work well in low light with glare. The ONE Steelheads have silicone nose pads (not adjustable), but there is nothing on the arms to help keep them steady in the event of rain or sweat.

I just couldn’t get on with these glasses: they were too uncomfortable, too dark and the lack of peripheral vision made them feel claustrophobic. The price is appealing but just not worth it! RRP $39.99

Gadgethead Magazine

Pawbo+ Even though four of my friends also have cats, I have some how wound up with the ‘Crazy Cat person’ title, maybe because I refer to my two as fur-babies; they have a fancy cat fountain and the cattery they stay at costs more than our monthly rent! When the Pawbo+ arrived, I felt I might as well live up to the title and install it.

The Pawbo+ is an 720p HD live video stream that connects to your phone via an app, allowing you to view and interact with your pet whilst you are away from home. It has a 130° wide-angle lens to get as much of your room in view as possible, with a 4x digital zoom that allows you to double-check that fuzzy black sausage sticking out from behind your curtain…is in fact your cat. On the off chance you spy your cats doing something ‘unusual’ whilst you are away (watching Jeremy Kyle or ordering catnip off the dark web for example), you can take

12

a video recording or photo and instantly share it on social media. Initially I was worried that as the Pawbo+ only covers one room, I wouldn’t see both cats as they often sleep in different rooms. However the inbuilt two-way microphone means I can whistle (this is how I call them for dinner and treats) and they will both run into the room, and any cat can quickly be trained to come as the Pawbo+ lets you release treats for them.

As mentioned: the microphone is twoway, so you can hear your fluffies hissing at

the neighbour’s cat or chirping at the birds.

The Pawbo+ also has a built-in laser pen that can either be controlled automatically or manually to make sure your kitty is getting enough exercise. For once the companion app ‘PawboLife’ was easy to sync up and simple to use!

You can add up to eight different users simultaneously, so partners, parents, children - the whole family - can check in on the hairiest family members.

I LOVE the Pawbo+ I found myself logging on to it more than Facebook! There are two little additions I would like to see on the next model: a nightvision camera so you can see them without leaving all your lights on, and a larger treat dispenser. You can

https://www.pawbo.com/uk/pawbo-plus.html/ fit in three ‘Dreamies’ into each compartment and there are only nine compartments - you can cut them up but that gets messy quickly. However, it is still a brilliant product in its current form and works really well. If you get a pang of guilt every time you leave the house then this could definitely help ease the pain. RRP £149

Pros Live stream onto your phone Two-way microphone Treat dispenser Capture photos and videos Allows up to 8 users Built-in lazy toy Easy to install Good connectivity

 Gadgethead Magazine

SnugPak Softie Expansion 5 Camping isn’t always the most comfortable of things, and getting a bad night’s sleep will quickly make a fun weekend away into a miserable trip that will leave you asking why you thought you could every survived outside for 48hours.

Getting a good night’s sleep starts with having a decent sleeping bag: the Softie Expansion 5 from British company SnugPak has a unique expanding system called the ‘EEP’ (Elasticated Expander Panel), this little addition provides the user with the option of making the bag wider when required. Some of those ‘mummy bags’ can get very hot or a little too

14

claustrophobic, so having the option to get a little more wriggle room is appealing!

With a comfort rating reaching as low as -15°C, you will be toasty warm even on the coldest nights. To use the EEP, all you need to do is unzip the jumbo zip baffle to make the bag wider.

There are lots of added features in this bag, including a built in LED torch that can be attached and detached

from the bags hood.

The ‘mummy’ shape means it is tapered at the bottom to reduce size, the ‘Reflectatherm Technology’ reflects and retains heat, the chisel shaped foot allows enough room for your feet, whilst the Thermal Suede provides a Snug Foot lining. If you are anything like me the area around your feet has its own microclimate making them perpetually cold, so this was a nice touch!

The Expansion 5 also has an ‘Anti-Snag’, ‘Softie Insulation’, a ‘Snugfit Hood’ to help keep out drafts, and clips that allow you to

adjust the length of the bag. The whole thing can be wrestled into the stuff bag, with compression straps when you are done. Once packed down, however, it is still quite a large piece at roughly 15 x 10 inches! That means it will be taking up a serious amount of space in your pack, making it more difficult to travel with.

However, it is not a heavy as it looks at only 2400g.

This is a thoughtfully designed bag - the ‘Elasticated Expander Panel’ makes it flexible for variable weather conditions as well as more comfortable. It is best suited for short trips in autumn, winter and spring.

RRP £122.50

http://www.snugpak.com/outdoor/softieexpansion-5 Pros Elasticated Expander Panel Integrated Torch Cosy Snug Foot Lining and Chisel shaped foot Snugfit Hood Clips to adjust the length

Cons Bulky

 Gadgethead Magazine

Appkettle Slowly but surely, I’m installing robot servants throughout my house. As soon as I spied the Appkettle box in the office, I had downloaded the app before I got my grubby little paws on it.

The Appkettle is the world’s first voice enabled kettle and works with Alexa and it connects to your Smart Home devices using IFTTT. You can link the Appkettle preferences 16

with hundreds of smart home products and services. Starting with its general appearance, the Appkettle looks like any other kettle, which is a bit disappointing.

Don’t get me wrong,

it’s shiny, and looks like an expensive kettle, but I was hoping for something super futuristic looking.

The lid of the kettle is plastic AND metal, which means if you need to refill it after boiling, it’s like a game of Operation as to whether you burn yourself. If they

swapped in a button that makes the lid pop up automatically it would be safer and make it a one-handed job at the same time. The base has a control panel for adjustment of the temperature and to switch it on manually, but the most important feature is the app connection, the set up should have been a simple procedure but it failed three times before it connected without any explanation.

Once connected to WiFi the app worked well 99% of the time. Every time I opened the app it asked me to install an additional plug-in that it failed to connect to each time.

However, once in you can easily switch on the kettle and set the desired temperature (ideal for different types of tea). The App displays how much water is in the kettle, how long it will take to boil, the Baby Bottle mode allows parents to boil water for baby bottles, check the water level, set bottle size and the number of bottles to automatically boil and cool ready for a time to

www.myappkettle.com Pros Works well on WiFi Baby bottle mode Set up daily schedules Quiet Easy pour spout

See how full the kettle is from the app Keeps warm for 30 minutes after boil Temperature adjustment

Cons Took time to set up Button tones and boil beep can’t be switched off

kettle is boiled 3G and 4G connectivity poor Keeps asking to install a plug in

Metal on lid is very hot when

 suit you. The Auto-scheduling feature will start water heating before a specific time, ready for when you arrive home or get up in the morning. The Appkettle will also keep the water warm for up to 30 minutes and it even beeps loudly three times when it has finished boiling to remind you its ready. The Appkettle can be controlled by multiple users which works great in both the home and office, it isn’t the fastest kettle it takes 5mins to boil at full capacity which is slower than my cheap old kettle, but it is quiet (my old kettle sounds like a cement mixer full of gravel). As I previously mentioned, the kettle works well on WiFi, but it repeatedly failed to connect on 3G and 4G, so I just gave up with it. I love the features of this kettle but the connectivity needs to be more reliable for the Appkettle to fit seamlessly into your lifestyle.

RRP £129.99

Gadgethead Magazine

Bettacare Gate with Lockable Cat Flap The famous quote, “never work with animals or children”, is usually a warning for people in showbusiness, but forget trying to present an episode of Blue Peter, I’ve been informed by a friend that you haven’t experienced stress until you’ve attempted to cook dinner with two pugs and two cats. The Bettacare Gate with Lockable Cat Flap could be the perfect answer to said friend’s troubles, but I do need to make it clear straight away, that Bettacare state on their website that the Gate has not been safety tested for children.

18

It comes in a eleven different adjustable sizes from the smallest 75cm-85cm max up to 140cm-147cm max with a height of 104cm.

The Bettacare has a pressure fitted system which is quick and easy to install without damaging the door frame, and once set up, it holds firmly in place, it has a smooth white powder-coated steel finish and a plastic cat door. The cat flap dimensions are 18cm x 16cm which is a little on the small side for my 5.5kg lanky cat, he can fit through, but he has to flatten himself a bit. The cat door isn’t

transparent, and it was a long time before my other more reserved/ thicko cat worked out how to use it. The cat flap can be locked shut, but it would be handy if it could be locked open just to help introduce my thicko cat to how it works. When the cat flap was locked shut, it took my lanky cat about 20mins to work out how to get over it (the first attempt was particularly graceless), so rather than granting or preventing access think of the cat flap as easier way for your cat to get into a room, as they will get in there one way or the other.

The Bettacare has a one way opening with double locking mechanism and a two-handed operation system which isn’t particularly intuitive, but you get used to it.

The Bettacare Gate with Lockable Cat Flap is a handy way of organising your furry family, but it would be even better if you could rely on it to organise to two-legged family too. RRP £49.95

https://www.bettacare.co.uk/cat-flap-pet-gate. html Pros Easy to install Strong Large variety of sizes

Cons Small cat flap Not safety tested with children



Gadgethead Magazine

Sur f 3 Inspired by mountain bike technology Why choose between a four-wheel urban pushchair or a three-wheel trekking pushchair. With Surf 3 you can have both, uniquely adaptable it can switch between city and trekking modes with ease.

Whether you’re in the town or country the unique suspension ensures a smooth ride.

DriveSt

Direct Attac USB 3.0 4 wheels for urban use

silvercrossbaby.com

Trekking wheel for multi terrain use

DriveStation™ Quad Direct Attached Storage USB 3.0

HD-QHU3/R5

Huge Capacity Direct Attached Storage Huge Capacity Direct Attached Storage

Buffalo Technology’s DriveStation™ Quad (HD-QHU3 series) is a 4-bay Direct Attached Storage device perfect for demanding SMB. The HD-QHU3 comes fully populated with high-reliability Buffalo Technology’s DriveStation™ WD Red™ drives in total capacities of up to 24TB.

Quad (HD-QHU3 series) is a 4-bay

™ The DriveStation Quad is RAID-enabled customised Direct Attached Storage deviceforperfect redundancy and capacity depending on your specific needs for demanding SMB. The HD-QHU3 and also comes with 10 licenses of NovaStor NovaBACKUP comes Essentials fully populated Business software. with high-

reliability WD Red™ drives in total

The DriveStation™ Quad features the capacity, redundancy, capacities of required up to 24TB. and performance for any demanding user – the perfect solution for backing up large servers, multimedia files, or databases. The HD-QHU3 series is sold fully populated with WD Red drives and total capacities of 8, 12, 16, or 24TB. HD-QHU3/R5

Features and Benefits • 4 bay Direct Attached Storage fully populated with WD Red™ hard drives - Available 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

Features and Benefits

- Also includes 10 free licenses of NovaStor NovaBackup Business Essentials

• Power Saving – Auto Power feature turns on and off automatically with your computer

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

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

tation Quad

Fantasia Retro Mistral Desk Fan Working in an office can be a pretty uncomfortable environment even without the arguments over who’s turn it is to make the tea. Summer time in our office, without air conditioning and south facing windows, means it quickly turns into a green-house environment by lunch time.

Having your own desk fan makes life slightly more bearable, and knowing my body odour and farts are blowing onto the person behind me gives me a weird sense of power (Editor’s note: I am this sufferable victim), but hey, I’m a horrible person. The Retro Mistral Desk Fan from Fantasia is a cool looking, steam punk style, stripped back fan, available in both Brushed Nickel and Cream (not quite as cool looking). This retro fan has a 12” diameter body, with a 30w Motor and a choice of two speeds and the

22

whole thing is a bit of a lump at 2kg, the body is elegantly crafted, and the brushed metal looks handsome on the desk, counter or even on the floor. The head of the fan can be adjusted to point higher or lower, it doesn’t move left and right but you can move the base to adjust it. I am such a fidget butt at my desk and just being able to quickly adjust rather than move the whole fan would be a handy feature. The other rather major issue with this fan is that it makes a bit of a cacophony, it sounds like a helicopter might be about to land,

our desks aren’t exactly top range, with the addition of the fan the entire thing shakes. My tea becomes like that scene from Jurassic Park with the ripples in the water but with less dinosaurs. If you (and perhaps the rest of the office) work with headphones in, the Retro Mistral Fan could be a great addition as it produces a wide cool breeze, however if you need to concentrate the last thing you need is this thing rumbling in your ears. RRP £60

http://www.fantasiaceilingfans.com/12-retromistral-brushed-nickel/ Pros Attractive design Solid construction

Cons Loud Vibrates Doesn’t turn horizontally



Gadgethead Magazine

Hiplok Z-Lok When I used to cycle regularly, I was never quite sure what sort of bike lock to use, I settled for a D-lock for the tough protection, but it weighed an absolute ton and if I put it on the frame of the bike it would always get in the way of my knees.

Being the type of person who would rather complain than do anything about it, I put up with it. If I had known these existed, I would have certainly given them ago, at only 20g they are super lightweight and at 420mm long they are so compact. They come in a bright Lime colour which is easy to spot in low lights, or alternatively you can get a subtler Black or Red option. The pack came with two zip ties and two keys, and have

24

a locking diameter of 40cm, this means you can attach your bike to a bike rack or railing and then attach a helmet to the bike as well. The release key is also small, so you can attach it to your keys without too much bother, I will warn you however that the key is spikey so bare this in mind before shoving it in your trouser pocket, a little cover on the end would be useful to avoid accidents by clumsy people like me. The Z-Lok has a

double-sided ratchet design with reinforced steel core making it much tougher than it looks, this is the first secured reusable zip style tie. I REALLY wanted to like these as the convenience of the weight and size is brilliant, but the release mechanism is what lets it down, getting the key in can be fiddley to start with and even when fully inserted there were times when it just refused to release, this inconsistency is frustrating to the point that I decided not to even bother with them.

RRP ÂŁ14.99

http://www.hiplok.com/z-lok-zip-tie/ Pros Compact Lightweight Bright Excellent idea

Cons Unfaithful release system Frustrating

 Gadgethead Magazine

ICEBIRG PRO Anyone can throw different liquids into a glass and call it a cocktail, but true Mixologist knows everything about the cocktail matters from the glass to the shape of the ice. The ICEBIRG PRO will provide you with, large (2.5”) perfectly formed ice balls, every single time.

So why would you choose balls in your drink over cubes?

26

It’s not the first time I’ve been asked that question, a sphere

exposes less surface to the liquid with the same amount of volume as a cube of ice, the ice melts much slower this way, meaning all the pleasure of a chilled drink without the dilution. The ICEBIRG PRO is the product

http://www.icebirgpress.com/buy/ Pros Quick and easy to use of 3+ years of research & development into pressing the perfect ice ball, yes that really was someone’s job. With the combination of science, engineering and style they have created the only affordable, professionalgrade tool. Featuring a high-performance drainage & pressure release system and matching ICEBIRG drip tray the ICEBIRG PRO is clean and easy to use, it comes with two copper casts for freezing your water, the copper material has been chosen because it purifies the water as it freezes, it doesn’t transfer any taste (unlike plastic and silicone) and will

Perfect 2.5” balls Two copper ice casts included

materials 5 colours available Matching ice tray Weirdly addictive

High end

 release the ice just from the heat of your hands. Once you pop your ice out, simply place it on the base of the PRO, line up the stainless steel rods and let gravity do its thing, excess water will come out of the top and spill over into the tray, and in less than a minute you have your perfect ice ball ready for any scotch of craft cocktail.

For extra vanity points, purify the water before freezing for a crystal-clear ice ball, honestly it looks so cool (HA! ICE PUN! This is what they pay me for.) The whole process can be sped up by running the ICEBIRG under warm water before adding the ice. The ICEBIRG PRO is solid, it is beautifully crafted, has silicone feet to protect your work surfaces, cork feet on the tray to stop it sliding about on a wet bar, and comes with a lifetime warranty.

It is really addictive to use, you will be ice balling all over the place, ice ball ice tea, ice balls in the orange squash, ICEBALLS IN THE CATS WATER!!! RRP $299 Gadgethead Magazine

myHummy Snoozy Meet Snoozy, from myHummy this fuzzy little “bear” comes in two colours, Slate or Mint, both modern, gender neutral designs. No pastel pink or sky blue here! Snoozy plays soothing sounds to help lull babies to sleep and can be attached to a cot with a dummy clip.

Snoozy comes with five different white noise options to choose from, amniotic fluid with heartbeat (wasn’t he a DJ in the 90’s?), ocean waves, rainfall, vacuum cleaner and a hairdryer. The white noise box sits snuggly inside the body of the toy and can be switched on by squeezing its face.

As Snoozy is super squidgy, the sound is reduced and muffled when inside the toy, but it can still be heard when attached to the crib, the sound fades out after 60 minutes to help save the battery life, however if your baby wakes up again at night, the Sleep Sensor activates and starts the

28

sounds again. If you don’t want to risk the noise stopping and waking up baby you can choose the NonStop mode which will play uninterrupted for up to 12 hours. Snoozy has an adjustable volume which can be controlled whilst inside the toy and it is also machine washable. For those inevitable messy accidents and grubby hands, just make sure you remove the noise box first. Similar to the other myHummy products, the only thing I don’t like about the Snoozy is the small metal zip pull, although I’m sure this has been tested and is totally safe. It just gives me the mental image of

them sticking it in their eye or it becoming detached, I would like to see this replaced with something else, but I don’t know what.

It just makes me feel uncomfortable. It has a convenient loop which means Snoozy can travel with you, on the car seat, or pushchair.

Snoozy is suitable from birth and requires 3 AAA batteries that aren’t included. Snoozy won us over, the Sleep Sensor and fade out features make it a great sleep companion all wrapped up in a cute and cuddle friend. RRP £49

https://shop.myhummy.co.uk/snoozy Pros 5 white sound options Volume adjustable Sleep Sensor Non-Stop mode Fades out after 60 seconds Machine washable Gender neutral colours

Cons That zip pull Batteries not included

 Gadgethead Magazine

Nomad The Nomad Espresso maker has been designed to allow you to enjoy a decent coffee where ever you are, suitable for at home, in the office, glamping, boat trips or picnics; if you have ground coffee and access to hot water you can have a real espresso coffee.

The Nomad comes in four colour choices, a bold, green, blue or red as well as a subtler white. They all have a clean and glossy finish which looks great and high end.

It has been designed with a classic hand operated lever machine which means no plugs, charging or batteries required, it also means it one less appliance to fight over your plug sockets at home. It is compact in size but a rather odd shape which makes it a little awkward for packing.

It is lightweight which

30

makes it more portable, but on the flip side, if it was heavier it would make it easier to pump without it moving around on the table top. The Nomad Proprietary True Crema Valve compensates for coffee grounds and tamping variations so anyone can make a good espresso whether you use off-the-shelf ground coffee or uneven grinds from whirling blade grinders, you will still get good results. The Nomad is super easy to use, place the ground coffee in the little dish, press it down with the included tamper, place it in the draw, add the hot water and pump the seesaw style handle, the Crema Valve on top will indicate when you are hitting the correct pressure for the perfect espresso.

There is no question that this little machine

produces a great little espresso, in a strange way the manual action is rather satisfying, the space under the spout is just high enough to fit an espresso cup but nothing larger so if you are making an Americano you will need to pour it into the espresso cup first. The biggest issue with the Nomad is the stonking great price tag, you will have to really love your coffee to cough up roughly £220. However, if you do have the cash kicking about you won’t be disappointed. RRP £220

https://www.uniterra-nomad.com/ Pros Excellent coffee Cool design Fun to use Easy to clean High quality

Cons Expensive Can’t fit a regular cup under the spout



Gadgethead Magazine

Skins TRI400 Compression Sleeveless Suit The TRI400 Compression Sleeveless Suit from Skins allows you to swim, cycle and sprint your way through a triathlon. The strategically placed ‘Toray fabric’ aims to minimise drag in the water and the carbon-infused fabric helps prevent friction on the inner thigh when running.

This all-in-one suit uses ‘Dynamic Gradient Compression’ - the compression increases support to the areas of the body you are working with, drives more oxygen to your muscles and reduces the build-up of blood lactate for better performance and a quicker recovery time.

The ‘400 Fit’ feature means that 3D body scan data and 400 key

32

fitting points have been used when designing the suit, reducing pressure points and friction, allowing flexible movement where you need it the most.

Available in either ‘White/Black’ or ‘Yellow/Black’, the TRI400 uses an ultralightweight chamois design that has been chosen specifically for triathletes, with a high-

density foam around the bum for maximum comfort. The textured surface helps the skin to breath and transfer moisture, whilst the non-absorbent foam delivers a comfortable transfer from swim to bike. The moisture wicking fabric draws sweat away from the body, as well as helping the suit to dry quickly after the swim and preventing the body from losing too much body heat. The TRI400 also offers 50+ UV Protection, has a Memory MX spinal panel for maximum lateral movement

without restriction whilst also maintaining its shape and compression. There is a lined, semi-lock zip with zip guard, bonded hems and two storage pockets with a bonded flap to eliminate drag during the swim.

We found the TRI400 very comfortable and light on the skin: it hugs in all the right places without feeling restrictive and dries quickly. It moves seamlessly between swimming, cycling and running and most important of all, more so than winning, it looks awesome on: very flattering for all body shapes. RRP £80

https://www.skins.net/au/skins-tri-400-menssleeveless-suit.html Pros Flexible Performs well in all legs Fast drying Flattering Streamline Compression

 Gadgethead Magazine

SITU Smart Food Nutrition Scale January is the month where everyone will be looking for new year’s resolutions, including making healthier choices when it comes to your diet.

Introducing the SITU Smart Food Nutrition Scale designed for iPhone, iPad and Android devices, which works by weighing your food and sending the information to the app.

From there you can then view the calories and nutrients on the app so you know exactly what you are putting into your body.

You might not even consider that amount of sugar in a piece of bread for example, or sodium in cheese. This helps you learn the truth about the food you consume, therefore allowing you to make smarter choices.

The scales look good, with a clear backlit display; it is also nice and light at only 500g, so you can move it about easily. It is a good size at 190mm

34

x 215mm x 22mm and it can withstand a max weight of 5kg (tip: 5kg of anything isn’t healthy!) The scales function well: the battery only lasts 6months, but I can live with that. What I don’t like is the app… you know… the whole point of the SITU! The food database is based in the USA, meaning that often what you are looking for isn’t in there and you have to look it up elsewhere, and you will spend a long time customising foods which is a laborious process. However, other elements of the

app are useful: you can track your intake over time with the calendar, giving you a better insight into what can help you achieve your goals. So often I become disheartened when the scales inform me I have gained or maintained weight, but reminding myself of those 3 pizzas I had last weeks helps me feel more in control.

The ‘SITU app’ also supports the Health app in iOS 9 and above.

You can create multiusers on the iPad with each member having their own account, but this is for iPad only.

With another custom tool in the app you can create meals provided you cook it with the same recipe each time and you can save it to My Dishes and simply weigh your portion and you will

get the nutritional results.

The app also allows you to use government recommended daily allowances or customise individual nutritional intake. You can also select your preferred measurement units. Rather than making life easy, I found using the SITU more of a hassle: it doesn’t link up to my other fitness apps like ‘Myfitness pal’ and is just too limited for my liking. If I need to look up a lot of the food and add it to the data base, I might as well go old school and just write it down in a notebook!

The SITU Smart Food Nutrition Scale could be ideal for beginners looking to get into a healthier lifestyle, but with its limited features and vast amounts of competition on the market it needs to up its game to become something you will use regularly. RRP £49.99

www.situscale.com Pros Nicely designed scales Manually add foods and dishes

Cons Limited functions Predominantly American products App isn’t compatible with popular fitness apps

 Gadgethead Magazine

Reviber Zen Physio Deep Tissue Massager One of the wonderful benefits they forget to mention about working out is the constant cycle of aching muscles all over your body. Therefore the Reviber Zen Physio Deep Tissue Massager could potentially be godsend!

At first inspection it looked slightly intimidating: the instructions are either translated or just badly written, but you soon get the gist of how it works. The Physio claims to release muscular tension with a steady, comfortable, pulsed acupressure, and that this massage technique penetrates even the tightest muscles, sounds perfect right?

To use you simply hold the Physio on your aching muscles and switch it on. The weight of the device - and it is hefty (1.2 kg) - means you don’t need to push down to get a good pressure.

Most of the energy is transferred through the

36

massage heads, with the handle vibrating slightly, but it certainly isn’t uncomfortable. I did find getting to the middle of your back was quite fatiguing due to the weight of the unit, and if you aren’t naturally mobile it will be even more difficult a little handle extender could help people with low mobility.

Speaking of the handle: it would be helpful if it had a texture to aid grip, especially as you may be using oils with the Physio. The Physio doesn’t need massage oils, but you can use non-alcohol based massage oils if you desire. You can also choose between using it on bare skin or over clothing, but I

would recommend oil if you are using it on bare skin, as it moves around better and just feels nicer.

You can use the Physio on your neck, shoulders, back, arms, legs, buttocks and soles of your feet. There are two attachments to choose from that are easy to switch over: one for larger muscles and the other for specific areas such as the neck. The massager has two speeds, 3400 or 6000, ideal for deep-tissue massage.

I really enjoyed using the Physio: it provides a firm massage rather than the usual cheap battery-operated selfmassages which are never strong enough.

Aside from being a little heavy and a little loud when doing your neck and shoulders, it is a great device. RRP £69.99

https://reviber.co.uk/reviber-zen-physio-deeptissue-massager-with-infrared/ Pros Deep massage Two speeds Two massage heads 3 metre power cord Easy to operate Can be used on bare skin or over clothes

Cons Loud Heavy in certain positions



Gadgethead Magazine

Tifosi Synapse - Light Night Lens Brought onto the market in spring 2017, the Tifosi Synapse sunglasses have a sport lens cut, making them versatile and suitable for any type of sport activity. The Synapse’s feature ‘Tifosi Light Night Fototec’ lenses, which are designed to adjust to changing light conditions. Packed full of technology these glasses have a 30g frame that is very comfortable to wear; you can easily forget they are there!

The ‘Grilamid TR-90’ construction provides an extremely high alternative-bending strength, and a low density makes them feel secure without being tight on the head.

The Synapse’s have a hydrophilic rubber ear and nose pieces to prevent your sweaty head or rain water causing the glasses 38

to slip and slide on your face. These are also adjustable at both points for a precise and comfortable fit. I find it hard to get the perfect sports glasses, as I have a little head and I was disappointed to find these only come in ‘Medium Large’ and ‘Extra Large’. However, due to their bendy nature, the ‘Medium’

was perfect and stayed put on my face. They have vented lenses to provide air circulation to prevent fogging, which worked very well, although they would occasionally fog up when I looked down.

This was especially apparent in the cold air, but would clear very quickly.

The ‘Fototec’ lenses are made from a strong polycarbonate, which are optically decentred for ideal visuals and provide protection against glare and UV. On top of all that, they are also offer variable light transmission and adapt to your

environment. The ‘Fototec’ transmits less light to your eyes when it’s sunny and allow more light to filter through as the day becomes night. The ‘Light Night’ lenses are also a great choice for winter running, when light can be very unpredictable and can change in an instant; these lenses are the best choice for low-light conditions.

I liked these glasses: I found them so comfortable; they held fast even when I was running in the rain (dedicated/ idiot), the anti-fog worked well, and they adapt seamlessly to the light conditions. I couldn’t ask for more! RRP £69.99

http://www.zyrofisher.co.uk/products/detail/ TIFSYNV Pros Suitable for a variety of sports Lightweight Variable light transmitting Light Night lens Comfortable Flexible Adjustable, hydrophilic nose and ear pieces Soft and hard case included Anti-fog vents

 Gadgethead Magazine

Thinkware Dash Cam F800 Pro Front and Rear The F800 Dash Cam from Thinkware is available for both the front and rear of your vehicle (sold separately). CMOS Image Sensors allow constant front and rear view in Full 1080p HD resolution recording during both day and night along with a 140-degree wide angle lens view.

Chock full of features, including

40

energy saving, parking recording which

allows you to record in parking mode 3x longer, and reduced power consumption by 1/3 less, the built-in G-senor will wake up within a second when activated and start recording for next 20

seconds. The Geo Fencing allows you to set a radical area, and the F800 Pro will send you push notification through the mobile app Thinkware Dashcam Mobile Viewer, you can set up to 20 different radical area with a size from 100m up to 600km.

The Locate Vehicle, as it sounds, will help drivers to find the vehicle’s current location, it will update its current location in every 10 seconds and display the current location along with the speed and direction its heading in on google map. The Driving Impact Notification will automatically send a push notification alert to the user’s smartphone via the mobile app in the event of an impact greater than gravity level of 3G or 4G while driving. The F800 also has the same old features you would expect from Thinkware, Safety Camera Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, Front Collision Warning System, Urban Front Collision Warning

https://thinkwaredashcam.uk/product/thinkwaredash-cam-f800/ Pros Excellent images both day and night time Full HD

Safety Camera Alert & Road Safety Warning System

Super Night Vision2.0

140° Wide Angle (Front & Rear)

Time Lapse

Built-in Wi-Fi Built-in GPS

Cons App connection hit and miss

Expensive

 System and Front Vehicle Departure Warning, Auto Exposure and the automatic storing in the event of an incident. Purchasing both cameras is going to set you back a fair bit, but the image quality is excellent (in both low and bright lights), it has every feature you could think of to keep you safe on the road and your car secure when parked. It is easy to install and use, all the settings and playbacks are accessed via your phone so no difficult menus to navigate and no distracting screens. Unfortunately the F800 Pro isn’t perfect.

Connecting to the app, like so many similar products, it is hit and miss and the lack of a display might be a negative thing for some. However, this is a great little set up that will provide you with crystal clear images and all the evidence you will need in the event of an accident.

RRP £349

Gadgethead Magazine

Secure Your Data Hardware Encrypted (AES 256-bit) USB 3.0 External Hard Drive PIN activated (6-16 digits) Works with PC, Mac, Linux, Citrix, Android, Thin Clients and Embedded Systems

No Software required Capacities from 250GB, up to 2TB Administration feature allows 1Admin and up to 5 User PIN codes

Call +44 (0) 20 8991 6260 or visit www.istorage-uk.com

LIGHTWEIGHT TOOLS THAT PACK A PUNCH. Our new 12V range are the smallest, lightest cordless tools we’ve ever made, but still deliver impressive performance and reach!

Whether you are an avid DIY fan or a discerning construction professional - the new Hilti 12V cordless range offers new levels of accessibility and productivity in light-duty drilling and fastening applications.

Follow us on

Hilti. Outperform. Outlast.

Scan this code for more info:

hilti.co.uk/12v

Straight Up Chess Vertical Chess Boards When I was in school, my friend and I were separated for Food Technology class (yes, I took this class and I still can’t boil an egg), we took the class at different times but sat at the same desk, so we used to take it in turns to leave insults for each other in the desk.

The Straight Up Chess is sort of like that, but also nothing like that at all. This is a pretty unique chess set, it isn’t square, it is very big, oh and did I mention it hangs on the wall?! It comes with a ‘last move’ marker which means you will always know whose turn it is. The idea of playing a game without having to talk to someone is very appealing to me, you can simply pass by, make your move, mark it with the ‘last move’ marker and sneak off and google, “how to play chess”.This would

44

make an ideal game for the office, classroom or home, just not my home unless they have a Ludo version.

The board itself is rather beautiful and available in many different varieties.

When ordering you go through a selection process to order the perfect board for you.

Start by choosing the board background, Black Cherry, Red Cherry, Black Maple, Red Maple, Maple Nut, Black Walnut or Cherry Bean and each comes with playing piece recommendations.

Once you have selected

your board you will need to choose your frame from the options - Black Contemporary, Red Accent, Wide Scoop, Flat Black, Rustic Brown, Black Gold, Flat Black, Rugged Espresso, Traditional Brown, Antique Bronze Frame, Checkered Bronze or Dark Bronze Frame.

If you already have a favourite set of chess pieces you can stop there or select your new playing pieces, the board can be made to fit chess pieces from 2” to 4.5” and come in 30 different options including, block pieces, aluminium, medieval or traditional. Once you hang your new board on the wall, fit the acrylic shelves into the board, the pieces sit on top and you are

www.straightupchess.com ready to go. The Straight Up Chess Vertical Board is quite simply, wonderful, with lots of beautiful customisable options available and high-quality materials. It will look awesome where ever you hang it, even if you have no idea how to play chess.

RRP $260-$345

Pros Customisable board and pieces High-quality materials Looks brilliant Last move marker

Cons Hasn’t made me better at chess

 Gadgethead Magazine

Livia Every month, many women have the “pleasure” of feeling like their insides are being repeatedly twisted and squeezed like a wet towel being rung out, but because we are all superheroes we carry on with our daily routines as usual. I am of course referring to Aunt Flo’s monthly karate kick to the abdomen that always sends women hobbling to the medicine cabinet.

The Livia is a CEapproved medical device aimed to help relieve menstrual pains. It works by using two electrodes that can be placed on the skin near the source of the pain. Most women place them on their abdomen, but II used them on my lower abdomen and lower back (where I experience the worst pains). These two electrodes stick to the skin via adhesive pads attached to one side of the electrodes (don’t worry-- this doesn’t leave any residue) One set of these pads throughout a full menstrual cycle.

The electrodes are

46

attached to the Livia unit, which clips to the top of your pants, skirt or panties. The device then transmits electric micro-pulses from the source of the pain to the body’s nervous system. Because these micro-pulses travel faster than the pain signals, they keep the nervous system “occupied” and unable to receive the pain signals. As a result, the pain and discomfort are blocked. It’s simple to use: switch it on with the power button (a blue light with indicate it is switched on) and the pulses will start at their lowest setting; you can then increase or decrease the strength

with the +/- buttons until the strength of the signals matches the intensity of your menstrual pain.

Pain is difficult to rate but I would say my monthly cramps are moderate, enough for me to pop a couple of Ibuprofen tablets at least once. That being said, I could feel the Livia working within about 30 seconds of turning the Livia on, and I felt a positive effect after about 10 minutes. This is much, faster than my usual pain medication. Livia is small and discrete, which means you can easily wear it without anyone knowing.

You can turn the device off and leave the pads on if you decide to take a break until the pain starts to return. The relief from the discomfort, especially at night, was wonderful.

The Livia unit

comes with a convenient protective case that can easily fit in a pocket or bag. To personalize your Livia, you can choose from a collection of pastel coloured “skins” that do nothing but further the stereotype that women like horrible colours and accessorising. When my uterus contractions cause me discomfort, I personally don’t give a stuff if my pain relief is dressed in a Lavender Flower or Sky-Blue Pillow design.

More important, I was impressed by how effective the Livia was as I have never considered this type of pain relief before.

Do I think it is worth £143)?

That depends on how severe your menstrual pain is. There are cheaper products that claim to alleviate menstrual pain, but Livia is the only device designed specifically for menstrual pain that has CE approval. The Livia is well made, easy to use, and who knows, maybe that personalisation option will just win you over. RRP £143

www.mylivia.com Pros Fast pain relief for acute pain Easy to use Discrete Portable You can carry out your normal activities whilst using it Protective travel case Rechargeable battery via USB

Cons Expensive Transparent gel protectors are difficult to find again when put down

 Gadgethead Magazine

Terms & Conditions Our aim is to give our readers the most honest reviews we can. We also want to ensure all manufacturers have the opportunity to promote their goods regardless of their financial standing. In fact we are incredibly proud that start up companies have just as much chance of promoting their goods as do established brands. Our policy is simple in that we don’t offer returns unless previously agreed. We also reserve the right to keep or sell the goods to fund our writers and keep our magazine active. We do not offer sponsored reviews where we are paid directly for the review and we feel that this model is the best way to get an objective and impartial review. So whilst we won’t guarantee a favourable review, we will guarantee an honest one.

Please check out our full terms and conditions on www.littlegatepublishing.com

We are disclosing this as we like to be transparent about our reviews.

48