Gadgethead 6.02

Issue 6.02

UK

£4.95

www.thegadgethead.com

Inspired By Your Success

Thinking about suicide? Worried about someone?

STAYALIVE Download the award-winning Stay Alive app for free. It can help you and others stay safe from suicide.

The Stay Alive app is a free self-help and educational resource, packed full of useful information and tools to help you and others stay safe from suicide.

Crisis Support

Quick access to UK national and local crisis support

Safety Plan

A mini-safety plan that can be filled out by anyone thinking about suicide

Staying Safe From Suicide

Steps to take when you are feeling suicidal, or you are concerned about someone else

LifeBox

A place to store life-affirming photos

CONTENTS Please Read: Raising Awareness Winter Motorbike Riding Aqua Sphere Kaiman Exo Goggles COROS SafeSound Road Smart helmet Hoomband Dryrobe See Sense ACE Reactive Cycle Lights Zerowater YuYu Bottle AirSnap Pro leather case for AirPods Pro SADES Spirits Gaming Headset Copy Editor Alice Instone-Brewer

Anker Soundcore Flare 2

alice@littlegatepublishing.com

MET Allroad helmet

Copy Editor James Lapping

AirFly Pro R

james@littlegatepublishing.com

Lead Designer Alina Sandu studio@littlegatepublishing.com

Publisher Stephen Warman

stevewarman@littlegatepublishing.com

Anker Eufy 2C Wireless Security Camera DAFNI Hair Allure Cordless straightening brush

PLEASE READ: RAISING AWARENESS

RIDING 5,307 MILES, ACROSS 10 COUNTRIES FOR GRASSROOTS SUICIDE PREVENTION BECAUSE THEY NEED SUPPORT TO KEEP SAVING LIVES Suicide is the most common cause years in the MoD and the UK Defence of death for men aged 20 to 50 in the UK. Sector. He then spent two decades in the Take a moment to read that sentence again stress of the city working in the Financial and then let yourself absorb that truly Services chasing money. He is married and disturbing statistic. has two kids. From the outside he had the Simon Stephen is an ordinary guy perfect life, but inside his nerves were and one of those of us who contemplated frayed and his spirit crushed. suicide in 2017. He was moments away Simon’s suicide attempt was in from killing himself when he felt a glimmer late 2017. He was drinking heavily and of hope and grabbed it with both hands. self-medicating with painkillers. He With the help of an amazing charity called saw himself as a poor husband, father ‘Grassroots’ he was given help, advice and and friend, felt he has made terrible life therapy. In Simon’s own words, he isn’t decisions, and suddenly realised that he fixed but he is getting there. was hurting people who cared about him.

I had the pleasure of meeting Simon He forced open a window in his ten-storey socially a few years ago on the stag night hotel bedroom, stepped out and sat on the for his uncle/my best friend. Simon is windowsill. He was alone and ready to a larger than life character, and what I jump when he heard a siren in the distance. would call a ‘man’s man’. When I found The noise made him think how much of a out about Simon’s story, I was shocked to nuisance he would be to an ambulance crew the core that this man had contemplated who would have to pick up the pieces on the suicide. We spoke about his challenge and street below. That moment of lucidity gave his motivation and I found his openness Simon a chance to reach out for help and and honesty toward the subject refreshing. found Grassroots. Since then he has been He made me realise that suicide is not on a journey to better understand himself, something that happens to ‘other people’ – make more of the world around him and, it can affect any one of us. above all, to live a simpler, gentler, kinder Simon’s story is not too different and more balanced life. from a lot of us. He worked too hard and The Charity Grassroots is an awarddidn’t value what he should have. Years winning charity and UK leader in suicide later, he woke up to find he didn’t really like prevention. They believe that suicide can what he had done or who he had become. be prevented through open and direct He had a hard school life, left home at 16 conversations. Grassroots provide people and had a few jobs before spending eight with the skills and confidence needed to

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Chas Mortimer Ltd. Motorcycle Transport

We deliver to and from the UK & Europe Please contact us at: enquiries@chasmortimer.co.uk | 01233 633 623 instagram chasmortimerltd

save lives through their training, innovation and thought-provoking campaigns, and surviving on donations alone, they need all the help they can get.

HIS CHALLENGE

Simon sets out on the 1st June 2020 to ride his motorbike for 30 days, covering some 5,307 miles (8,540km) across ten countries. His journey will set out from Punta de Tarifa in Spain and travel to Nordkapp, Norway in the Arctic Circle – aka, the southernmost point of mainland Europe to the northernmost. Simon’s goal is simple: to raise money and awareness for the charity that literally saved his life and continues to save others every day.

Simon started riding motorbikes in his late teens and, having crashed a few times and scared himself silly, had two children and was ‘advised’ by his family to get a car. He decided to hang up his leathers and didn’t ride again for over 25 years. He hasn’t even done a weekend trip on a motorbike, but now he is challenging himself by riding through ten countries.

The journey will be undoubtedly both beautiful and difficult, with changing climates, conditions, roads and tracks. This is a once in a lifetime ride and not one for the faint hearted!

Simon will be riding his Benelli TRK-X motorbike, which is a fantastically simple, effective adventure bike. It’s not the biggest or fastest but she is strong, comfortable and has a little Italian edginess.

The Benelli should have everything needed to make a journey of this distance and magnitude. Simon is hoping to raise ww£1 GBP per mile ridden, which totals at least £5,307 GBP. It is a genuine honour to help Simon get his story out there and to increase

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awareness for Grassroots. I am delighted that I will join him for in France to ride alongside him and share some stories (and definitely a few beers).

You can follow Simon on his journey, which starts now as he prepares, plans, and practices, as well as all the promotion needed, on Instagram @up._for._life When you speak to Simon, you get drawn into the man, his honesty and his challenge. The world needs people like him who are prepared to go above and beyond. Also, huge credit must be given to Grassroots: without them, we wouldn’t have our very own Simon at all.

So please, get involved, support, donate and spread the word - it’s going to be a heck of a ride!

If you can donate anything to support Simon and Grassroots, just click below and give what you can, and together we can save lives: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/upforlife You can offer Simon support directly by emailing him on ridethewrongwayup@gmail.com Simon has asked me to let you know that he is always available to help or advise anyone who needs an ear, whether they donate or not.

Thinking about suicide? Worried about someone?

STAYALIVE

The Stay Alive app is a free self-help and educational resource, packed full of useful information and tools to help you and others stay safe from suicide.

Staying Safe From Suicide

Steps to take when you are feeling suicidal, or you are concerned about someone else

LifeBox

A place to store life-affirming photos

Crisis Support

Quick access to UK national and local crisis support

Safety Plan

A mini-safety plan that can be filled out by anyone thinking about suicide

WINTER MOTORBIKE RIDING

IF I COULD RIDE MOST DAYS OF THE YEAR I WOULD, HOWEVER WINTER RIDING IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. THE COLD WEATHER BEARS NUMEROUS ISSUES: IF YOU ARE COLD YOUR REACTION TIME WILL SLOW DOWN; COLD ROADS MEAN COLD TYRES AND LESS GRIP ON OFFER; THE LOW SUN CAN BE BLINDING ESPECIALLY WITH A FOGGED-UP VISOR. SO, USE ANTI FOG SPRAY, REMEMBER TO SIGNAL EARLIER, INCREASE YOUR BRAKING DISTANCE AND RIDE SMOOTHLY. THE MAIN THING IS TO BE AWARE OF THESE ISSUES AND TO RIDE ACCORDINGLY AND MAKE YOURSELF AS COMFORTABLE AND WARM AS YOU CAN. Considering your clothing is a must, are two buttons, one which controls the as wind chill is a huge factor. If you are temperature of the trousers and socks and travelling at 20 mph at 0ºC then the wind the other the jacket and gloves. Surprisingly chill will reduce this to -6ºC. At 45mph the the Blazewear undergarmets take the same 0ºC will drop to -9ºC, so having a good base time to put on as normal base layers. layer is essential. In late 2019 I reviewed Over the base layers my go-to choice the Blazewear heated motorbike base layers is Gore-Tex, the thing about Gore-Tex is and was keen on them. At the time it wasn’t you know it works. It is never the cheapest cold enough to have them on full power so option, but there’s a huge difference in I wanted to revisit these on a winter ride. hoping you’re going to stay dry and knowing You can find the reviews here: you will. If you look after it well it will last Blazewear heated motorbike linings. for years so buy the best you can and then I planned a 350-mile day trip in you only have buy once. As Gore-Tex tends mid-January when the weather was cold to be the flagship of a manufacturer they and wet. Part coastal road and faster main seem to put extra effort onto their design roads, not ideal for a fun ride but great to and feel. The jacket I chose to review was review clothing and base layers. the Richa Cyclone Gore-Tex Textile Jacket.

This is how I dressed for the trip: It has the waterproof and breathable 3L I wore the heated Blazewear socks, Gore-Tex lining, a detachable thermal under trousers, under jacket and under quilted liner, D3O CE certified shoulder and gloves that all linked together and plugged elbow protection and D3O CE level 1 back into the electrical system of the bike. There armour.

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The first thing you notice is the quality of both the look and the feel of the material. The fit is excellent, I wear an XL shirt and the XL jacket is spot on. There are additional Velcro adjusters at the waist and arms to take up any slack. The D30 armour in the shoulders, elbows and back is comfortable, soft and unobtrusive, and stays in place nicely when walking about.

My only criticism would be the collar feels very low compared to my other jackets. But I overcame this easily buy buying a waterproof buff! In fact, the low collar does make moving your head around very easy and in the summer will be cooling so it may be that this criticism will become a positive as I get used to the jacket.

Oh yes, I must mention that it seems to attract pet fur!!

Gore-Tex again for the gloves, so I went with the Richa Ghent GTX gloves.

As I was also testing the Blazewear undergarments I had to change my usual XL gloves to an XXXL to get the base gloves underneath. They are soft and pliable with no uncomfortable seams. I liked the knuckle protectors and the visor wiper incorporated into the finger. The design is stylish with simple Velcro fastenings.

Boots too need a Gore-Tex lining to ensure that they are waterproof. I wanted to test a longer boot that could still offer comfort and walkability. My years of riding moto-x drove me towards a buckletype adventure boot, the TCX Baja GTX in black. TCX know how to make a good product, they come nicely packaged and as I was unpacking the box, I was full of anticipation. They look good and the fit is

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very comfortable. TCX use quality materials from the leather to the buckles which close with a reassuring click. These are quality boots. Although they look great all I really want is protection and with extensive cover of the foot, ankle and most of the lower leg, they certainly tick that box.

As I set off, I didn’t feel overly bulky.

The ride was cold and wet but as I was dry and warm it was very nice. Usually the cold creeps in and slowly but steadily your whole body cools down and you become uncomfortable but trek on and this is a major problem for it ramps up the danger as your reactions slow down. Not so in this kit.

A lot of the ride I didn’t have the electric heat on as the base layers and Richa Jacket were warm even at a temperature of 0ºC. I would expect the two layers within the jacket are adequate most of the time.

This is a jacket for all seasons as it has a detachable thermal liner and vents in the arms, chest and back will work well on warmer days. On the test I was riding in consistent drizzle and I stayed perfectly dry, I am yet to test the jacket in a torrential downpour however I am sure it will stand up well.

I thoroughly enjoyed the winter road test; the traffic was light, and the time flew by as I knocked off the 350 miles. Winter riding can be as enjoyable as in warmer conditions if you are alert and keep dry and warm.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” - Alfred Wainwright

AQUA SPHERE KAIMAN EXO GOGGLES IF YOU’RE A KEEN SWIMMER CHANCES ARE YOU’LL ALREADY BE FAMILIAR WITH AQUA SPHERE’S TOP-SELLING KAIMAN GOGGLES. DON’T REST ON YOUR LAURELS, IT’S TIME FOR AN UPGRADE! THE KAIMAN EXOS FEATURE AQUASPHERE’S ‘EXO-CORE BI-MATERIAL FRAME’,

TWO PARTS WHICH IN COMBINATION PROVIDE BOTH RIGIDITY AND COMFORT. I CAN VERIFY THAT CLAIM; ALTHOUGH LIGHT, THE KAIMAN EXOS FEEL REASSURINGLY STURDY, BUT FOR ME THE REAL ISSUE IS COMFORT - I REALLY DON’T ENJOY THE FEELING OF EXCESSIVE SUCTION IN MY EYE SOCKET OF ALL PLACES – WELL THESE SIT SUPREMELY COMFORTABLY AND SECURELY, WITHOUT THE EFFECT OF A SINK PLUNGER. These goggles feature a curved scratch’ is something my goggles would lens, something I can’t recall ever noticing benefit from! The EXOs come in men’s and before in my own swim goggles, and small fit. As a girl I share most of my kit although it could be in part due to the fact with my kids, so I’d personally opt for the I was consciously seeking that fuller field small and make do, anything is better than of vision, I did feel as though I had much oversized goggles! The EXOs are available better peripheral vision than usual. The in clear, polarised and dark; whether you curved lenses will undoubtedly help with need optimal vision for a murky open water hydrodynamics, too, but at this swimmer’s swim or glare protection from a sunny few pace it’s not something I tend to particularly lengths at your local lido, all of these offer care about, maybe those old goggles of mine 100% UVA and UVB protection. There have been slowing me down! What I do are mirror lens options on other models consider is aesthetics and this pair came in ie the Kaiman and black/grey, by far my least preferred colour Kayenne for those scheme, though admittedly goggles are to that want a facilitate how you SEE underwater, not how m i r r o r you LOOK. (Oh and there was absolutely no lens. water ingress, which undoubtedly helps with visibility.)

The EXO lenses have anti-fog and anti-scratch coatings and although I didn’t have much opportunity to ruin this particular pair, I am known to be lax with my accessories and ‘anti-

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Very comfy, no excessive suction!

RRP £19.99

PROS: Affordable Very comfy, no excessive suction!

No leaks

Great range of vision Hydrodynamic Latex free

CONS: Not the best colour combination but loads to choose from

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COROS SAFESOUND ROAD SMART HELMET CYCLING WITHOUT THE OPTION OF LISTENING TO YOUR FAVOURITE TRACKS OR ANSWERING A – POTENTIALLY IMPORTANT – CALL CAN BECOME

A BATTLE OF WILLS. HOWEVER IF MUSIC OR CONVERSATION COMPROMISE SAFETY THEN I’LL SIMPLY GO WITHOUT. BUT WHAT IF THEY DON’T? There are many solutions on the quality without eliminating essential road market, but what immediately set the noise. But this helmet wasn’t built just for COROS SafeSound Road Smart helmet pleasure; safety and functionality are key, apart for me is that, for something inbuilt and this is where the COROS app comes with thoughtful tech it actually looks into play. With the app, which tracks your better than most road helmets! The no- location, you can link your helmet to your nonsense polycarbonate shell is sleek and chosen emergency contacts, who will be aerodynamic, and although it’s not the notified automatically on impact detection, lightest lid on the market, (the medium meanwhile an SOS signal is transmitted weighs 320g) it is COROS’s most lightweight from the LED tail light. 10 hours’ battery model. Although the Road Smart is comfy life could see you through a week’s enough, you are aware of it, just as you commutes or a couple of weekend rides, are aware of the world around you wearing but if you need a top-up the rear charging it, but that’s the point; personally I find port is easily accessible and a doddle, so extreme comfort just a little too numbing, I you really have no excuse if you run out of much prefer to have my senses firing on all charge! cylinders when I’m on a bike.

With the helmet, you’ll find a charging cable, extra pads, and fixture for the bar-mounted remote, which is reassuringly tight, and the Smart remote itself. The controls are simple and not at all distracting, with five buttons in all for audio (playlist and calls), tail light, and tracking modes. The inbuilt mic is wind (and weather!) resistant, so those all important calls for help (or in my case, pizza) come through loud and clear, presuming you’re not out of signal. If you’re as forgetful as me, you’ll be reassured by the audible ‘light on/off’, so you know you are well lit, or not, if you forget to light up at the start of your ride.

Although the EOSS directional Bluetooth speakers won’t rival your home sound system, they do deliver clear sound

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Simple, clear controls

RRP £179.99

PROS Looks great Simple, clear controls Does not block road noise

Urban and MTB options also available

CONS Does not block wind noise

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HOOMBAND

HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD YOU PAY FOR A HEALTHIER HAPPIER YOU? FOR ME IT WOULD BE AN AWFUL LOT MORE THAT £50. WITHOUT SLEEP I AM GRUMPY AND STRUGGLE TO GET THINGS DONE AND, AS I GET OLDER, I FIND I AM WAKING UP EARLIER AND EARLIER. AS AN EXTREMELY LIGHT SLEEPER I FIND ANY CHANGE IN NOISE OR LIGHT LEVELS WILL WAKE ME AND ONCE I WAKE UP REST IS NO LONGER AN OPTION. I THINK ABOUT EVERYTHING FROM MY WORKLOAD, MY WORRIES, MY KIDS AND THAT’S IT, I AM WIDE AWAKE, REGARDLESS OF THE TIME. THE MORE OFTEN IT HAPPENS, THE MORE TIME I SPEND WORRYING THAT IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN, AND THEN THE MORE IT HAPPENS. IT’S AN EXHAUSTING DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAS CAUSED ME GREAT DISTRESS. My review of the Hoomband is from hours of stories someone who doesn’t have trouble nodding and sleep guided off, but from the perspective of someone meditation, prepared by sleep experts. You who wakes too early and desperately needs can also choose to listen to a white noise more sleep. I have found one way I can loop or relaxing soundscapes, or you can of trick my brain is to listen to soothing sleep course just tune in to your favourites. meditation music through ear plugs. This The app stays open to block out both drowns out my thoughts and replaces surrounding noises for the whole night. them so that I can sleep on. The problem What surprises me is that I don’t with this is that wired ear phones tend to find the headband at all uncomfortable or get caught up in bed and/or pop out and I inconvenient to use; in fact I like the way it don’t like the idea of using Bluetooth ear hugs the head, it’s quite comforting. It does plugs for long lengths of time not least come in 3 sizes, so ensure that you measure because of the discomfort they wreak when your head for the perfect fit. combined with a pillow!

I have found that the headband can When HoomBand asked me to try be slipped over my eyes and works as a their wired headband device I jumped at the black out eye mask too. Since using this I chance and was excited for another option am managing a solid 2-3 hours extra sleep, that has been designed to resolve this which is unheard of for me. I feel fresher problem. The Hoomband is a soft headband and energised all day and I must say my with inbuilt slim speakers, which don’t family and work colleagues have noticed a dig into your ears when you are laying on new happier me. the pillow.

When I wake early, I simply slip it over my head and turn on sleep meditation music. The band comes with 20 plus

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Doubles as an eye mask

RRP £49.00

arrow-alt-circle-right

www.hoomsleep.com PROS Comfortable Wired Feels nice

Sounds good Doubles as an eye mask

CONS If your smartphone doesn’t have a jack socket, make sure you are equipped with an adapter however I

bought one from eBay for £2 that arrived the next day, so this is no deal breaker.

DRYROBE LAST OCTOBER I RAN A 10K STEEPLECHASE OBSTACLE COURSE. AS WELL AS HOPPING HORSE JUMPS WE ALSO HAD TO LEAP OVER/FALL IN DITCHES AND RUN THOUGH PLENTY OF STREAMS - AS IF THIS DIDN’T LEAVE US WET AND COLD ENOUGH, IT RAINED THE ENTIRE TIME APART FROM WHEN IT WAS HAILING INSTEAD. IT WAS EASILY THE COLDEST AND WETTEST I HAVE EVER BEEN AND THAT INCLUDES THE TIME I RAN INTO THE FIRTH OF FORTH IN SCOTLAND ON NEW YEAR’S DAY. THE WORST MOMENT OF THAT DAY WAS TRYING TO GET CHANGED AFTERWARDS, WITH FREEZING COLD WINDS TRYING TO SNATCH THE TOWEL OFF ME AS I WAS TRYING TO PEEL OFF MY SODDEN RUNNING TIGHTS AND LET’S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE CONTORTIONIST SKILLS NEEDED TO REMOVE A WET SPORTS BRA. WHEN THE DRYROBE LANDED ON MY DESK IT WAS LIKE I COULD SEE INTO THE FUTURE OF ALL UPCOMING OUTDOOR EVENTS AND IT WAS LOOKING WARM AND SNUGGLY. The Advance Long Sleeve comes in great for storage but also double up as hand eleven colour combinations; we received the warmers, and there are interior pockets, black green version, the extra-long sleeves one of which can be accessed from both and large hood ensuring you get entire inside and outside the robe that is also coverage up top. The great thing about the waterproof making it great for car keys or dryrobe is that it’s super versatile, the wide a mobile phone. The two-way zip can be sleeves and loose fit mean you can draw your operated from either inside or outside, and arms into the main body and get discretely Velcro fasteners feature on the wrists to changed whilst keeping warm, and you help keep out the wind and rain. Although can also wear it for protection against the it only weighs 1.3kg it is somewhat bulky, elements whilst waiting to participate in an but dryrobe have thought about that by event or simply spectating. The waterproof producing a waterproof travel compression outer layer means you can leave your wet sack available at a further £30. It would stuff on underneath and the lining draws be nice if this was included as standard, the water away from the skin into the but nevertheless it certainly gets around pile of the fabric, so you can sit in the car any problems there! The dryrobe is a without getting the seat wet. It can be brilliant bit of kit, a must have for a huge reused multiple times without ever feeling range of events from family camping trips wet or cold, the insulating fabrics make you to top-level sports events, allowing you feel super warm very quickly, helping you to get warm and dry quickly, leaving you to preserve your energy and regulate core more time to brag about your exploits to body temperature. your mates.

The inner lining helps you dry off fast, the lined zip-up exterior pockets are

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Dries and warms you up very fast

PROS

from £70

Completely waterproof and windproof outer shell fabric Highly versatile Super warm synthetic lambswool lining Dries and warms you up very fast Full-length 2-way reversible YKK zip Minimal sealed seam construction

Deep external fleece warm lined pockets double as hand warmers Internal zip-entry pocket, 2-way access waterproof pocket and ‘A4’ internal soft lined poacher pocket Lightweight (1.3kg) Durable

CONS Bulky (compression sack not included) Not recommended for use on the water

due to the absorbing properties causing a risk of drowning

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

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

4 wheels for urban use

silvercrossbaby.com

Trekking wheel for multi terrain use

In Tune With You

Discover and enjoy live and on-demand audio effortlessly, anywhere.

Copyright Š 2019 Pure International Limited. All rights reserved. E&OE.

Visit www.pure.com to view our full range

SEE SENSE ACE REACTIVE CYCLE LIGHTS

I LOVE ACCESSORIES THAT ARE TECHY FOR GOOD REASON! THESE BIKE LIGHTS MAKE YOU MORE VISIBLE ON THE ROAD, NOT LEAST BECAUSE THEY LIGHT YOU UP. RIDING WITH THE SEE.SENSE APP THIS BRILLIANT SAFETY PACKAGE CAN FEEDBACK YOUR ROUTE TO INCREASE SAFETY ON THE ROAD, MAKING SUBSEQUENT JOURNEYS ON THAT ROUTE (POTENTIALLY) LESS RISKY FOR YOU AND OTHER ROAD USERS. AMAZING. BUT LET’S TALK ABOUT THE LIGHTS! On first glance they looked a bit with your charging. The pack came with ‘retro’ to me, but don’t let their geometry two micro USB charging cables – my first deceive you. These lights - which came thought was, great! One for home, one for boxed as a pair - respond to your experience work, and I’ll never be caught out! Then on the road, by increasing in intensity at I remembered there are two lights. For crucial points of your ride, (junctions, for someone as absent minded as me, another instance, where I once fatefully came a pair would be handy. cropper) flashing quicker and more brightly I tested these in both light and dark to make you more visible. conditions and felt safe although I always The rear light is 125 lumens and like to double up my lights in midwinter, although the front is only 150 (the more I didn’t feel using these was excessive, lumens the better, in my opinion) both do as they perform that added function of shine in daylight, so it’s worth keeping noting your route, your experience on the them on at all times of day. road, and potentially protecting your bike They feature both theft and crash from theft. alerts – we trialled the ‘theft’ if the bike Although they are ‘water sealed’ I moves and you don’t, well, you hear about didn’t take them out in the wet, but I’ve it! I didn’t trial the ‘crash’ - I’m a gadget never had an issue with water ingress in reviewer, not a stunt pro! any of my lights and I have faith in that The lights come with various claim. The tracking aspect I LOVE and attachments should you already have fixed if you are unfortunate enough to be lights (I do), you can attach the rear to your in a crash and they will send your location rucksack or jacket, for instance (I did). I’d to your nominated contact. say they are average dimensions, (59.5mm No amount of light, or flashes, or x 32.5mm x 22.5mm), so neither too bulky smart technology will protect you from a nor insignificant. What is noticeable is the crash, only your wits and those of other lights are visible from the sides, and the road users will do that, but these certainly more angles you’re seen from, the better. go some way to making your journey a safer With a couple of hours’ charge you’ll one, and at only £79.99 for the pair, I get around 10 hours’ usage, ample for a wouldn’t argue with the investment. few commutes but don’t be last-minute

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arrow-alt-circle-right RRP £79.99 PROS Decent battery life (10 hours) Bright enough, even in daylight Theft alert

Can link to Garmin, if you like that kind of thing Various attachments

CONS I love a REALLY bright light for dark nights, but there’s no stopping you

teaming them up with a brighter head/tail light, the more the merrier!

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ZEROWATER

WE RECEIVED THE 12-CUP FILTER PITCHER FROM ZEROWATER – A WATER FILTERING JUG THAT PROMISES TO GET 99.6% OF DISSOLVED SOLIDS OUT OF YOUR WATER. MOST PITCHERS HAVE A TWO-STAGE SYSTEM, BUT THIS FILTER HAS FIVE STAGES. DOES IT REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE? TO SHOW YOU THAT IT DOES, THE JUG COMES WITH AN EASY TO USE READER STICK, SO I POURED A GLASS OF WATER FROM THE TAP AND ONE FROM THIS PITCHER TO COMPARE. OUR TAP WATER SHOWED A READING OF 340PPM (PARTICLES PER MILLILITRE), AND THE FILTERED WATER CAME UP WITH THE PROMISED 000PPM READING. THE AVERAGE TAP WATER READING IS APPARENTLY 220PPM, SO OURS WAS PARTICULARLY BAD, BUT THIS FILTER STILL GOT IT TO THAT 000 READING. YOU CAN CERTAINLY TASTE THE DIFFERENCE – I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK TO OUR TAP WATER AFTER THIS! APPARENTLY, 2-STAGE FILTERS WILL ACHIEVE RESULTS OF AROUND 155PPM, SO THIS IS WORTH THE INVESTMENT! I think we received more information through. However, the product has a few with this jug than we have with some rough edges – the seam along the handle electronics: when I opened it, I felt more is raised and a little sharp, which isn’t the like I’d been asked to construct a bomb! The most comfortable to hold, and the raised box is coated with facts and instructions, plastic around the base is similar. It hasn’t as is the plastic filter cover and not just had any effect on my worktops, but I am one, but two four-sided inserts. These all reluctant to put it on anything I’m anxious repeat each other to a degree, but slip in to protect, just in case. a few facts that none of the others have, This 12-cup pitcher (2.8 litres) is the which means you need to read them all. I biggest of Zerowater’s pitchers, but there wanted to check whether I should rinse are many others available, from a 6-cup the product once before use, and thanks to pitcher to 30-cup and 40-cup dispensers. this onslaught, I wasn’t sure: I couldn’t see This filter system works brilliantly, it mentioned anywhere, but I might have and the inclusion of the reader is helpful for missed something. Finally, I did it anyway, keeping an eye on when your filter needs just to be safe. replacing. The jug isn’t super comfortable The jug itself has a convenient slot to hold, and unpacking it had me feeling like in the lid for your measuring stick, so it’s I was revising for an exam, but it definitely always to hand, and there is a decent- does the job and does it well! sized reservoir for letting the water filter

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Easy-to-use reader to check water quality

£29.28

https://zerowater.co.uk PROS: Produces clean, 000ppm water Easy-to-use reader to check water quality Range of sizes

Reader keeps an eye on when filter needs replacing Easy to construct

CONS: Rough edges

Confusing levels of info

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YUYU BOTTLE

ON FIRST GLANCE I KNEW I WAS GOING TO LOVE THE YUYU BOTTLE, IT ARRIVED IN THE SORT OF PACKAGING THAT IS SO SUBTLE IT STATES, ‘WE’LL JUST LET THE PRODUCT SPEAK FOR ITSELF...’

I can’t imagine a home that wouldn’t wrapping it around both my lower back and feel better with a YuYu. I don’t suffer from tummy feels incredibly comforting, just any sort of aches and pains but I do love my as effective as a warm bath. We received hot water bottle, or rather I did until the the Luxury Fleece YuYu, in Mink, which YuYu appeared. The YuYu is 81cm long but isn’t dissimilar to snuggling up to a ferret, holds the same volume as a standard hot without the bad smell. If you don’t like water bottle, in short, it provides double ferrets, the Lochcarron tartan or Liberty the comfort with arguably less energy print fabrics, or 100% ethically-sourced consumption. cashmere, are beautiful alternatives.

The rubber is 100% natural and What I really love about this product biodegradable and the dimples have the is the effort that has gone into sourcing same effect as a massaging mitt, which the products ethically, and their altruistic helps ease muscular pain, but if massage ethos: sourcing 25% of the rubber from the isn’t required then these little bubbles also Fair Rubber Association, and donating of help retain heat for up to 6 hours. I didn’t unused bottles to the homeless community test this claim, but I imagine even after less gets a thumbs up from me. YuYu bottles time you’d be inclined to get up and refill may not be the cheapest hot water bottles the bottle while making a cuppa. on the market (RRPs range from £33 for the From time to time my other half Luxury Fleece to £179 for 100% Cashmere) needs a heat pad after a particularly arduous but they offer double the comfort, and any day’s work, and we have discovered that brand that ‘gives back’ is worth the extra, balancing a hot water bottle on your in my book. shoulder is no way to resolve the issue, while heating gels and lotions not only contain questionable ingredients but need regular reapplication, and as for the person massaging the knots out (me!) the issue is frankly tiresome. This YuYu comes with a 1.2m extendable strap, which secures the bottle comfortably across your back or shoulders and can be adjusted to sit in just the right position. We had a little jiggle with the YuYu and there isn’t really an area it can’t reach and remain comfortably, so if you are caring for someone with chronic pain for instance, this seems an ideal solution. Or course it can also be filled with cold water, to help calm inflammation.

Of course it is great for period pain, too, but even without pain to relieve,

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Natural, biodegradable rubber

PROS Natural, biodegradable rubber ‘Hands free’ comfort

Variety of fabric options Ethical

CONS More expensive than a standard hot water bottle

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RRP AIRSNAP PRO £34.99 LEATHER CASE FOR AIRPODS PRO

MY WIFE RECENTLY BOUGHT SOME AIRPODS PRO AFTER SHE HAD TRIED HER FRIEND’S AND SAID THEY WERE THE ONLY EARBUDS THAT WOULD KEEP IN WHEN SHE RAN. They cost a whopping £249.00 leather in a variety of colours and you can but there’s no denying that they do sound still charge your AirPods Pro wirelessly or superb. If you keep your phone and via the Lightning Cable in the case. It also accessories in good condition, there is comes with a removable AirSnap S-clip to always a good second-hand market for them attach your them to a backpack, belt, or and TwelveSouth produce a leather case for just to keep them handy. There is also a these pods called AirSnap Pro. It’s a simple nylon wristlet. leather case that fits over the Pros to look I liked this little product, which is a good and - more importantly - protect them. definite improvement on the plain case.

The case is made from thick quality

PROS Well made Quality leather

Looks nice Protects well

CONS Need Airpods for this

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lovely little case

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www.twelvesouth.com

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SADES SPIRITS GAMING HEADSET IN THE WORLD OF GAMING HEADSETS, SADES ARE UNDOUBTEDLY A LEADER. THEIR ALL-NEW SPIRITS GAMING HEADSET IS A COST-EFFECTIVE OPTION FOR NEW GAMERS, OR ANYONE ON A BUDGET, WHO ARE UNWILLING TO COMPROMISE ON QUALITY. The Spirits are multi-platform directional boom microphone. compatible, and will work with your PS4, The controls on the left earcup are PC, laptop, Nintendo Switch and Xbox One, straightforward to use and convenient. thanks to their 3.5mm audio plug. The Particularly impressive for their Spirits are devoid of bells and whistles- price is the sound quality of the Spirits. yet they do their job very well, with no With 50mm speakers and surround sound, fuss. I was a fan of the sleek, unobtrusive the audio rivals that of far more expensive look of the black headset- although the gaming headsets. The feedback itself is Spirits also come in white, blue, pink and good and does not distract during even the red, depending on your preference. They most intense gaming moments. are particularly lightweight, weighing For anyone interested in getting into a mere 220 grams, and this paired with the world of gaming but unwilling to fork their slightly smaller size than your typical out a huge amount for a headset, the SADES gaming headset makes the Spirits an Spirits could be your perfect solution. ideal choice for being on the go. A slight Equally, for those who are pro gamers, at drawback, however, is that the headset is the price of the Spirits, it makes sense to not foldable- which would have been a great invest in them anyway as a spare headset feature to accompany the lightweight feel for everyday use. of the headset.

SADES have placed comfort as a priority with the Spirits. They are durable yet comfortable, with leather earmuffs and padding across the headband that also are skin-friendly. Stereo compatible, the headset is adjustable and comes accompanied with a flexible omni-

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From £25

Durable and comfortable

PROS: Cost effective Durable and comfortable

Great audio quality Lightweight

CONS: Not foldable

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ANKER SOUNDCORE FLARE 2 PORTABLE, WATERPROOF, WIRELESS BLUETOOTH SPEAKER WITH SYNCHRONISED LED LIGHT RINGS?! BE STILL MY TEENAGE HEART! Not only is this a fun looking little synchronise the lights with your music, or 360° speaker, it kicks out some substantial set them in a variety of modes and moods. I bass when asked and can pair with up to didn’t dare test the IP67 ‘waterproof’ claim 100 Flare speakers, controllable by the but I daresay plenty of others will have Soundcore app. Imagine being in charge of done, and I’ve heard no bad press, so let’s that remote! call it submersible.

The Flare 2 is really pleasant to Unlike my small Bluetooth speakers, the touch, in both shape and it’s variety which in comparison both look and sound of textures; the few buttons on the top ‘tinny’, the Flame 2 with an audio output perform the basic functions and the power/ of 2 x 10W offers 12 hours’ runtime from aux ports are discreetly positioned on the a 3.5 hour charge (via USB) - less if you side, but download the Soundcore app and use all the extras and/or have the volume your phone will do the rest of the work. ramped up, but it’ll keep you entertained I’d have rated the sound quality for a night without the need to recharge. I on a par with my own portable Bluetooth imagine these sound even better teamed up speakers, but hit ‘BassUp’ and a richer, more as a pair at least; who doesn’t enjoy being substantial bass kicks in. The LED coloured surrounded by bassy sounds and a bespoke light rings are a nice touch, and the non- light show? Dreamy. slip bottom is handy, given their cylindrical shape they could otherwise topple and roll!

Using the Soundcore app you can either

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12 hours’ playtime

PROS

RRP £61.99

Nice bass for a small speaker ‘Sociable’ speakers – pair up with others

12 hours’ playtime Simple app Great textures!

CONS Rainbow LEDs aren’t really necessary, but they’re a nice touch and USP

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MET ALLROAD HELMET

I LOVE MY BIKES. BUT UNLIKE MANY CYCLISTS WHAT I DON’T LOVE IS A HOUSE FULL OF CYCLING ACCESSORIES! I was lucky to enjoy a commute would recommend a fuller helmet for trails, that incorporated smooth tarmac, dense this will certainly keep you protected both woodland and a mile or so of loose disused on the road and on slightly looser ground, railway track; depending on which bike so it is ideal for most leisure rides and I took, (which was by no means down to commutes. preference but rather selected in haste As we have come to expect from according whichever was nearest the front Italian design, MET helmets are not only door at the time) I’d either enjoy a slick and very easy on the eye, but built for comfort. swift road section followed by a hair-raising This helmet is notably lightweight – the off-road finale, or a relatively sluggish road medium (56-58cm) weighs just 265g – and section with a grin-inducing home straight! like all their models, is compatible with While the contrast in headwear wasn’t MET’s DualGel padding, which, combined quite so distinct, I recognise in the Allroad with Safe-T Duo adjustment, ensures a cool what would have been the perfect crossover and super-comfortable fit. helmet.

With an RRP of £70 (or €70) this Just as the name suggests, this helmet helmet will have mass appeal to road cyclists adapts to suit both road commutes and more who enjoy the occasional, leisurely off-road active leisure rides. When off-road, the ride. For those tending towards either end visor (black on all models) snaps neatly into of the spectrum, whether you’re seeking the vents, providing adequate shade; when fuller head coverage or ultra-aerodynamics, removed for road use, the helmet looks and the Allroad may not be for you, but MET can feels clean, sleek, and built for purpose, certainly deliver! with no stray fixtures. The visor flexes The Allroad comes in 6 colour just enough to detach easily, and is robust options: Matt White; Matt Grey; Matt enough not to break in transit. The Allroad Black; Matt Safety Yellow; Matt Black/ is not just about aesthetics, road safety is Cyan; Matt Black/Red, and three sizes (S clearly prioritised, with the visor detached, 52-56cm; M 56-58cm; L 58-61cm), while not only does it offer good visibility of the the 360° adjustment ensures a supremely road, but with small reflective strips as comfortable, niggle-free fit. well as a neatly integrated LED rear light with flash mode, this helmet also ensures that you are seen ON the road. While the vent size and ‘ponytail-friendly’ open rear guarantee comfort, they will not provide the greater protection against debris of an MTB helmet for example, so although I

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PROS: Lightweight and comfortable Compatible with

DualGel padding Road safety features

CONS: Visor is completely removable – I would

misplace it in weeks!

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AIRFLY PRO R

THIS GADGET IS THE MISSING LINK BETWEEN WIRELESS HEADPHONES AND WIRED HEADPHONE JACKS. AirFly Pro allows you to use your indicator), so it is more than suitable for Bluetooth headphones with items that those long journeys, just make sure you aren’t Bluetooth compatible and only have charge it before you leave! That said the a headphone jack. It can also act as a AirFly can be charged while it’s in use. This headphone splitter, and can allow you to is a very convenient item to own if you have play music from your phone on a car stereo recently upgraded to Bluetooth headphones if have a new iPhone and can no longer or a newer smart phone. It saves the faff simply aux it. of buying adapters for each separate piece The product was nice and easy to get of tech you own, and will come in useful going straight out of the box and was very for a while – it will be sometime before simple to use. It comes with a long battery everything is Bluetooth compatible. life (but unfortunately with no battery

www.twelvesouth.com PROS Easy Practical Good design

Allows use of wireless headphones where they could not be used before

CONS Price but it is simple and works well.

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RRP £54.99

ANKER EUFY 2C WIRELESS SECURITY CAMERA HOW I LOVE A WIRELESS DEVICE WHEN IT WORKS! THE FIRST THING I NOTICED UNPACKING THIS KIT IS THE SHORTAGE OF CABLES, AND THUS POTENTIAL COMPLICATIONS. THE TWO CAMERAS ARE REALLY SLEEK, NEAT LITTLE DEVICES, LIKE LITTLE ROBOT BUDDIES READY TO PROTECT AND INFORM, THEY EVEN COME PRECHARGED, AND PROMISE 180 DAYS’ USE BEFORE RECHARGING. I haven’t had the kit 180 days so I can either livestream or record video, and can neither confirm nor deny this. What you have 16GB of storage. Those videos are I can confirm is the evident quality of the securely encrypted, meaning only you have kit – the cameras have a great build quality, access to them, which I found particularly with an IP67 weatherproof rating, you can reassuring with the cameras inside my tell just by running your fingers over them home, especially given the built-in facial that it’d take more than a heavy shower to recognition feature. infiltrate the casings. That said, you might The 2-way audio is as clear as only need them for indoor use. I’m not sure the camera image, handy for responding whether being white in colour is a positive to welcome visitors and warding off or a negative – a clearly visible security unwelcome intruders, or simply giving them device can be a deterrent to opportunists, a fright! This couples well with the capacity but I also like the the idea of a more stealthy to customise your area of vision/detection. ‘fly on the wall’ system.

I’m a trusting person so like to imagine I’d The kit is compact, quick and simple use the cameras to reassure me there are to set up, using a QR code, then sync the no unwanted people lurking around my cameras to your HomeBase, and you’re house, but the odd unnecessary alert would pretty much good to go, after securing the undoubtedly put the frighteners up me, so cameras in your chosen locations using I do love the fact the cameras are set to Linking the HomeBase through your home detect human movement, and won’t be so WiFi makes connection that bit better. easily alerted by a waving branch or the As for the HD 1080p cameras, I cannot neighbour’s cat. The Eufy 2C is compatible fault the image quality, more than simply with Amazon Alexa, which I imagine is a detecting and alerting me to movement, the handy feature for a lot of people, but again picture comes through near crystal clear in not something I could test out in our lowdaylight and using IR (the spotlight is better tech cottage! as a security feature/deterrent in the dark, Add-on cameras available RRP £139.99 as it does distort the image quality). You

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Private encrypted video storage

RRP £259.99

PROS Great build quality Superb, clean image quality Very simple set up Long battery life Spotlight

Private encrypted video storage 2-way audio, handy for visitors AI human detection & facial recognition

CONS Expensive compared to most items in my home,



but no denying it will suit those less frugal!

DAFNI HAIR ALLURE CORDLESS STRAIGHTENING BRUSH

TO CALL MY HAIR ‘UNRULY’ WOULD BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT, AND YET I DON’T TEND TO GO TO ANY MEASURES TO TAME IT. THE THOUGHT OF USING A HAIRBRUSH IN CONJUNCTION WITH ANOTHER APPLIANCE FILLS ME WITH DREAD, ALTHOUGH THAT COULD BE DOWN TO SEVERAL FACTORS OTHER THAN MY INEPTITUDE; IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO MY HAIR, ILL-POSITIONED SOCKETS, AND TIME, FOR STARTERS. The DAFNI Allure resolved every one the fragility of my hair I wouldn’t go near a of these issues: cord-free, so I could ‘style’ pair of irons. At 18.5 x 5.8 x 9.2cm it packs (dry) my hair in the bathroom, where there easily into an overnight bag, and comes are mirrors, when short of time I could with a thermal bag, so if you are concerned even style on the go (in the passenger seat about overheating - don’t be. of a car, en route to a lovely restaurant, The Allure only takes a couple of for instance - it’s probably less effective minutes to heat up, although I find there’s on a bicycle…), and a consistent, low heat, no harm in being impatient. The brush which resulted no frizz whatsoever. charged via a USB port, and claims to retain I love so much about this product: the charge for three heads of hair – as with hair colour scheme is bright and fun, the paddle- colour, I’d say this is very much dependent shaped brush is broad and delivers a gentle on the head, and hair type; having short, heat, so unlike standard straightening fine hair it took me very little time, but a irons it felt nourishing, and doesn’t appear head of longer, fuller hair may exhaust to have wrought any damage on my fragile that charge in little over one sitting. I can’t hair. Crucially, the Allure left my locks imagine a real scenario where this would be frizz-free – a result I have never achieved an issue. when pairing a brush and dryer, and due to

PROS Cordless – game changer!

Ample battery life (for me)

Gentle – minimal heat damage and paddle brush

CONS Absolutely no use whatsoever if you ‘woke

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up this way’ with pokerstraight hair

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RRP £155

DAFNI PRESS RELEASE In September of 2015’ 28 years old, Sharon Rabi a young engineer and new mom thought she should be looking for a job. She has been developing the hair straightening brush for three years with her father, a senior engineer and a new mommy for the second time. She knew every business takes time to justify and as her expenses kept getting higher, she felt like the responsible thing to do would be to find a paying job.

Later that month and just a couple weeks after starting to sell their innovative styling tool, Sharon changed her mind when a simple demo video she made broke the internet reaching over 120 million views, DAFNI got immediate coverage from Glamour Vogue and more and was approached by the best retailers in the world like Sephora Paris.

The classic DAFNI® brush is made of high quality materials and is based on a revolutionary technology and a unique patented 3D ceramic surface design that has 8 times the surface of a flat iron. The idea was to create a heat dissipating brush for fast fun a n d fabulous results.

Since the brush doesn’t press the hair and works on

a fairly low temperature it is less damaging to the hair, allowing it to grow longer, stronger naturally. At a perfect 185°C the DAFNI® straightener brushes your hair in to style in just 3-5 minutes. And the evenly spaced bristles glide through your hair without tugging or pulling, creating straight, frizz-free strands fast.

DAFNI® was designed out of frustration, when Sharon realized the popular iron was actually invented in 1909, imagine how much has changed in the past century, women’s rule in society has no doubt transformed. In 2018, we have to get the kids ready get to work and be selfie ready before our first sip of coffee. DAFNI’s mission is to facilitate the confidence of a great hair day, DAFNI is a part of your world. Casually fitting into your busy schedule, turning your whole day around, with almost no effort at all.

Without wasting your precious time, DAFNI becomes a natural part of your day, every day.

On the mission to make women feel beautiful and get re empowered by their hair anytime anywhere the DAFNI R&D team took a big challenge; creating the first cordless hair straightening brush that can style a whole head, and actually up to three, between charges. The challenge here was not to create another product that understands a need, but a product that delivers. It took over 18 months to develop and perfect, the new DAFNI allure (because why merely exist, when you can allure) shines in alluring colors, consists of extra friction for maximal control and has a curved back which make it easy and fun to style tips and bangs.

TERMS & CONDITIONS At Gadget Head, our aim is to give our readers the most honest reviews we can. We also seek to provide all manufacturers with an equal opportunity to promote their goods: in fact, we are incredibly proud that startup companies have just as much of a chance to feature in our magazine as established brands do.

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We don’t guarantee 5-star reviews, but we do guarantee an honest one!

EXPLORE. ENJOY.

MAXIA 4

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