Gadgethead 5.07

Issue 5.07

UK

£4.95

www.thegadgethead.com

Inspired By Your Success

CONTENTS Berghaus Hillwalker II Gore-Tex Boots • simplehuman 58 litre Dual Compartment Recycler • Zungle Viper dryrobe Advance Long Sleeve • Benq GV1 Portable Projector • Ben Sayers XF Laser Rangefinder • POC Ventral Air Spin • Karcher SC 3 EasyFix

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

Wat Medical EmeTerm Antiemetic • Libratone Q Adapt On-Ear • Vivobarefoot Primus Trail FG X Finisterre • Dodow Sleep Aid Furygan Jeans 01 • Zepp Golf 2 • Helinox Chair Two • Ultimate Ear • Alpinestars Supertech R Boot Master & Dynamic MW65 • Victorinox Swiss 6-Piece Modern Cutlery Block • District Vision Nagata Running Glasses • LittleBits Synth Kit Periodic Audio • Simba Hybrid Pillow • Elvie Trainer • Catit Smartsift and Litter Mat Shot Scope V2 • Elvie Pump • Swann Wire-Free 720p Smart Video Doorbell • Forcefield Sport Suit • Vitrex Pro 630mm Tile Cutter Plantronics Backbeat GO 810 • Musto MPX GORE-TEX Pro Offshore Jacket

BERGHAUS HILLWALKER II GORE-TEX BOOTS BERGHAUS HAVE A LONG-STANDING REPUTATION OF PRODUCING HIGH-QUALITY GEAR THAT LETS YOU ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS WHILST REMAINING COMFORTABLE AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. BORN IN THE NORTH EAST OF ENGLAND, BERGHAUS HAVE OVER 50 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO DRAW ON WHEN CREATING THE BERGHAUS HILLWALKER II GORE-TEX BOOTS. These boots have been designed to be all-rounders, suitable for all types of weather and all types of landscapes the UK has to offer, weighing in at 1202g (UK9 pair), they come in brown in sizes 7-12 with half sizes available throughout (there is also a women’s specific version of the boot, built on a ladies’ last and available in full and half sizes from 4-8). First impressions are: these are an attractive pair of boots with a minimalist design and reduced outsole that cuts back on bulk and weight, the oiled suede shell feels soft straight out of the box however with a sturdy enough toe box and ankle construction to provide support and protection on rugged terrain.

Built into the shoe is the GoreTex lining for a highly dependable waterproofing and breathability, the tiny holes in the material are smaller than water molecules, preventing rain, puddles and snow from getting into the boot, however the moisture

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created from the heat inside the boot is small enough to escape (we are talking foot sweat) this helps to keep the feet nice and cool on long treks. There is memory foam in the heel and in the tongue for form-fitting comfort, the OrthoLite footbeds provide plenty of cushioning, while the patented OPTI-STUD outsole is there to give a sturdy grip on uneven and wet terrains. The EVA midsole works as a shock absorber to make each step gentler on your knees and ankles by absorbing the jarring movements and the footbeds are fully removable whenever they need to be freshened up. These boots take a little breaking in but with the right pair of socks this isn’t an issue, the slimmer outsole and tread, along with the softer material, means they wouldn’t be my first choice for incredibly course terrains, but they are good all-rounders and keep your feet dry, cool and comfortable over a long days walk.

Comfortable with good traction

RRP £130

https://www.berghaus.com/mens-hillwalker-ii-goretex-boots%C2%A0/421609.html PROS Comfortable Good traction Breathable Gore-Tex waterproofing

Memory foam at the heel and tongue OrthoLite footbed and Opti-Stud outsole

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SIMPLEHUMAN 58 LITRE DUAL COMPARTMENT RECYCLER WITH DAVID ATTENBOROUGH DOING HIS UTMOST TO BREAK OUR HEARTS WITH EVERY FRESH DOCUMENTARY, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC RISE IN PLASTIC RECYCLING, THEY HAVE EVEN NAMED IT THE ATTENBOROUGH EFFECT, PEOPLE ARE MORE AWARE THAN EVER ABOUT WHAT THEY PUT IN THEIR BINS. We have a small box to put the recycling in and a large bin for general waste however I now seem to be emptying the recycling every other day, so it is time for an upgrade. The 58 Litre Dual Compartment Recycler will save me from walking the extra 12 steps to the recycling box by housing both a recycling compartment and the general waste bin in the same unit. The bin is opened via the strong, wide pedal, unlike some bins this pedal runs all the way to the back of the bin and pivots near the centre like a see-saw, this spreads the stress across the entire steel platform which has been engineered to last over 150,000 steps, that’s more than 20 steps a day for 20 years. The lid features air technology controls which means it opens quickly and shuts - when you take your foot off the pedal - in slow, smooth and silent motion. Airflow in and out of a specially designed damper allows the lid to open easily but provides resistance as the lid closes, easing it down gently and quietly, while the internal hinge prevents the lid from bumping against the wall.

This bin is available Rose Gold Steel, Black Stainless Steel and the version we received, the regular Stainless Steel.

All bins are fingerprint-proof but only the brushed steel has the nano-silver clear coat that protects the steel from germs. There is a dedicated liner pocket built onto the back of the bin, meaning you

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can dispense a new liner from the inside of the bin after removing the old one, there is a pack of simplehuman extra-thick, doubleseamed liners that are designed to fit bins without slipping and remaining hidden. The recycling compartment can be fully removed by the handle for easy emptying however I was slightly disappointed the general waste doesn’t have the same removable feature; this is simply down to my attempt to avoid adding more plastic to my rubbish by cutting out plastic bin liners altogether.

If simplehuman sold the appropriate sizes of biodegradable bin liners I would be all over them but until then I will just pick up a couple of washable, reusable ones instead.

The only other extra feature we would like to see is an easier option of locking the lid open, this would just come in handy now and then if you are getting rid of lots of bits all at once or fancy flinging paper balls from across the room - there is a cheeky way round this though which is by lifting the liner rim. The Dual Compartment Recycler is a good way to organise all your waste and recycling in one space, its durable construction, easy of use and sparkling design means it will fit in well in any home, and viewing your recycling every time you go to use the bin automatically prompts you to think, ‘can I recycle this?’

RRP £179.99

Built-in bin liner

https://www2.simplehuman.com/uk/58-litre-rectangular-dual-compartment-step-can-stainless-steelliner-pocket PROS Sleek design Strong and wide foot pedal Built-in bin liner dispenser (for those that choose to use them)

Silent, smooth and slow closure Internal hinge Fingerprint proof Removable recycling compartment

CONS Can’t remove general waste compartment Lid doesn’t lock open

No biodegradable bin liners available

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ZUNGLE VIPER WHEN THE WEATHER IS GLORIOUS AND YOU HAVE A DECENT TUNE PLAYING IN YOUR EARS YOU CAN FEEL ON TOP OF THE WORLD, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE WALKING TO SOMEWHERE HIDEOUS LIKE THE DVLA, THE VIPER SUNGLASSES FROM ZUNGLE CUT OUT THE CUMBERSOME COMBINATION OF HEADPHONES AND SUNGLASSES OR EARPHONES WITH THEIR DANGLING WIRES

BY TURNING THE SUNGLASSES THEMSELVES IN HEADPHONES. The Viper uses bone conduction and Bluetooth to allow you to listen to your music wirelessly but at the same time keeps you connected to the world around you.

We received the Viper in the Matte Black with Bonfire lenses however it is also available in Matte Grey with Ocean Blue lenses; you can get a second set of lenses (eight available in total) at a discounted price at the point of purchase. The Bonfire lenses offer 100% UV400 protection, they are polarised with a hard surface coating and pass the drop ball test and are FDA, CE, RoHS certified.

you, making it a good choice for cycling, running and wandering about in busy areas. These glasses are also sweat and weather resistant with an IPX4 rating meaning you don’t have to worry about working up a sweat or a change in the weather.

You can use the Viper to access your phone’s Siri or your Google Assistant, the Bluetooth 5.0 connection provides stressfree pairing voice prompts and stable connection up to 10 metres.

The glasses are lightweight (50g) a n d comfortable to wear, the temples are understandably thicker than usual, but it doesn’t detract too much from the style, the built-in battery provides four hours of playtime with 100 hours’ standby time with charging time taking less than one hour (special cable included). If sound quality is your priority than the Viper is best given a swerve, however if you are looking for an attractive pair of sunglasses (and can get past those chunky temples) with the added bonus of enjoying some tunes, hands-free calls and voice assistant they might be perfect for you.

Continue to safely hear the world around you

The bone conductivity isn’t as scary as it sounds, it simply means the the Vibra speakers sit close to your ears but not in or over your ears, it sends the vibrations through the bone of your temple and that’s how you receive the sound, this type of system has its downsides in that the quality is nowhere near as good as wire headphones or even regular wireless connection. The benefit of this type of conductivity is that you can still hear the world around

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RRP £151.99

arrow-alt-circle-right https://www.zungleinc.com/collections/viper PROS Excellent optics Continue to safely hear the world around you Interchangeable lenses Easy to use

Lightweight Comfortable Hands-free calls and voice assistant

CONS Short battery life Only charges via its own special cable No case included

Sound quality inferior to regular wireless and wired headphones Temples thicker than traditional glasses

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DRYROBE ADVANCE LONG SLEEVE 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 eleven colour combinations; we received the black green version, the extra-long sleeves and large hood ensuring you get entire coverage up top. The great thing about the dryrobe is that it’s super versatile, the wide sleeves and loose fit mean you can draw your arms into the main body and get discretely changed whilst keeping warm, and you can also wear it for protection against the elements whilst waiting to participate in an event or simply spectating. The waterproof outer layer means you can leave your wet stuff on underneath and the lining draws the water away from the skin into the

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pile of the fabric, so you can sit in the car without getting the seat wet. It can be reused multiple times without ever feeling wet or cold, the insulating fabrics make you feel super warm very quickly, helping you to preserve your energy and regulate core body temperature.

The inner lining helps you dry off fast, the lined zip-up exterior pockets are great for storage but also double up as hand warmers, and there are interior pockets, one of which can be accessed from both inside and outside the robe that is also waterproof making it great for car keys or a mobile phone. The two-way zip can be

Deep external fleece warm lined pockets double as hand warmers

www.dryrobe.com PROS

operated from either inside or outside, and Velcro fasteners feature on the wrists to help keep out the wind and rain. Although it only weighs 1.3kg it is somewhat bulky, but dryrobe have thought about that by producing a waterproof travel compression sack available at a further £30. It would be nice if this was included as standard, but nevertheless it certainly gets around any problems there! The dryrobe is a brilliant bit of kit, a must have for a huge range of events from family camping trips to toplevel sports events, allowing you to get warm and dry quickly, leaving you more time to brag about your exploits to your mates.

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

From £70

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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BENQ GV1 PORTABLE PROJECTOR

WHEN UNPACKING THE BENQ GV1 PORTABLE PROJECTOR YOU WOULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING IT WAS A PORTABLE SPEAKER, IT HAS A SIMILAR DESIGN WITH ITS WRAP-AROUND SPEAKER GRILL, HOWEVER ITS LENS AND TILTING HEAD ARE A GIVEAWAY AS TO ITS REAL FUNCTION. THIS COMPACT LITTLE PROJECTOR MEASURES UP AT 80MM X 155MM X 80MM, WEIGHS JUST 708G AND COMES WITH A REMOTE (ESSENTIAL FOR CONTROLLING THE PROJECTOR) AND CARRY BAG. It features auto keystone correction, wire-free connectivity with dual-band WiFi (2.4G/5G), direct hotspot and portable Bluetooth speaker mode with built-in 5-watt chambered audio.

Whether you choose to use it for presentation on the go, creating your own outdoor screening for you and your mates or projecting your favourite movie for a cosy night in on date night, this is a very versatile gadget. The tilting hinge with a 15˚ range lets GV1’s high-mounted lens produce 100” images that can be raised up to 77cm above the projector, all you have to do is adjust the focus and its auto keystone feature keeps the picture perfectly squared.

You can stream your content via the dualband 2.4G/5G Wi-Fi and direct hotspot, from your phone or flash drive via the USB-C Port or via the Smart TV App direct from the smart GV1. If you fancy a break from the screen you can play your favourite tunes via the Bluetooth Speaker mode, the rechargeable battery provides you with up to 3 hours of play time however when it’s out of juice it can also be used when plugged in.

Connectivity is instant with iPad, mobile phone, Mac, tablet, notebook,

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laptop, and from the embedded Aptoide TV app market, you can download tools or media apps (note however due to the content protection mechanism for the subscriptionbased streaming platform, mobile devices cannot “mirror” the content of certain streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc., but you can mirror the content from a laptop, or via the apps from the Aptoide TV app market wirelessly. The GV1 uses a bright and long-lasting pure LED light (lasting 30,000 hours) which produces a resolution of 480p (854 x 480 pixels), 200 ANSI lumens (when plugged into the mains) and 16.7 million colours. The GV1 is a cool little gadget but its lack of connectivity lets it down, an HDMI port would open it up to gaming and other streaming options and an AUX would give you the option of adding external speakers, while the apps available are unreliable and slow (hopefully this will improve with updates). We found the easiest and most successful way to stream was to connect a smartphone or flash drive via the USB C port, the image quality was impressive for such a compact unit and the sound was satisfying, overall the GV1 has potential but could use some tweaking.

RRP £329

https://www.benq.eu/en-uk/projector/portable/ gv1.html PROS Compact Easy to use Satisfying image and

sound quality Portable Wireless

CONS Limited connections (no HDMI for example) Remote is essential to operating Casting and mirroring not compatible due to content protection

Apps available are outdated and unreliable

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BEN SAYERS XF LASER RANGEFINDER

BEN SAYERS WAS FORMED WAY BACK IN 1873, THAT’S THE SAME YEAR OUR DEAR OLD QUEEN LIZZY’S GREAT-GREATGRANDMOTHER, QUEEN VICTORIA, WAS ON THE THRONE, SO IT IS EASY TO BELIEVE THAT THIS IS AMONGST THE OLDEST GOLF COMPANIES IN THE WORLD. THE BEN SAYERS BRAND CREATED MANY REVOLUTIONARY PIECES OF GOLF EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING THE GUTTA-PERCHA GOLF BALLS AND THE ‘BENNY’ PUTTER, THE FIRST PUTTER TO HAVE A SQUARE-EDGED GRIP, AND THEN, YEARS LATER THE FIRST SET OF CARBON-SHAFTED IRONS AND THE FIRST OVERSIZED DRIVER, AND NOW THE XF LASER RANGEFINDER. Rangefinders are used in golf to determine the distance between you and your target, which could make all the difference between missing a shot and getting a hole in one. The XF is a laser rangefinder, which provides an instant feedback of distances of up to 600 metres away., A laser rangefinder works by sending out a light beam to the chosen target and then the device will measure the amount of time it takes the beam to hit the target and bounce back. The XF has 6x magnification to allow you to zoom in on your intended target to make sure you get a getting an accurate reading, whilst the vibration lock function helps to give you a steady hand whilst you are taking the measurement.

This rangefinder claims to be accurate within one yard and the digital display provides you with instant feedback that is easy to read, you can also choose between yards and metres on the display. The XF has been designed with an ergonomic shape so it will fit comfortably in your hand as you

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focus on your target, the cover is water resistant so you don’t have to worry about a little drizzle getting in the way, it also comes with a pouch to store it away, a strap to keep it close to hand on the green and a cleaning cloth to wipe off finger prints.

The Pinseeker function enables the device to instantly identify distances from up to 600 metres away, we did find on a couple of occasions we were getting two different readings from the same point but 9 times out of 10 it proved accurate during our testing. However when you compare this to the premium models on the market this is over four times cheaper so considering this we think it’s a good entry-level alternative

6x magnification

RRP £109.99

https://www.bensayers.co.uk/products/accessories/ xflaserrangefinder/ PROS 6x magnification Metric or imperial display Features a vibration-lock function

Water resistant Comfortable to hold Easy to use Clear display

CONS Not always accurate

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POC VENTRAL AIR SPIN

POC IS A SWEDISH COMPANY WITH A MISSION TO DO THE BEST THEY CAN TO POSSIBLY SAVE LIVES AND TO REDUCE THE CONSEQUENCES OF ACCIDENTS FOR GRAVITY SPORTS ATHLETES AND CYCLISTS. FOUNDED IN 2005 IT FIRST APPEARED ON THE MARKET WITH PRODUCTS DESIGNED FOR THE SKI RACING MARKET, WITH NEW SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE SKI RACING SAFETY,

BY REDUCING THE FORCE TRANSMITTED TO THE BRAIN AND BODY IN CASE OF A CRASH. THESE DAYS POC MAKE SAFETY GEAR FOR MOUNTAIN AND ROAD CYCLING AS WELL AS SNOW SPORTS AND SUNGLASSES TO HELP KEEP YOU SAFE WHILST YOU GET YOUR ADVENTURE SPORT ON. THE VENTRAL AIR SPIN HELMET COMES IN A VARIETY OF COLOURS, ZINC ORANGE AVIP, HYDROGEN WHITE RACEDAY, URANIUM BLACK RACEDAY, HYDROGEN WHITE MATT, URANIUM BLACK MATT, STIBIUM BLUE MATT, PRISMANE RED MATT AND SULPHITE YELLOW MATT AND COMES IN SIZES SMALL (50-56CM) MEDIUM (54-59CM) AND LARGE (56-61CM).

THIS HIGH-PERFORMING HELMET HAS BEEN CREATED TO SUPPLY VAST AMOUNTS OF VENTILATION THANKS TO THE PRECISE VENTILATION PORTS AND INTERNAL CHANNELS THAT CONTROL AIR INTAKE AND RELEASE AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS OVER THE WHOLE HEAD, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT BEING UNCOMFORTABLY HOT IN YOUR HELMET AGAIN. Winner of the Design and Innovation Award 2019, the Ventral Air Spin also works hard to enhance the aerodynamic profile and minimise drag with specific airflow zones that enhance the ventilation and cooling, while at the same time aerodynamically optimising the trailing edge to reduce turbulence. Weighing in at just 230g (Size M) the Ventral features a fully-wrapped unibody shell construction with an EPS liner, along with the size adjustment system, which means that is comfortable to wear for extended periods of time without causing fatigue. The Spin technology comes in the form on a silicone gel-like membrane inside the pad and forms the basis of the Shearing Pad INside (SPIN)

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that redistributes the force of an impact to ensure the important parts - your head and its fragile squidgy interior - remain unscathed. The POC Ventral Air Spin is incredibly comfortable with its light weight and generous ventilation, the integrated Eye Garage provides a space to securely store your sunglasses mid-ride and the Spin technology gives you the peace of mind that if the worse were to happen, your head will be well protected.

Both matte and gloss finishes available

RRP £220

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https://www.pocsports.com/eu/ ventral-air-spin/10670.html

PROS SPIN silicone pad technology system Lightweight Eye Garage Structurally optimised ventilation ports Internal channels to control the air intake and release at both high and low speeds Aerodynamic performance and minimal air turbulence

High-performance EPS liner with targeted and optimised density Fully-wrapped unibody shell construction Size adjustment system Easily adjustable precision straps Both matte and gloss finishes available

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KARCHER SC 3 EASYFIX

KARCHER HAS A GOOD REPUTATION FOR CREATING EASYTO-USE PRODUCTS THAT MAKE THE DULL OLD CHORE OF CLEANING EASIER AND FASTER SO YOU CAN SPEND MORE TIME ENJOYING YOUR HOME THAN PREENING IT. THE SC 3 EASYFIX IS A COMPACT STEAM CLEANER THAT CAN BE USED FOR A WHOLE HOST OF TASKS THANKS TO THE WIDE RANGE OF INCLUDED ATTACHMENTS. Steam cleaning is a great way to get a thorough clean without using chemicals; the combination of powerful pressure, speed and temperature means the microscopic steam particles reach the smallest of crevices to loosen and remove dirt particles. This means of cleaning prevents allergen residues, it is safer for small children and pets, allergy sufferers and better for the environment whilst effectively killing 99.99% of all common household bacteria. The SC 3 can be used for general cleaning including removing limescale, getting into plug holes, cleaning wall tiles, glass and synthetic surfaces, extractor hoods, hobs, ovens or sinks, as well as steam cleaning floors including stone, PVC, laminate or varnished parquet flooring.

The accessories include: floor cleaning kit, EasyFix + extension tube (2 × 0.5 m), hand nozzle, detail nozzle, round brush (small), microfibre cover for manual nozzle and descale cartridge. The hook and loop attachment allows for a quick and easy cloth attachment and a hands-free cloth removal, the high-end steam iron, antistick soleplate and ironing board saves up to 50% ironing time and instantly dries laundry. The SC3 can hold up to 1 litre, which quickly heats up in under a minute although there is no visual indicator to tell you when it is ready. Its compact design (360 x 236 x 253mm) is easy to manoeuvre

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around the house by either the carry handle or pulled along on its two wheels, and easily stored away when not in use. The water tank has a wide opening and integrated funnel making it easy to fill but as it doesn’t detach from the main unit which means you have to flip the entire thing upside down to empty out when you are done, which isn’t terribly difficult but not ideal either.

All accessories can be stored on board, meaning they are always close to hand whilst you move around the house.

The 4-metre cord allows for a good amount of roaming room and the descaling cartridge helps to extend the life of the machine in hard water areas. The steam hose gun has adjustable flow integration and a child lock for if the little ones decide they want to play Ghostbusters and the machine can be quickly refilled on the go without having to switch the machine off.

We found the SC 3 was great for cleaning hard floors, baths and showers, it wasn’t so effective with tough dried-on dirt like on the stove top for example or built-up limescale, we found this required a little bit of chemical intervention, be it a shopbought or home-made product, to finally shift it. Even with the SC 3 you might have to put in a little elbow grease on tough dirt however the compact design and ease of use means that over all this SC 3 is a welcome cleaning assistant.

Accessories stored onboard

https://www.kaercher.com/uk/home-garden/steamcleaners/sc-3-easyfix-15131120.html

RRP £149.99

PROS Compact Easy to use and manoeuvre Accessories stored onboard Adjustable flow control

Heats up quickly Childproof safety lock Hands-free cloth removal Descaler cartridge

CONS No “ready to use” indicator Non-removable water tank

Not always powerful enough for very tough dirt and limescale

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WAT MEDICAL EMETERM ANTIEMETIC I WAS PROBABLY ABOUT TWELVE BEFORE MY PARENTS TRUSTED ME TO SIT IN THE BACK OF A CAR WITHOUT AN EMERGENCY BUCKET AND BLANKET ON THE BACK SEAT, MY TRAVEL SICKNESS WAS HIDEOUS, EVERY HOLIDAY, DAY OUT, AND TRIP TO THE SHOP WAS AT RISK OF BEING SPOILED WITH THE CRIES OF “QUICK, PULL OVER”. AS AN ADULT I SEEM TO HAVE MORE OF A HANDLE ON THINGS, BUT PUT ME IN THE BACK OF A BUS OR LOOK AT MY PHONE FOR MORE THAN 30 SECONDS WHILST SAT IN THE CAR AND THAT CREEPING FEELING ON MY SKIN AND LURCHING SENSATION IN MY STOMACH SOON RAISES ITS HEAD (ON MY LUNCH).

The EmeTerm Antiemetic bracelet from Wat Medical aims to provide a safe, effective and drug-free way of treating nausea and motion sickness. So how can a bracelet do all this? This is no ordinary bracelet, tucked into the inside of the strap is a specialised electrode (don’t freak, it isn’t painful) and this produces a low-frequency electric current onto the wrist (seriously, it doesn’t hurt) and this helps to prevent the feelings of nausea. Nausea and vomiting are caused by transmission of a nausea signal to the stomach via the brain, which causes the stomach to contract irregularly, resulting in vomiting (I stole this from their website, I thought it was evil spirits).

The EmeTerm releases a lowfrequency pulse which can adjust the vagus nerve signals traveling to and from the stomach, this can then prevent or postpone it from receiving nausea signals, slowing down the irregular gastric contraction and reducing the nauseous sensation, thus breaking the cycle. The EmeTerm is suitable for all types of motion sickness including car sickness, sea sickness, and VR dizziness, it can also help with altitude stress, vomiting induced by chemotherapy and it is even safe to use to treat morning sickness. The wrist strap will fit wrists 5.1”-7.8” in size and is made from hypo-allergenic material, the

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whole thing has an IP65 rating making it completely dust-proof and water-resistant.

The EmeTerm is comfortable once on (placed two finger widths away from the bottom of the palm) but such a pain in the butt to do up, especially with one hand, can we get a regular watch strap style closure please, it is also a little on the bulky side and because the electrodes are situated on the inside of the wrist I found it caught on my laptop a couple of times whilst I was working. There are five levels of intensity to choose from that can be adjusted up and down the with the button, you can also check the charge level with this button, each full charge will get you seven hours of use. For someone who is all too familiar with the misery of nausea and motion sickness I was impressed with this device; who knew a slight tingling sensation in the wrist could have such a positive effect on motion sickness? I managed to play on my phone for an entire road trip and my pregnant friend borrowed it for the afternoon and was also convinced of its effectiveness.

RRP £79.99

Helps ease symptoms of nausea and prevent vomiting

PROS Helps ease symptoms of nausea and prevent vomiting Easy to use Comfortable

Drug-free treatment Seven-hour battery life 5 adjustable levels Pain free

CONS Awkward strap closure Slightly bulky

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LIBRATONE Q ADAPT ON-EAR THE Q ADAPT ON-EAR HEADPHONES FROM LIBRATONE ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST A GORGEOUS PAIR OF ON-EAR HEADPHONES, THEY COME IN STORMY BLACK, ELEGANT NUDE AND CLOUDY WHITE (WE RECEIVED THE LATTER), THEY HAVE BEEN DESIGNED WITH CLEAN LINES, A MINIMALIST FINISH AND HIGH-QUALITY FABRIC-COATED HEADBAND. THEY COME IN AN ATTRACTIVE ROUND BOX WITH A DURABLE CARRY CASE THAT CAN BE FLATTENED DOWN FOR COMPACT STORAGE WHEN EMPTY, THEY ARE LIGHTWEIGHT AT JUST 200G AND WHEN COMBINED WITH THE SUPER SOFT EAR CUPS YOU CAN COMFORTABLY WEAR THEM FOR HOURS AT A TIME. The Q Adapt feature noise-cancelling properties with the CityMix adjustable noise cancellation system which gives you the choice of four different levels of noise cancellation. Level 1 Pass through lets you chat to people without taking off your earphones and allows 80% of the outside noise to pass through, Level 2 Passive ANC means you can enjoy your music, but still take in your surroundings and allows 60% outside noise to reach your ears, Level 3 50% ANC means you can enjoy your music with awareness in noisy places whilst just letting 30% of outside noise to sneak though and the Level 4 100% ANC lets you fully immerse yourself in your music with limited distraction from background noise and blocks out <10% of the outside noise.

For the utmost convenience these headphones are wireless and connect via Bluetooth 4.1 with a battery life of 20+ hours (3 hours for a full charge), if you run

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out of juice you can carry on enjoying your tunes via the 3.5mm corded AUX lead. The touch control is intuitive and allows you to play, pause, change the track, adjust the volume, activate the “hush” function, just by tapping the touch interface. The lights on the ear cup indicate the level of volume, which is totally useless to you whilst you are wearing them but looks so cool you will be the envy of everyone on the underground. The sound quality is impressive, with strong bass, layered mid tones and bright top notes, the quality holds up at both low and high volumes, you would of course expect high-quality sound for this price range but it is a relief to find the price tag is warranted.

For sound quality alone these headphones are a great choice, but the added bonus of style, ease of use, variable noise cancellation and extensive battery life makes it almost impossible to resist.

Wireless or wired connection

RRP £219

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https://www.libratone.com/uk/products/headphones/ q-adapt-on-ear/ PROS Beautifully designed 20+ hours battery life Wireless or wired connection Connect 2 Q ADAPT and share your music Built in microphone for clear handsfree calls

App for setting up and controlling your Q ADAPT Excellent sound quality Intuitive touch sensitive controls Comfortable on-ear allday wear

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DiscovR A Smarter Speaker MIC DROP The speaker that listens... unless you don’t want it to.

15 hrs MULTIROOM

PORTABLE

WI-FI

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VIVOBAREFOOT PRIMUS TRAIL FG X FINISTERRE PURELY BECAUSE THE NAME IS SUCH A MOUTHFUL, WE WILL REFER TO THE PRIMUS TRAIL FG X FINISTERRE AS THE FG X. THEY COME IN AN ATTRACTIVE MOOD INDIGO DESIGN IN BOTH MEN’S AND WOMEN’S MODELS, CONSTRUCTED WITH A ‘LESS IS MORE’ APPROACH AND WITH A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH FINISTERRE IT IS MORE SUSTAINABLE THAN EVER. The FG X is a firm ground trail shoe suitable for adventures in the summer, this versatile shoe brings you closer to nature by allowing to feel the earth beneath your feet without the risk of hurting yourself from thorns, sharp stones or broken bottles if you are running around my way. They are constructed from a breathable recycled PET Mesh that lets the air circulate around your feet keeping them cool on those long runs, they are water resistant, so a little bit of spray or rain should be ok but they won’t protect you from fully submerging them in deep puddles for example.

However, if stuff does get seriously soggy or you just can’t help yourself from running through those puddles there are Quick Drain Zones to let the water escape and help them dry out quickly. The soles feature multi-directional 3mm lugs and a high-abrasion, rubber outsole for a firm grip underfoot on moderately wet ground as well as dry and rocky surfaces. The lace-up system features a toggle for quick, secure and non-slip adherence, the laces are very thin and don’t draw in the sides in one move, but after your first fitting, it is only the top that

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needs pulling together. You can also end up with a fair bit of excess lace which can be tucked into the laces further down the shoe, however this will slow down the process of taking them off. The 3mm performance insole is made with 10% BLOOM which is an algae-based alternative to synthetic and petrochemical EVA and can be removed for an extra sensory experience or leave it in for a little more warmth. There is a patented, ultra-thin, puncture-resistant layer which is five times more puncture resistant than other soles of this thickness.

The FG X are highly versatile shoes, you can amp up the contact with the ground by removing the insole, they provide excellent traction and a comfortable, safe barefoot experience whilst going above and beyond to ensure the materials used help protect the environment we love to run in.

Sustainable material and animal free

RRP £125

https://www.vivobarefoot.com/uk/mens/outdoor/ primus-trail-fg-x-finisterre-mens PROS Lightweight and breathable Breathable recycled PET Mesh Water Resistant and Quick Drain Zones Firm Ground Sole with 3mm lugs Sustainable material and animal free

Removable performance insole Puncture proof layer Cons Laces don’t smoothly pull the entire shoe together Excess laces need to be tucked away

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DODOW SLEEP AID WHEN IT COMES TO GOING TO SLEEP THERE SEEM TO BE TWO CAMPS THAT PEOPLE FALL INTO: THOSE WHO FALL ASLEEP THE MOMENT THEIR HEAD TOUCHES THE PILLOW AND THOSE WHO STARE AT THE CEILING WILLING THEMSELVES TO DROP OFF WHILST THEIR MIND PLAYS OVER ALL THE RIDICULOUS THINGS THEY HAVE DONE OVER THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. NOT ONLY IS THE DODOW SLEEP AID HERE TO GIVE YOU SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE ARTEX TO CONTEMPLATE AT NIGHT BUT IT CAN ALSO HELP YOU NOD OFF BY USING BREATHING EXERCISES TO WIND THE BODY DOWN, READY FOR SLEEP. The Dodow is a small disc that looks a little like a drinks coaster, it features three LED lights on the edge, on the back is the battery compartment, to access the batteries you turn a tiny dial (which, in my case, immediately dropped to the floor and rolled under the bed), maybe this could be attached or redesigned as you just don’t need this kind of hassle if you are sleep deprived. The Dodow is very easy to use; tap the unit once to set up an 8 minute session, twice for a 20 minute session and hold to switch off entirely, although after your chosen session is complete the Dodow will switch off automatically.

The way this sleep aid works is by projecting a blue light on to the ceiling with the idea being that you simply breathe in as the light brightens and grows and breathe out as it dulls and shrinks, the light begins by moving at a quicker pace and gradually reduces, guiding you from 11 down to 6 breaths per minute. This technique stimulates the sleep hormone and relaxes the body whilst the Cyan blue colour soothes you, unlike warm colours like red which can excite the brain due to the association with danger and heat. The idea behind the Dodow is great, however there are a few issues with the performance

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of the device; firstly the edge around the light isn’t clearly defined which means as the light slows down it becomes harder to follow which results in overthinking instead of relaxing. Another issue is it’s difficult to know where to place the device, I found if I put it on the bedside table the light was out of a comfortable eye-line, it needs to almost lay on your torso to project the light directly in front of you, this is not ideal.

I tend to fall asleep on my side and there is no simple way to project the light on to the wall, and lastly the original breathing rate was too fast for me and it felt like it was raising my heart rate in the beginning.

If you could rotate the angle of the LEDs to direct the light on the ceiling/wall and focus the beam to create a slightly sharper edge this would solve the initial issues, an added bonus would be to personalise the breathing patterns and improve the access system to the battery compartment. I really wanted to like the Dodow but there were just too many issues for it to work for me, however that’s not to say this will be completely unsuitable for everyone and we will look forward to seeing any future sleep aids produced by this company.

Straight forward to use www.mydodow.com PROS Carefully researched ideas Straightforward to use Discreet, compact design

Doesn’t interfere with partner’s sleep Automatically switches off Two programs to chose from

CONS

RRP £49

Difficult to direct the light in the right position Poorly designed battery compartment Cannot easily project onto walls for side sleepers

Breathing rate in the beginning was too fast for me Edges of light not clearly defined makes it difficult to follow Cannot personalise breathing rate

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Adjustable knee pad height

FURYGAN JEANS 01 MOTORCYCLE JEANS HAVE MADE GREAT PROGRESS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND THE FURYGAN 01S ARE SOME OF THE MOST COMFORTABLE I HAVE WORN. Riding jeans offer much better protection than casual jeans, as they have been specifically designed for impact.

They will survive a slide better, as they are abrasive-resistant with their added protection, and they won’t transfer all the heat generated from the slide to your skin.

They not only protect against off-the-bike crashes, but also from moving hazards we riders attract such as flicked up stones from the road. If oncoming traffic flicks a piece of road gravel towards you at 30 mph and you are doing 50 mph, then it will hit you at a combined speed of 80 mph ouch! Normal jeans will struggle to stop a sharp stone from puncturing the material, but reinforced riders’ jeans will fare much better.

These Furygan jeans have strong seams and use Aramid fibre material on the inside of the leg, hips and the seat to protect you. The Aramid fibre is basically Furygan’s version of the trademarked

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Kevlar. These jeans also have the latest D30 knee protectors, which can be adjustable to three different heights to ensure the pad is at the correct level for all leg lengths.

The very best thing about these jeans is that looking at them, you wouldn’t know they were motorcycle clothing; they look normal.

These jeans are made from a stretchable denim, which make them very wearable and gives a great fit. The sizing is French, so your UK size won’t apply. You need to take your UK size, i.e. 36, add eight and they should be good. Mind you, they did err on the smaller size, so as a 44 I would consider a smaller 36.

Rider jeans don’t have to compromise style, comfort and protection anymore. These Jean 01s are a straight cut, real denim looks and cool design. They offer excellent protection with the appearance of a pair of fashion jeans.

arrow-alt-circle-right RRP £130

www.furygan.com PROS Very comfortable Stylish Durable

CONS Warm

Great protection Adjustable knee pad height

ZEPP GOLF 2 THE ZEPP GOLF 2 IS THE NEXT GENERATION OF THE ZEPP GOLF. ITS NEW FEATURES INCLUDE THE SMART COACH TRAINING SYSTEM, WHICH MEASURES YOUR FULL SWINGS ON THE COURSE AND ALLOWS YOU TO COMPARE SWING METRICS AND CONSISTENCY FROM ROUND TO ROUND AND FROM RANGE TO COURSE. ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS TAKE A FEW SWINGS, AND THE ZEPP 2 WILL INSTANTLY COLLECT DATA THAT CAN BE USED TO ASSESS THE AREAS IN WHICH YOU COULD IMPROVE, AND WILL EVEN OFFER TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE TAILOR-MADE TO HELP YOU ADVANCE YOUR TECHNIQUE. The Zepp 2 device is easy to use and doesn’t interfere with your gameplay; simply attach the sensor to the back of your glove and it will gather all the information it needs while you are on the course. It features four functions: the 3D Swing Analysis measures important aspects of your swing, including club speed, club plane, tempo, backswing length and more; the Instant Evaluation function does as its name says by providing you with instant analysis and evaluations; the Smart Coach offers personalised video training programs from PGA players and tour instructors to inspire you to become a better player faster, and the Course Mode will measure the consistency of your swing during a round.

The Zepp 2 is easy to set up and pair with your phone. There is no need to run the app alongside the Zepp 2, as they can be synced after your game.

Syncing was a bit hit and

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miss, like many devices of this nature.

However, all in all the ZEPP Golf 2 is an ideal training aid for any golfer whether they are just starting out or are a seasoned pro wanting to lower their score on the course. It’s a cheaper way to improve your swing than shelling out on a coach.

3D swing analysis

RRP £129 and $149

https://www.zepp.com/shop/ https://mailordergolf.com/zepp/ PROS Easy to set up and use Lightweight, doesn’t interfere with game play

3D swing analysis Instant evaluations Smart coach

CONS Syncing issues

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HELINOX CHAIR TWO

STRAIGHT FROM THE OFF I’M GOING TO CONFESS I LOVE HELINOX CHAIRS, THE REGULAR SUNDAY SET UP AT OUR HOUSE IS THE HUBBY AND I, SAT IN OUR HELINOX CHAIRS IN FRONT OF THE TV, KICKING SOME ZOMBIE ASS ON COD (WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE IT UP). THIS ISN’T WHAT THEY ARE MADE FOR, BUT THEY ARE SO FREAKING CONVENIENT WE TEND TO USE THEM FOR EVERYTHING. Helinox chairs (they also make tables and cots) are designed to be strong, lightweight and compact, making them the perfect travel companion. The Chair Two follows suit with a compact size of 14cm x 16cm x 46cm when packed down and weighs just 1.2kg, you can easily put it in your pack, attach it to the outside with one or two of the many attachment points or simply carry it via the loops at either end, you could even attach it to your belt or slip a strap between to two loops to carry it on your shoulder or across the body (no such strap included, I used a strap off an old messenger bag). Once assembled it measures up at 54cm W x 64cm D x 84cm H with a seat height of 34 cm, the poles are made from a super strong proprietary DAC aluminium alloy, the frame provides an excellent strength to weight ratio and will hold up to 145kg.

When you take the poles out of the bag they practically assemble themselves, the internal bungee cord keeps all the poles attached to each other, all you have to do is simply guide them into their final position, then its just a case of guiding the seat over the top two poles then attaching them over the bottom two, and you can park your butt!

The removable seat is made from an ultradurable, UV-resistant, 600-weave, rip-

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stop polyester that can withstand both the harsh weather and the sun’s rays, it can be machine-washed and line dried. The carry case can be attached to the headrest via a large piece of Velcro (the fluffy side is on the chair, so your hair won’t get caught in it) and used as a pillow if you stuff it with a jumper or similar. The Velcro attachment on the rear of the chair lets you attach the empty case (or pillow) out of the way but within close (and dependable) reach for when you need to pack up, especially useful when packing up in the dark. The mesh inserts allow for a comfortable amount of airflow and prevent you getting hot and sweaty, even on the warmest of days. The feet provide a sturdy foundation even on uneven terrain. The Chair Two is everything we expected from Helinox; lightweight, compact, durable, comfortable and with idiot-proof assembly, it is suitable for everything from hiking trips, travelling, camping, daytrips, BBQs, chilling in the garden or endless sessions with the Xbox.

Carry case can be used as a pillow

RRP £120

https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipmentc3/accessories-c10/seats-and-sitmats-c47/chairtwo-p6593 PROS High-quality materials Compact Lightweight Carry case can be used as a pillow Strong DAC aluminium alloy poles Quick, fool-proof

assembly Good ventilation Removable, machine washable seat (great for quickly whipping off in the rain) Comfortable and supportive (up to 145kg)

CONS Carry case isn’t waterproof

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ULTIMATE EAR I HAVE BEEN RIDING MOTORBIKES FOR THE THICK END OF 35 YEARS AND IT IS ONLY IN THE LAST FIVE THAT I HAVE WORN EARPLUGS. I SUPPOSE THERE WERE SO MANY YEARS WITHOUT THEM BECAUSE AT THE TIME, SO FEW OTHER RIDERS I KNEW WORE THEM. I WAS ALSO WORRIED THAT THEY WERE DANGEROUS, FEARING THAT THEY ALIENATE YOU FROM YOUR SURROUNDINGS BY ELIMINATING ALL SOUND. THIS SIMPLY ISN’T TRUE – AS IT TURNS OUT, YOU CAN STILL HEAR EVERYTHING, BUT AT A REDUCED VOLUME. I became an advocate of ear protection when a friend of mine was medically retired with Tinnitus, which he feels was brought on by the continuous wind noise from riding (and not his unhealthy love of very loud music). Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing a sound in the absence of any external sound. In his case, it is a ringing and whooshing in both his ears, which causes him dizziness. This can be continuous and irreversible, and after seeing how it has affected him, I am desperately keen to avoid it.

A study carried out by Germany’s automobile association (ADAC) concluded that motorcyclists are at risk of permanently damaging their hearing after just 15 minutes of riding at 62mph, seven minutes at 74mph or just three minutes at 87mph.

These figures are shocking, and it is not noise from the exhaust pipes or engine that is the issue, but simply the wind noise. You can extend the time before damage by a few minutes with better noise cancelling helmets or higher screens; however, prolonged exposure without decent earplugs could still result in Tinnitus.

I have tried loads of different earplugs in my search for a solution, but most deaden all sounds around you. I look for ear protection that filters the nasty dB from the other sounds I want to hear and that are, most importantly, extremely comfortable.

I had heard that Ultimate earbuds were the best of the best, and I had seen

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these guys at loads of shows around the UK. Ultimate are a UK manufacturer of custommade ear protection, established in 2001.

Whilst I am testing these for motorcyclists, they make a huge range of earplugs for most needs.

Ultimate’s first step in manufacturing their earplugs is that they take a mould impression of your ear, and from this, they produce bespoke earplugs that will fit you perfectly, giving the best in noise reduction.

When I received my earplugs, I was pleased to see that they come in their own carry case, along with cleaning products and lotion. When you wear the earplugs, they are soft, squidgy and wonderfully flexible: as they are moulded to your ear canal, there is no pressure holding them in place, which makes long use pain-free. My first two-hour ride was very relaxing with these earplugs, and when we stopped for coffee, they were so comfy that I forgot to take them out! I can assure you that with cheaper options, I have never forgotten to remove them - on the contrary, I am desperate to get them out as soon as possible.

These aren’t the cheapest earplugs on the market – however, they are amazing.

Cheaper products will block out all sounds, and they also rely on expanding pressure on your ear canal, which is uncomfortable and sometimes outright painful. We motorcyclists spend thousands on clothing, helmets and gloves to protect us from the potential danger of a crash, but our hearing is under a real and constant threat of irreversible damage, so get the best.

PROS Comfortable Great noise reduction Well presented

CONS No speakers - but they do make them and I am testing these next

www.ultimateear.com Tel: 01689 876885 Email: sales@ultimateear.com

BELOW IS A LIST OF EVENTS THE GUYS AT ULTIMATE WILL ATTEND, SO GO, HAVE A CHAT AND PROTECT YOUR HEARING. 26-28 July

The Game Fair

Hatfield House, AL10 0RN

10-11 August Heritage Sprint Betteshanger Park, Deal, CT14 0BF 18 August Tag Speed Motorcycle Lepton Highlanders

Sports and Social, HD8 0LX 30 Aug-01 Sep Chatsworth Country Fair

Chatsworth House DE45 1PN

14-15 Sep

Midland Game Fair

Weston Park, TF11 8LE

16-24 Nov

Motorcycle Live

NEC, B40 1NT

ALPINESTARS SUPERTECH R BOOT THE SUPERTECH R BOOT IS ALPINESTARS’S ICONIC RIDING BOOT, WORN BY CHAMPIONS BOTH PAST AND PRESENT, AVAILABLE IN MEN’S EURO SIZES 42 – 46 AND COME IN SEVEN DESIGNS BASED AROUND A COMBINATION OF BLACK, WHITE, RED, YELLOW AND GREY COLOUR SCHEME. THESE BOOTS USE A DURABLE AND TECHNICAL MICROFIBRE UPPER CONSTRUCTION OFFERING GOOD LEVELS OF FLEXIBILITY FOR A COMFORTABLE AND NATURAL MOVEMENT, THE MICROFIBRE MAIN SHELL IS WATER RESISTANT AND REDUCES THE OVERALL WEIGHT. The redesigned front flex area has been made from over-injected TPU on a breathable mesh with shaped reliefs for better durability against abrasion whilst the top gaiter follows the contours of the leg and is made from a flexible high-grade synthetic leather, reinforced with PU. The rubber compound sole provides a sturdy grip and allows for natural movement when changing positions and putting pressure on the foot-peg.

New, soft TPU stretch panel on the lateral side

The external TPU shin protection is ergonomically shaped, wraps around the outer calf and is engineered to spread and dissipate impact energy across the entire surface while remaining compact. There is an integrated replaceable co-injected TPU/Aluminium toe slider with a new easyscrew fixing concept,which protects the outer toe box structure from abrasion, both this and the polymer heel plate slider are fully replaceable for extended life span.

The Supertech has a flexible accordion microfibre stretch at the Achilles for flexibility, the full-length medial-facing microfibre panel provides grip on the bike and protects from abrasion and heat, there is a separate internal bio-mechanical ankle brace that works with the outer structure of the boot to form a protective system for the foot, ankle, and leg.

The new, soft TPU stretch panels on the sides make for easy closure, the zip is made from TPU to reduce friction in the event of a crash, whilst the Velcro tab locks the zip pull closed, keeping it flat and secure. The shin plate features a new, micro-adjustable ratchet top closure and the removable anatomic foot bed is sculpted for a precise fit. The Supertech R Boot is popular for good reason; it’s highly protective, comfortable and breathable, it hugs the foot, ankle and leg without restricting movement, allowing you to focus on enjoying the ride.

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RRP £399.99

arrow-alt-circle-right

https://www.alpinestars.com/supertech-r-boot-fa18 PROS Full-length medialfacing microfibre panel Comfortable Flexible, lightweight toe shifter Breathable Separate internal biomechanical ankle brace Protective External entry has stretch accordion panel

New, soft TPU stretch panel on the lateral side TPU zip Velcro tab locks the zip pull closed, keeping it flat and secure Shin plate features new micro-adjustable ratchet top closure

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MASTER & DYNAMIC MW65 BEAUTY DOESN’T ALWAYS COME AT A COST, BUT IN THIS CASE IT CERTAINLY DOES - YOU WILL DEFINITELY HAVE TO SCRAPE TOGETHER ALL THE PENNIES FROM DOWN THE BACK OF THE SOFA FOR THESE HEADPHONES - BUT IF YOU LOVE YOUR MUSIC AND STYLE WE THINK YOU WON’T REGRET IT. THE MW65 IS AVAILABLE IN EITHER THE GUNMETAL/BLACK LEATHER DESIGN OR THE SILVER METAL/BROWN LEATHER MODEL (WE RECEIVED THIS VERSION), THEY ARE CONSTRUCTED FROM PREMIUM MATERIALS INCLUDING LIGHTWEIGHT ANODIZED ALUMINIUM AND SOFT LEATHERS FOR A COMFORTABLE FIT. IN THE BOX YOU GET THE HEADPHONES, A CANVAS CARRYING POUCH, USB-C TO USB-C CHARGING CABLE, 3.5MM TO 3.5MM AUDIO CABLE AND FLIGHT ADAPTER /USB-A ADAPTER, THE SOFT AND SPONGY LAMBSKINWRAPPED MEMORY FOAM EAR CUPS ARE FULLY REPLACEABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH AN EXTENDED LIFESPAN. The MW65’s are Master & Dynamic’s lightest over-ear headphones and feature custom 40mm Beryllium drivers that deliver excellent sound quality; the powerful bass combined with detailed mid tones and bright top notes produce an overall warm and rich audio experience. The Active NoiseCancelling (ANC) technology helps you to totally immerse yourself in your tunes by blocking out the world around you without compromising on the sound quality. There are two ANC modes, the High Power is best suited for city streets, aeroplanes, and very noisy environments whilst the Low Power (as you can probably guess) is designed for lower noise or windy environments.

The dual microphones provide clear phone calls free from external noise, you get a whopping 24 hours of battery life with up

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to 12 hours from 15 minutes’ charge, you also get three times the industry average Bluetooth range with Bluetooth 4.2 giving you 20+ metres (65+ feet). Passive audio is available when wireless is disabled via the 3.5mm cable, you can control your phone by activating voice assistant on the go or simply use the intuitive buttons on the ear cups. The MW65 are well worth the money, they are gorgeous, comfortable, packed full of features with excellent sound quality, this is one purchase you won’t regret.

£449

Premium sound quality

https://www.masterdynamic.co.uk/products/mw65active-noise-cancelling-wireless-headphones PROS Stunning designs Up to 24 hours’ battery life (up to 12 hours from 15 mins charge) Two types of ANC Passive noise

cancellation Super comfortable (replaceable ear pads) Premium sound quality Dual microphones

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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 youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

VICTORINOX SWISS 6-PIECE MODERN CUTLERY BLOCK VICTORINOX ARE WELL KNOWN FOR MAKING SWISS ARMY KNIVES SO IT MAKES ABSOLUTE SENSE THEY SHOULD KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING KNIVES ON A SLIGHTLY LARGER SCALE. THE 6-PIECE MODERN CUTLERY BLOCK CERTAINLY WOULDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T FIT IN YOUR CAMPING PACK AT 165 X 90 X 320MM BUT WILL LOOK MUCH MORE AT HOME ON YOUR KITCHEN COUNTER. The block itself has a nice weight to it at 1965g and feels very sturdy as you remove the knives, it is constructed from a durable beechwood that has been coated in anthracite lacquer. The issue with this is that on returning the knives to the block it can scratch the edges of the slots, and in two weeks there are already two noticeable marks on it, this also makes me concerned that the ends of the knives will be blunted.

There is a metal foot (with the Victorinox brand logo) to ensure the block remains stable and the compact, leaning design makes it easy to access all the knives whilst you prepare your meal. Included in the set are two Steak Knives ideal for for cutting meat in a table setting, as with all the knives in this set they are Swiss-made with stainless, wear-resistant steel blades and walnut wood handles, theses knives have a 12cm blade, are straight edged and comfortable in the hand. Next to the two Steak Knives is the Office Knife, this is your goto knife for most jobs in the kitchen, it features a 15cm slim and pointed blade that cuts cleanly through all types of food and can be used for peeling and stalk or core removal.

On the top row there is a Santoku Knife with a fluted precision edge, the 17cm blade can slice through meat,

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fruit and vegetables, whilst the fluted edge reduces friction and prevents food sticking to the blade. In the middle there is Carving Knife with a 22cm blade, it is best suited for carving, slicing and dicing even large cuts of meat and lastly there is the Bread and Pastry Knife. This knife has a 22cm blade with a wavy precision edge, it is designed for delicate baked goods however it also makes light work of hard-skinned vegetables like artichokes for example. You need to be a little careful when returning the knives to the block so as not to scratch it, and the small metal foot, although functional, looks a little out of place, I would just expect something a bit more aesthetically pleasing for the price tag. The knives are good quality, make light work of k i t c h e n prep and feel comfortable and secure in your hands, a good staple product for a n y kitchen.

Timeless knife design

RRP £550

https://www.victorinox.com/uk/en/Products/Cutlery/ Knife-Blocks--Sets/Swiss-Modern-Cutlery-Block6-pieces/p/6.7185.6 PROS Timeless knife design Stable block Comfortable and secure walnut handles

Quick to sharpen High performing blades

CONS Mixture of materials creates a messy design Knife block can become

scratched

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DISTRICT VISION NAGATA RUNNING GLASSES TOM DALY (NOT THE GUY IN SPEEDOS WHO FLINGS HIMSELF OFF DIVING BOARDS) AND MAX VALLOT CREATED DISTRICT VISION IN 2015 AFTER A SERIES OF LIFE-CHANGING EVENTS CAUSED THEM TO DISCOVER RUNNING AND MEDITATION, NOT NECESSARILY TWO THINGS YOU WOULD ASSUME HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. However, when you consider both practices involve focusing on your breath and body, being fully present in the moment and usually leave you feeling energised and clear headed (only one should leave you covered in sweat and with shin splints).

This combination got the two friends to thinking about mindful athletes and the types of products that could aid performance and, after a two-year technical testing period involving New York City athletes and Japanese engineering, they developed their range of running glasses. The Nagata are super lightweight glasses weighing just 22g, featuring titanium screws and highly flexible temples with a titanium core, the nose pad is hypoallergenic and along with the temples it provides a secure hold even when you get good and sweaty.

Sports Yellow lens, grey frame with District Black Rose lens, clear frame with District Black Rose and the grey frame with District Water Grey lens (we received this design). The District Water Grey lens was developed for physical pursuits around water, this lens blocks all reflected light in addition to direct intense sun rays, making it great for running in natural beauty spots like lakes, rivers and beaches. These D+ lenses are constructed from a proprietary form of polycarbonate, which is shatterproof. The lens interior features an anti-reflective application for holistic eye protection and has been finished with District Visions oleophobic treatment making it water and oil repellent. If I could make one change I would make the lenses slightly wider, just to protect the peripheral vision from any glare, other than that the Nagata are wonderfully comfortable, lightweight and perform well as running glasses, helping you to focus on all the physical and mindful benefits of getting out for a run.

Lightweight and comfortable

The glasses come with a 630GSM microfibre running pouch which can be used as a lens cleaner, and they are available in five different designs: black frame, with District Sky lens, black frame, with District

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arrow-alt-circle-right

RRP $249

https://www.districtvision.com/shop/nagata?color=C lear&lensTechnology=District%20Black%20Rose%20 &size=Standard PROS Lightweight Comfortable Stable Excellent optics for bright direct sunlight and reflective light

(District Water Grey Lens) Frameless

CONS Prescription lenses not available Lens could be a little larger for peripheral glare

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LITTLEBITS SYNTH KIT LITTLEBITS STRIVES TO ENSURE THE KIDS OF TODAY ARE EMPOWERED WITH THE SKILLS AND CONFIDENCE TO BECOMES THE CHIEF CHANGE-MAKERS AND PROBLEM-SOLVERS OF THE FUTURE, THEY AIM TO ACHIEVE THIS BY GETTING THEM EXCITED AND INTERESTED ABOUT INVENTING FROM A YOUNG AGE. LittleBits is a New York based education start-up that invented the electronic building blocks that snap together and are aimed at everyone no matter their age, gender, race, nationality, or ability, they even claim that up to 40 percent of the kids using LittleBits kits are girls, which is four times the industry average. The key to encouraging a child to get involved with anything worthwhile is to make it fun, in fact playtime IS learning even if it looks like a cross between a wrestling match and a screaming contest. The LittleBits kits provide a little more lowkey play but allow the kids to enjoy making a range of noises (you may not enjoy this so much), the Synth Kit is suitable for ages 14 and over and comes with a delay, envelope, filter, keyboard, micro sequencer, mix, oscillator, LittleBits-power, random, split and synthspeaker.

All these pieces snap together with magnets that can be built into a circuit in seconds and are ready to use straight out

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of the box and teach the basics of analog synthesis. The kit comes with a project booklet with step-by-step instructions for creating a wide array of sound circuits and projects whilst the box can be transformed into a ready-to-use performance station that can connect to recording or live sound equipment. The Synth kit can be used as a stand-alone kit combined with any of the other LittleBits modules and has been developed in partnership with KORGx, a pioneer of electronic musical equipment, that enables both amateur and professional musicians to easily discover the synthesizer instrument. The project booklet comes with 10 set-ups to get you started, there are loads more online and there is also the option of creating your own ideas away from the instructions. The LittleBits Synth kit is entertaining as well as educational, if you know a youngster who is into their music (or just making noise) and likes building or has a creative streak this could be an ideal gift.

Developed in partnership with Korg

RRP £139.99 https://littlebits.com/products/synth-kit PROS Easy to assemble Educational Developed in partnership with KORG

Infinitely customisable 12 electronic Bits included Compatible with other LittleBits kits

CONS Quite delicate components

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PERIODIC AUDIO WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE SENT THREE OUT OF THE FOUR HEADPHONES PERIODIC AUDIO HAS TO OFFER: THE MAGNESIUM, TITANIUM, BERYLLIUM AS WELL AS THE NICKEL. This young company wants to create the best audio experience by stripping away all the bulk and unnecessary frills and focusing on a high quality sound in a super portable way. Periodic Audio is a company

formed to act as the self-funded, small team of audio product specialists, who want to produce “performance heavy, and buzzword-y feature impaired”, devices.

PERIODIC AUDIO BERYLLIUM We are going to jump in with most expensive of the bunch: the Beryllium, or Be, has a 100% pure beryllium foil diaphragm with a bonded PEEK surround, which provides the best sound out of all three; highly comprehensive, layered and clean, you won’t miss a single note with these, they can handle some serious volume without losing detail and the passive noise cancellation means you can fully submerge yourself in the audio experience. Beryllium is one of the least dense stable metals,

but among the highest Young’s modulus values (a ratio of the stiffness) and speed of sound, this all adds up to a high efficiency and extremely low distortion as the diaphragm does not bend on its own, moves homogeneously, and dissipates internal energy very well. All this means the Be is best suited for rock, jazz, classical, and country, an excellent choice the for eclectic music fan. There is a handy “Selectatron” on the website to help you choose the best headphones for your genre of music.

PERIODIC AUDIO TITANIUM The Titanium or Ti uses a pure titanium foil for the diaphragm material.

Titanium is widely used in aerospace and high-performance applications because of its mix of extreme strength and stability with moderate weight, giving it one of the best stiffness-to-weight ratios of all structural metals. The sound the Ti

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produces is punchy, with a stronger bass and treble, best suited for bass-heavy music like electronica and dance, and music, these aren’t as versatile across a wide range of music but bass heads will enjoy them.

PERIODIC AUDIO MAGNESIUM The Magnesium or Mg headphones are the cheapest of the collection, these, unsurprisingly use a high magnesium content alloy (96% Mg) for the diaphragm material, as magnesium is the least dense of all stable metals, it is very high on the stiffness-toweight ratio, and that is why itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s used in automotive and aerospace applications. These two properties result in a highly efficient, low distortion transducer foundation, it can produce a loud sound when needed, although when comparing it to the other two the sound is harsher in the high end with less power in the low end, these are best suited for more neutral genres, blues, acoustic indie and folk for example, and will cut through noisy environments. All components inside the IEMs (In-Ear Monitor) are 100% designed and tooled inhouse, resulting in a totally unique product, all components are keyed so that assembly is nearly fool-proof and are finite-element analysed for stress, strain, and durability. The polycarbonate body is durable with zero resonance, custom front-and-rear tuned volumes, MetalInjected-Moulded grade 304 stainless steel logo caps, butyl rubber strain reliefs, chemically-etched grade 316 stainless steel grilles, and N48H grade magnets, finished off with precision-bonding alignment with cyanoacrylate adhesives and sealed with polyvinyl acetate.

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Each pair of earphones come in similar packaging, with Periodic Audio earbuds made from medical grade silicones and urethanes (S, M, and L of single flange, dual flange and foam units). There is a screw-top carry tin sized to fit inside the coin pocket of a pair of jeans, there is also an 1/4″ gold plated adapter jack and the lightweight, gold-plated aeroplane adapter. We found the wires are the type that like to tangle into a ball the moment you take your eyes off them but the carry tin helps to prevent this, the issue with the tin is that is isn’t as comfortable in your pocket as a fabric case may be, although it is highly protective. Other than providing you with high quality audio these earphones have no other features; no Bluetooth, no touch controls, no stand out visuals or call handling - and I for one love that - and I believe audiophiles will also appreciate the attention to sound. They are highly comfortable due to the lightweight design and can easily be worn all day without causing fatigue, making them great for travel, exercising or simply escaping the world around you. This brings us to the Nickel of Ni, this improves your sound quality by providing you with more power output than just about any portable solution on the market, whilst remaining smaller than some pairs of IEMs. This compact amp provides over 25 mW per gram, over 250 mW, a quarter of a Watt, per channel into 32 Ohms, nearly double that into 16 or 8 Ohms. This will give you 6.5 dB of gain

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without compressing the volume range of your phone, it is simple to use; just plug it in to turn on and unplug to turn off, attach it to your phone and you will gain hours of play time whilst it takes just minutes to recharge. You will get 8 hours of output from a good set of IEMs after 30 minutes’ charge, and the dedicated split power supply for the audio stage means you can charge as you listen. The petite device feels a little delicate and doesn’t come with any kind of protective case, although in the short time we have used it hasn’t come to any harm, add this to any of the earphones Periodic Audio have to offer for an instant boost.

Excellent sound quality across all three models (Be, Ti and Mg)

www.periodicaudio.com PROS Excellent sound quality across all three models (Be, Ti and Mg) Great sound to size ratio (Ni) Focuses on sound quality and portability

Different IMEs suited for different genres of music Solid build quality (IMEs)

CONS Limited features (some see this as a pro) Poorly packaged No case (Ni) Wire tangles up and feel fragile

Case can be uncomfortable in the pocket

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SIMBA HYBRID PILLOW

ENSURING YOU HAVE THE RIGHT BEDDING CAN BE JUST AS VITAL FOR A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP AS AVOIDING THAT EVENING COFFEE OR CHEESE BOARD, AND NO I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT DRESSING YOUR BED IN YOUR FAVOURITE MARVEL CHARACTER DUVET COVER. AN OVERLOOKED ITEM IN THE BED IS THE PILLOW, HOWEVER THESE SQUIDGY CUSHIONS CAN MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A NIGHT SPENT TOSSING AND TURNING AND GETTING A DECENT EIGHT HOURS KIP, BUT WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT VARIETIES AVAILABLE IT’S HARD TO KNOW WHERE TO START. The Simba Hybrid Pillow brings together a combination of features including a system that allows you to adjust the height and firmness, essentially making it a pillow suitable for everyone. All this tech comes at a price so let’s get that out of the way right now: at £95 it’s a rather hefty investment however if this means you can get a decent night sleep every night that year that works out at just under 27p per night. This pillow features space-inspired temperature control, this is a phase-change technology (developed for space suits) that has been applied to soft cotton, which absorbs, stores and releases heat when you need it, there is also a mesh border that allows maximum airflow through the pillow.

There are five layers at work here to help keep you comfortable: the Stratos active temperature top layer, hypoallergenic mineral enriched fibre, the foam Nano cubes (more on these later), hypoallergenic microfibre fill and finally, soft breathable BCI cotton. The Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) promotes more sustainable production, uses vegan-friendly fill and products are made with recycled

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materials certified by the Global Recycling Standard. To adjust the height and firmness, you can unzip the inner lining and remove as many of the Nanocubes as you like, Simba even provides you with a little bag to store your Nanocubes in case you want to add more at a later date. After a few weeks with the Hybrid Pillow it has fully replaced my old pillow, after a couple of nights use, I took out some of the Nanocubes to get the perfect height for me. The cover can be removed, and machine washed, you can put your own cover over the top, but you might need a large pillowcase so as not to constrict the Nanocubes or reduce the airflow effectiveness. The Hybrid is a great bed companion, as soft or as firm as you like, best of all you are always on the cool side of the pillow, a great investment for a pillow that does it all.

RRP £95

Adjustable height and firmness

https://simbasleep.com/products/simba-hybridpillow PROS Adjustable height and firmness Astronaut-inspired materials to regulate your temperature and dissipate heat Mesh border allows airflow

Nanocube storage bag included Five separate layers at work Super comfy Washable case

CONS Difficult to fit into standard pillowcase

Pricey

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ELVIE TRAINER

A WEAKENED PELVIC FLOOR DOESN’T HAVE TO BE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO PUT UP WITH AS YOU GET OLDER OR AFTER GIVING BIRTH. 1 IN 3 WOMEN, AND UP TO 80% OF EXPECTANT AND NEW MUMS EXPERIENCE PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES BUT THIS DOESN’T MEAN THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH FOREVER. YES, THOSE MUSCLES WILL BECOME WEAKER WITH AGE, DURING AND AFTER PREGNANCY BUT LIKE ANY MUSCLE IT CAN STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE RIGHT KIND OF EXERCISE. The Elvie is an award-winning Kegel trainer for a stronger pelvic floor, helping you to regain better bladder control, faster postnatal recovery and enhanced intimacy.

This little device is small, smooth and comfortable, it comes with an optional cover for custom sizing and is designed to fit all kinds of body shapes. The Elvie makes sure you are performing the exercises correctly by connecting to an app and providing you with real time feedback, simply place the device inside you, connect the app and start your workout. The Trainer visualises your pelvic floor movements in real time with biofeedback, a mind-body technique often used by health care professionals for pelvic floor rehabilitation, as you squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, a gem on the app lifts in response to the strength of the contraction.

The Elvie will ensure you are doing the correct movements, for long and hard enough, whilst keeping things entertaining with a unique set of fun, 5-minute exercises and allows you to track your progress over time. As this device simply measures the force you place on it, it is safe to use during a complication-free pregnancy, however Elvie recommend you always check with your health professional beforehand and wait six weeks after giving birth before using the device again. The Elvie is constructed with a 100% waterproof,

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medical-grade silicone, no harmful chemicals and is suitable for use with an IUD (coil contraceptive). You will need an Android with 4.3 or newer (excluding Huawei phones), or iPhone 4s and newer, with support for Bluetooth Low Energy to use the Elvie, it will also work with iPad 3 and newer, including iPad Air and Mini.

The Elvie is an interesting little product, the price is a big turn off and we even experienced a few connection issues whilst testing it out, however it is surprisingly entertaining thanks to the exercise games, and easy and comfortable to use, so if you feel you could use a little personal training to get your pelvic muscles into shape this could be well worth the investment.

Hygienic and easy to clean

RRP £169

https://www.elvie.com/shop/elvie-trainer PROS Easy to use Comfortable Discreet charging case Partnered with NHS Supply Chain

Optional cover for custom sizing included 100% waterproof Hygienic and easy to clean Rechargeable

CONS Expensive Experienced some connection issues in the beginning

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CATIT SMARTSIFT AND LITTER MAT WHEN YOU THINK OF OWNING A CAT YOU MIGHT CONJURE UP IMAGES OF THEM PLAYFULLY CHASING STRING OR PURRING AWAY HAPPILY ON YOUR LAP; WHAT YOU PROBABLY DON’T THINK ABOUT IS BEING ARM DEEP IN A LITTER BOX SHOVELLING OUT THE POOP WITH A SPECIAL LITTLE POO SCOOP. EVEN IF YOUR CATS GO OUTSIDE YOU AREN’T NECESSARILY FREE FROM THIS STINKING BURDEN, OURS LIKE TO POP IN THROUGHOUT THE DAY TO USE THEIR LITTER TRAYS (CHEERS BOYS).

Another joy of cat litter is it gets everywhere, whether you use a hooded tray or not, and if you have hard floors you will find the litter can quickly travel across the entire house, and if you use the claybased cat litter, standing on it in bare feet is both painful and gross. Starting with the first issue, Catit have created a Smartsift litter box, this works by providing a large, noiseless handle that you pull towards you, this collects the larger bits of debris (clumping litter or poo) which are then dropped to the bottom drawer, this can then be slid open allowing you to remove the liner or tip into the bin.

There is a clear viewing window on the top of the box as well as a clear door for easy monitoring, the sealed design minimises dust, tracking and provides privacy, there is an integrated carbon filter to absorb odours and two biodegradable liners are provided, one for the cat pan and one for the pull-out waste drawer. This all sounds great and I usually love Catit products, but we just couldn’t get on with this litter box, the box itself is large (26”L x 19”W x 25”H) but the actual tray on the inside is very small and narrow, so my lanky boys just didn’t fit. Due to the design on the tray there are ridges at the back, and this

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is where my cat typically decided to wee, meanwhile my other cat point blank refused to climb in due to the high step up of the box. If you have a small cat or start using this from a young age it could be great, but my two were just having none of it. Along with the Smartsift we received the Large Litter Mat (23.5” x 35.5”) also available in Small, this textured mat is soft, low profile and non-slip, to help capture litter and prevent tracking, can be hoovered or hand washed. The larger granules are captured in the pockets whilst the mesh captures the smaller bits and dust, the cats have no problem walking on it, this didn’t stop every bit of litter escaping but reduced the tracking greatly, I wish we had one of these years ago. As for the Smartsift, it is a great idea but needs improving; the tray is too small, the ridges at the back became soiled, the over-all build quality around the handle and handle lock could also be improved, we will be looking forward to seeing if a new version of this becomes available, as for the mat, it’s ace.

SMARTSIFT https://www.catit.com/ uk/shop/smartsift-littersystem/

LARGE LITTER MAT https://www.catit.com/uk/ shop/litter-mat-large/

PROS

PROS

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Clever idea Silent handle Viewing windows Carbon filter

CONS

RRP £59.99

Small tray Poor build quality around the handle entrance Ridges around the back become soiled High step up to door Litter doesn’t always level out again after handle is pushed back

Prevents tracking Soft on cat’s feet Low profile Easy to clean Flexible for tighter spaces Also available in small

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RRP £10

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SHOT SCOPE V2 THE SHOT SCOPE V2 IS, ACCORDING TO THE CREATORS, THE WORLD’S SMARTEST GOLF WATCH, WHICH HAS FULLYAUTOMATED SHOT TRACKING WHILE YOU PLAY, WITH ACCURATE GPS DISTANCES TO FEET/METRES OF GREENS AND HAZARDS. YOU CAN YOU LEAVE YOUR PHONE IN YOUR BAG OR IN THE CAR, YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY ABOUT FIDDLING ABOUT WITH TAGGING, JUST SIMPLY PLAY AS YOU NATURALLY WOULD. The V2 is simple to use; all you need to do is register for a free Shot Scope account and download the iOS/Android and desktop apps, then set up and screw the lightweight tags into your clubs. Once set up you can play at over 40,000 courses worldwide with no need for subscriptions and analyse over 100 statistics on Club Distances, Approaches, Short Game, Tee Shots and Putting. To enhance putting statistics all you need do is press the PinCollect button at the end of each hole, this then provides you with a more accurate approach. The dynamic yardages provide you with highly-accurate distances to the green and hazards, regardless of your angle of approach, both distances to bunkers and water hazards are clearly shown, the large screen makes it easy to view and the responsive buttons allow for easy navigation around the menus.

You can collect medals for on-course achievements such as hitting a drive 200 yards or holing a 10 ft putt and see how you rate against fellow golfers by checking out the leader boards, both global and private.

There are three play modes to choose from: GPS, this only provides distances, GPS+Track this provides distances and

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automatic performance tracking and PRO, which can be used for tournament use when GPS isn’t allowed and only tracks your performance. The Automatic Performance Tracking means every shot you hit on the course is tracked with no user interaction required, the watch comes with 16 Club Tags, giving you enough for each club plus a few spares, and they are both lightweight and unobtrusive. The Bluetooth connectivity means you don’t need any cables to use or upload your data after playing, however there is a plug-in option too. The watch itself is comfortable to wear with a soft adjustable strap and is fully water resistant. The Shot Scope V2 is an excellent golf coach, you can choose how much detail you want to go into, get accurate readings and help improve your overall game but best of all you can just enjoy the game without getting bogged down in technology.

RRP £169

Interactive graphs and aerial maps https://shotscope.com/uk/ PROS No phones or tagging required, just play Smartest Watch In GolfDynamic Distances Free, functional app Interactive graphs and aerial maps

Dynamic yardages Performance dashboard Over 40,000 courses available 16 tags included Easy to use

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ELVIE PUMP THE ELVIE PUMP IS THE WORLD’S FIRST SILENT WEARABLE BREAST PUMP, WITH THE AIM OF PROVIDING MUMS WITH THE FREEDOM TO DISCREETLY PUMP WHEREVER AND WHENEVER THEY LIKE. The pump comes in a choice of single or double but with the double costing you just shy of £449 it is probably best to test out the single first before committing to two. The single kit comes with one Hub, two bottles (5oz/150ml, BPA free), a 24mm breast shield and a 28mm breast shield, two valves, two spouts, two seals, two storage lids, two bra adjusters, USB charging and a carry bag. With the distinct lack of wires, you can roam free whilst you pump at home, at work or on the go, and the silent pump action means you don’t have to feel like you are sat in a dairy farm stall.

The device is compact and lightweight, not necessarily as small as you would imagine for something that sits in your nursing bra at 128mm (h) x 110mm (w) x 68mm (d) and weighing 225g, however when you are all set up with the bra extenders it fits easily, obviously if you are using just one this will create a little asymmetry around your chest but unless you are looking for it, it isn’t that noticeable.

This pump is reasonably straightforward to set up; with just five parts to clean and assemble it takes just a matter of seconds to prepare to pump, there is a free companion app available which can be used to remotely control the

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pump, track your pumping history on each breast and monitor the milk volume in real time, however the pump can be used without the app if preferred. The Elvie Pump automatically switches from Stimulation mode into Expression mode when it detects let-down and will pause when the bottle is full, so you don’t have to panic about overflowing. On paper the Elvie Pump is brilliant however like so many pumps it is a uniquely personal thing as to the success of the product, what works for one may not work for another, and the Elvie will take a little practice to ensure the most efficient pump. The most prevalent issue is leakage as the pump has to be firmly pressed to the skin to create a seal, and some movement, leaning over or reaching up for example might cause this seal to break, however we believe the benefits well deserve the perseverance it might take to learn how to avoid mistakes. If you exclusively express or regularly pump the Elvie won’t always prove 100% perfect, the app needs a little work, the battery life is quite short and there can be some leakage problems however it is a major game changer for its portability, silence and hands-free convenience.

Quiet and discreet

RRP £249

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https://www.elvie.com/shop/elvie-pump PROS Quiet and discreet Hands-free pumping Wire and tube free Easy to set up App for remote controlling, history and volume level in real time

Auto pause and 2 phases 7 intensity modes

CONS Can leak Short battery life

Expensive

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SWANN WIRE-FREE 720P SMART VIDEO DOORBELL WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO SEE WHO IS CALLING US ON OUR PHONES BEFORE WE COMMIT TO ANSWERING AND AS A HIGHLY ANTISOCIAL PERSON I BELIEVE ITS ONLY FAIR THAT WE CAN APPLY THE SAME TECH TO OUR FRONT DOORS, THE WIRE-FREE 720P SMART VIDEO DOORBELL FROM SWANN DOES JUST THAT AND EVEN ALLOWS YOU TO IGNORE POTENTIAL VISITORS FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. One of the immediate features we were happy to notice was that it can be mounted in a completely wire-free configuration, this makes installation and location an absolute breeze, however this is also where we came across the first issue: battery life - but more on that in a bit. This doorbell records in 720p with a 112° viewing angle, offers both heat and motion sensing to activate recording even if someone doesn’t ring the bell, night vision for night visioning and two-way audio to allow you to instruct the postman as to where to leave the parcel when you are away from your home or simply freak out your mates by whispering “I can seeee you”. The video doorbell can be connected to your existing Wi-Fi network, in the app you can view up to 30 days of clips that are in the built-in memory for free, you can play back video, download clips and share any crimes you capture with the police and any drunken stumbles to the front door on social media.

You get push notifications when a visitor presses the doorbell or when there’s activity with heat near the doorbell, expand the system by adding another Doorbell Unit to your back door, or more Chime Units around different floors of your property.

The Smart Video comes with the Doorbell Unit, Mounting Bracket, Mounting Tools, Screws and Wall Plugs, USB to Micro USB, Charging Cable and Theft Deterrent

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Stickers, however there isn’t a chime unit included so to begin with you will have to rely on your phone to alert you to someone’s presence, not ideal if your phone is switched off, on silent or simply not in the same room as you. The unit itself is rather large, the design looks unfriendly, you are very aware there is a camera in your face when you reach for the doorbell, however it is weather resistant with an IP65 rating and feels secure when correctly attached to the anti-theft mounting. On paper this doorbell should be great, no subscriptions, no wires, however it just doesn’t perform well, with all the functions active and checking in with the live stream we were getting as little as 2 days’ battery life, you then need to take the time to remove it from the bracket and it will take about 4-5 hours to fully recharge. You can obviously avoid running the battery by wiring it in, but this defeats the main objective of the having a Wire-Free doorbell. We also found the night vision to be extremely poor quality, the motion and heat detection were hit and miss and slow to connect once activated and we even experienced ghost ringing, which is as annoying as it is scary. The idea behind the Swann Wire-Free 720p Smart Video Doorbell is great however it fails to perform as promised, even I would choose to risk opening the door to awkward small talk over dealing with this high maintenance little device.

arrow-alt-circle-right https://www.swann.com/uk/swads-wvdp720 PROS Wireless connection option Secure anti-theft mounting

Packed full of features Subscription free Built-in memory

CONS

RRP £89.99

Murky night vision quality Ghost ringing Unreliable connectivity Battery life can quickly wear down with constant use (lots of live streaming or activation cause by animals, people walking past

4 hour recharge time Awkward to remove from the mount to recharge No chime box included Large, unfriendly design

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FORCEFIELD SPORT SUIT FORCEFIELD BODY ARMOUR SPECIALISES IN IMPACT PROTECTION CLOTHING SYSTEMS FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS, IT HAS CONTINUED TO GROW SINCE IT WAS FIRST LAUNCHED IN 2003.

FORCEFIELD FOCUS ON CREATING PROTECTIVE APPAREL THAT IS AS FUNCTIONAL IS IT COMFORTABLE, ALLOWING YOU TO ENJOY THE RIDE WITH THE PEACE OF MIND THAT IF THE WORSE SHOULD HAPPEN, FORCEFIELD HAS GOT YOUR BACK. The Sport Suit comes in either the CE1 or CE2 version, both including a CE2 back insert as standard. This modular removable armour system provides a close fit to avoid movement in the event of an impact when compared to armour positioned in the outer garment. The Sport Suit is a once-piece garment, kind of like a onesie that a superhero would wear, and improves the comfort when it comes to wearing leathers. It isn’t the easiest thing to get in and out of, however the two-way zip does make getting in and out of your leathers a lot easier. It is available in sizes X-Small/Small, Medium/Large, X-Large/ XX-Large, the material is super stretchy so it is easy to find a comfortable fit and can be used for on and off road.

The nine armour pockets provide optional protection for shoulder, elbow, hip, knee and back armour, and the dual use means it will be just as usable and practical as an adventure base layer garment. The material is breathable to help prevent you from getting too hot underneath your leathers however, if you

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do get a sweat on, the material has wicking properties to keep you dry and cool by removing the sweat from your body. As with Forcefield’s other armoured clothing, the wearer can choose whether it’s fitted with an Isolator CE1 or CE2 limb armour, this gives greater flexibility when it comes to both price and amour needs. If you are riding predominantly off road and in hot conditions, the CE1 limb armour is thinner, lighter and offers the best in breathability, whereas for track or race use, CE2 is better suited, with its back-protection system.

The Body Suit provides all your protection in one piece whilst maintaining full freedom of movement and a comfortable body temperature thoughout your ride.

The DRI-M technology used in Forcefield apparel provides anti-bacterial, thermal, and anti-UV properties whilst remaining lightweight, breathable and machine washable and - most importantly - high energy absorbing with repeat performance technology enabling you to wear it time and time again regardless of previous impacts.

Breathable and lightweight Sports Suit CE2 £224.99

Sports Suit CE1 £209.99

https://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/new-for-2019 PROS Compression fit clothing DRI-M technology Breathable Wicking Easy to wash Two-way zip Lightweight

Isolator 2 passes all 4 areas of the CE2 test (Ambient, Wet, Hot, Cold) Isolator 1 armour is from only 8mm thick Repeat Performance Technology

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VITREX PRO 630MM TILE CUTTER VITREX WAS BORN IN 1939 TO GASTON FLORIN AFTER INITIALLY DEVELOPING A RANGE OF HAND TOOLS DURING WORLD WAR II. THE VERY FIRST PLASTIC DIY PRODUCTS TO BE SOLD UNDER THE VITREX BRAND WERE LAUNCHED DURING THE 1950S, AND FROM THERE THE COMPANY HAVE CONTINUED TO GROW, ESTABLISHING VITREX AS A LEADING BRAND IN DIY. THE PRO 630MM TILE CUTTER IS A COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT TILE CUTTER THAT LETS YOU CUT TILES TO SHAPE TO DESIGN YOUR OWN HOME, USING A SIMPLE SCORE AND SNAP TECHNIQUE FOR PREPARATION. IT IS COMPACT AND LIGHTWEIGHT, FEATURING A RIGID STEEL CONSTRUCTION WITH AN ADJUSTABLE CUTTING GUIDE. THE CUTTING WHEEL IS CONSTRUCTED FROM A DURABLE TUNGSTEN CARBIDE, WHICH ENSURES CONSISTENT USE THROUGHOUT ITS LIFETIME. The 630mm is suitable for cutting wall, floor and ceramic tiles up to 13mm thick, the compact design means you can easily store it away when not in use without taking up vast amounts room in the shed or garage and the lightweight structure helps you move it between rooms or around your work station with ease. For an extended life expectancy, the cutting wheel is fully replaceable, simply go on the website and order a 102385 to help you get years of continued use out of your Pro 630mm. Straight cuts are possible on tiles up to 630mm square whilst diagonal cuts possible on tiles up to 445mm square, it is very easy to use but will take a little pressure to break the tile after scoring and the base could do with being a bit stronger to give you more purchase. Most of the

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tiles turned out with clean cuts however a few had slight wobbles along the edge although we believe this wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be visible once laid, to make things even tidier we would like to see a carry bag or protective case included. If you are an absolute perfectionist or planning on using the Pro 630mm very frequently it maybe worth investing in a different product but for decorating your own home, it is entirely capable.

Suitable for wall, floor and ceramic tiles up to 13mm

RRP £147.23

https://www.vitrex.co.uk/products/manual-tilecutters/ PROS Easy to use Replaceable cutting wheel Durable materials

Compact and lightweight Suitable for wall, floor and ceramic tiles up to 13mm

CONS Base could be stronger No storage case/bag

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PLANTRONICS BACKBEAT GO 810 THE BACKBEAT GO 810 FROM PLANTRONICS ARE OVER-EAR HEADPHONES FEATURING ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLING (ANC) WITH DUAL MODE AND UP TO 22 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE PER CHARGE, AVAILABLE IN GRAPHITE BLACK, BONE WHITE AND AN ATTRACTIVE NAVY BLUE. Self-titled as “escapeware” the dual mode ANC lets you choose how much background noise you allow to penetrate the headset depending on how noisy the environment is, whether you are on the daily commute or simply trying to drown out the family around you.

Both modes work well, the highest setting allows you fully immersive sound although with much of an impact to the sound quality, as for the rest of the sound quality it was generally good; the bass was impressive thanks to the 40mm Plantronics’s signature audio drivers the mid and high tones are clean but it is the bass heads who will enjoy this the most.

The design of the headphones looks a little boring, to look at them you couldn’t tell if you paid £139 or £25, they are a bit chunky and dated-looking however there is plenty of memory foam and leatherette padding around the ear cups and headband meaning they are wonderfully comfortable.

is a little too much for you. You get up to 22 hours’ continuous play time with the ANC switched on and up to 26 hours with it switched off, the ear cups will fold down flat for a more compact shape when travelling, it does come with a soft travel bag but the quality isn’t great and it doesn’t offer to much in the way of protection.

The headphones can be controlled via the buttons on each ear cup, skipping tracks, pausing/playing and turning up the volume for example, but it will take a little time to learn which button is where as the symbols are difficult to differentiate with your fingers. You can take calls hands free with the Go 810 however the person receiving the call complained of a lot of background noise. The sound quality and comfort are easily the best things about these headphones, the buttons aren’t intuitive, the design is unoriginal, the mic quality isn’t great and I think for the price tag you would naturally expect more.

Good battery life

You can download an app and play about with the settings and EQ presets to customise your audio experience if that bass

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RRP £139.99

https://www.plantronics.com/gb/en/product/backbeat-go-810 PROS Comfortable Good battery life

Impressive sound quality Dual mode ANC

CONS Controls hard to differentiate with fingertips Unoriginal, ungainly design

Cheap travel bag Mic picks up a lot of background noise Limited features

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MUSTO MPX GORE-TEX PRO OFFSHORE JACKET THE MPX GORE-TEX PRO OFFSHORE JACKET HAS BEEN CREATED TO KEEP YOU COMFORTABLE IN ALL WEATHERS WHILST OUT ON THE BOAT, IT COMES IN BRILLIANT BLUE, TRUE RED OR BLACK AND IS AVAILABLE IN SIZES XS-XXL. UPDATED FOR THE NEW SEASON THIS MPX OFFSHORE JACKET FEATURES AN IMPROVED CUT FOR INCREASED LEVELS OF COMFORT AND A DARTED SLEEVE CONSTRUCTION FOR BETTER FLEXIBILITY AND RANGE OF MOVEMENTS. It has a three-layer GORE-TEX Pro fabric construction, this provides added durability without adding any bulk, with less weight means it is well suited for active sailing. In case you have been living under a rock and have never heard of GORE-TEX it is the ultimate weather protection material, it is durably waterproof and windproof whilst at the same time highly breathable. Musto is the only marine company in the world to hold a license for making accessories with GORE-TEX fabric, the fabric is sandwiched between the outer shell fabric and an inner liner and made up with microscopic pores that cover the membrane.

These are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule, this construction makes the membrane impermeable to moisture yet breathable so moisture from skin escapes easily. This jacket features 28,000mm of water protection with a heat-retentive grid fleece-

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lined funnel and hood pod with a highly protective, adjustable spume, this keeps you dry and warm with zero irritation around the face and neck. The external storm flap has a hook and loop closure for a secure seal, the shock cord hem adjustment and twin-sprung cord lock with rubberised finish means you can get a precise fit and prevent spray from entering the jacket.

The fully-adjustable, pre-shaped spume visor protects your face from spray and rain whilst the photoluminescent reflectors glow in the dark to increase visibility in low light and at night. The grid fleece lining in the high collar and crown of the hood add some warmth when needed and the flexible and light weight material means you can easily move naturally in all directions. The MPX Pro Offshore is a high-performing jacket that allows you to focus on the sailing experience whilst remaining visible and protected from the elements.

Windproof, waterproof and breathable

RRP £550

https://www.musto.com/en_GB/mpx-gore-tex-prooffshore-jacket/80823.html PROS Three-layer GORE-TEX Pro laminate protection Windproof, waterproof and breathable Durable construction External storm flap with a hook and loop closure Shock cord hem adjustment and twinsprung cord lock with rubberised finish

Fully-adjustable, preshaped spume visor Photoluminescent reflectors Articulated sleeves Grid fleece lining in the high collar and crown of the hood Lightweight

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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.

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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