Lexus is a brand I have seen evolve over the years. As many car brands have embraced electric cars, Lexus to has made the crossover by revealing this week the Lexus UX 300e electric urban cross over upgrade. As climate change is on the car industry agenda, it made perfect sense to head up to the highlands of Scotland and show me what was going to be revealed.

Carlowrie Castle is a 19th-century baronial mansion in Kirkliston, Edinburgh, Scotland, and what a stunning backdrop for the European reveal of the 2023 upgrade for Lexus’ first “ALL” Electric Vehicle, the UX 300e.  

The evening began with what was for me, as a Veteran, a very impressive entrance.  The Lexus UX 300e approached Carlowrie Castle down the magnificent driveway.  The car was escorted and piped in by a detachment of the Scots Guards Association, Pipes and Drums, Scotland, to the tune of “Scotland the Brave”, and what an entrance it was.  

What I Wore

Up your kilt was what I was up against. As the fashion trend for the 2023 debate is all about, where did all the men wearing skirts originate from? Is as controversial as the electric car industry itself. The future of electricity has a long way to go yet.

As Lexus’ theme was “FEEL ELECTRIFIED” I thought it best from an alternative environmental angle to think “SUSTAINABILITY”.

  I, therefore, decided not to collaborate with a clothing brand and wear new clothes.  In keeping with the environmental theme, I thought it best to only wear clothes that were over 2 years old.

Carlowrie Castle

For the reveal, and evening dinner at Carlowrie Castle (see inlaid photographs), my wardrobe consisted of; blue suede leather soled shoes by Barker of England, Massimo Dutti, slim fit, light blue flecked trousers in a stretch cotton fabric, a Massimo Dutti white stretch extra fine cotton fabric shirt, and a TM Lewin, dark blue wellington wool summer blazer.  I feel that for brighter days, lighter colours contrast well with darker colours and alternatively, for overcast and rainy days, deep and dark colours contrast well with lighter shades, hence my wardrobe choice for the second day.

First Impressions

A little background for readers who are not familiar with military history.  Bagpipes were originally used to scare off enemies on the battlefield.  It is believed that the practice originated from the Battle of Cullodan in 1746.  However, today, they are used predominantly for ceremonial occasions, and what a captivating sight and sound it is and was.

However spectacular the entrance, the UX 300e’s design doesn’t disappoint.  The body’s design has that stylish compact proportioned look, with sharp lines, triple LED headlights blending into the distinctive front grill, and the noticeable rear end LED light strip, both synonymous with Lexus. 

As a Creative Urban Crossover, it was pleasing and easy on the eye. 

The main features included in the 2023 upgrade were:

• Vehicle range extended by more than 40%.
• Steering and suspension fine-tuned, enhancing the ‘Lexus Electrified’ driving experience. 
• New multimedia system with greater functionality and a bigger screen.
• More capabilities added to the Lexus Safety System +.

Battery Versus Charging Stations In The United Kingdom

The new battery system is the most notable change for the upgrade, resulting in what will probably be a welcomed increase in the vehicle’s driving range, increasing the range by more than 40% from 196 miles to 280 miles, (depending on wheel size options).  In comparison, the average range of an EV in the UK is estimated to be 211 miles.  The regenerative braking mechanism also charges the vehicle’s high-voltage battery, by capturing the kinetic energy. 

Range anxiety in all our car reviews since 2016 has been a heated debate across the car industry. Here at the team, MenStyleFashion we have many UK frustrating electric car reviews. When it comes to access to public charging stations in the UK. It is deemed one of the worse for 2023  against its rival friends, Europe. Our best electric car review was in Holland. Rome was not built overnight, at the same time it is this frustration which is why many people are still reluctant to buy an electric car.

Multimedia System

Inside the car, the upgraded revised multimedia system with a 12.3-inch (Lexus Link Pro) display and touchscreen technology was easy to navigate and use.  The new display sits forward on the instrument panel making it easy and comfortable for the driver to operate. The graphics were clear and crisp with high definition.  The “always connected” cloud-based navigation provided as standard, gives access to real-time road and traffic information.  It’s stated that the Lexus Link Pro system has embedded navigation, so operation is available in areas where a cloud connection is not available.  

Although not activated for the driving phase on the second day, the new voice recognition system includes using the “Hey Lexus” onboard assistant.  This apparently makes for easier use of voice commands to make phone calls, operate the audio and climate control and search the net.  It can also link to cloud-based information, so for example, it can be asked about nearby charging facilities and other local information.  It is programmed to understand more conversational terms and can better recognize commands when there is background noise.  The audio doesn’t have to be muted and the microphones can identify whether it is the driver or front passenger speaking.

 Imaginative Technology

True to Lexus’s famous omotenashi hospitality, owners will be able to use the Lexus Link smartphone app which transforms UX 300e into a connected car, to lock or unlock the doors, you can check the battery status, driving range, and time remaining for a complete charge.  Prior to setting off on a journey, and before entering the vehicle, this app allows you to operate the heating and air-conditioning, adjusting the temperature. Due to time constraints and not having access to the app, it could not be used. 

A practical and useful addition is the hands-free power-operated rear tailgate, which responds to a door-mounted switch, the tailgate operates gently during the initial and final parts of opening and closing.  It can also be opened and closed from inside the car and also with the smart key.

Interior

The interior was comfortable with the seats lined with perforated leather upholstery and a Kagome pleated effect, inspired by traditional Japanese basket weave.  The 1200-year-old Japanese craft “Sashiko”, (the art of stitching), predominantly used in traditional Japanese martial arts clothing, has been skilfully incorporated into the seat stitching, strengthening the stitchwork and enhancing the cabin’s aesthetic appeal.  

The cabin surround, dashboard and windscreen allowed for easy access to the controls and excellent road and surrounding visibility.  The interior felt open and spacious for passengers, even though the UX 300e has relatively compact exterior dimensions.

The Lexus Drive Mode Select, which allows the driver to tailor the driving experience, is positioned and operated from the left-hand side of the driver’s instrument panel, just above the indicator arm, from which the following modes can be selected:

• Normal drive mode provides an optimal balance between driving performance and range.
• ECO mode maximises energy savings across all driving conditions by smoothing the throttle response, as well as moderating air conditioning operation.
• Sport mode delivers quicker throttle response and increased steering feel. 

Paddle shifts are also positioned on the steering wheel and can also assist the driver by switching between four levels of deceleration, to suit the type of road, their natural driving style, and their preferred feeling of control. 

Healthy Cabin

When it comes to air quality and a healthy cabin, Lexus isn’t just concerned about the emissions produced by vehicles, it is taking care to ensure the atmosphere inside its cars is kept as pure as possible, where the next generation nanoe™ X system has been used, a technology created by Panasonic.  Nano-sized water particle diffusion technology creates a cleaner, healthier in-car environment, inhibiting viruses, bacteria, pollen and mould, and reducing odours.  It is claimed that nanoe™ X can inhibit more than 99% of viruses and bacteria. 

Additional Safety System Features

Upgrades have also been made to the UX’s Lexus Safety System +, which constantly monitors the road for potential danger.  The car is now equipped with Intersection Turning Assist, which when turning at an intersection detects oncoming vehicles and pedestrians crossing in the opposite direction, and Emergency Assist, which when enabled automatically makes small corrective inputs to the steering wheel to help prevent the vehicle from unintentionally departing from its lane. The Dynamic Radar Cruise Control now has Curve Speed Reduction, which automatically adjusts the vehicle’s speed to suit the radius of the bend in the road.  The ‘Lexus Electrified’ driving experience has also been enhanced by detailed alterations to the UX 300e’s suspension, body, and chassis.

These additions complement the existing Lexus Safety System+ features: the Pre-Collision System can detect pedestrians at night and objects such as motorcycles during the day.  Lane Tracking Assist helps the driver stay in the centre of the lane and can provide support when driving around bends.  Road Sign Assist recognises traffic signs to provide information to the driver via the multi-information display or the optional Heads-Up display.  I was very impressed with the Heads-Up Display which projected the vehicle’s speed, visual navigation commands and road speed limits directly onto the windscreen, making driving easier with having not to take your eyes off the road.

Other features which make it easy to drive the UX 300e include a Panoramic View on the monitor for near-360-degree visibility around the car, to help when driving in confined spaces, this was extremely useful when stationary at traffic lights and junctions, giving me a 360-degree view of any object close to the car.  The Blind Spot Monitor, with radar devices mounted in the rear bumper, detects vehicles in adjacent lanes that are not visible in the door mirrors activating a light indicator in the mirrors.    

Warranty and Longevity

Lexus’ confidence in the durability of its all-electric vehicle technology is affirmed by a standard warranty for 8 years or 160,000 km (whichever comes first), covering degradation of BEV battery capacity below 70%. This is complemented by a 5-year or 100,000 km warranty on all functional defects of the BEV main battery. Extended BEV Care is available to cover main battery defects and capacity degradation below 70% for up to 10 years or 1,000,000 km, provided that regular maintenance program health checks and servicing are completed at an authorised Lexus dealer.  Lexus is confident, however, given its long experience in battery technologies, that actual capacity at the point should be above 85%.        

The upgraded UX 300e is priced at £47,495 and debuts in showrooms across Europe in spring 2023. 

Author’s Criticism

As a newbie to the EV experience, this was the first time I had driven a fully electric vehicle, and I was suitably impressed.  From the short time experienced in the driver’s seat, I did however find it difficult to reach around and bring forward the seatbelt.  Being only 5’ 8” and having to position the driver’s seat slightly more forward, I had to twist in my seat to grasp the seatbelt.  The addition of a seatbelt mechanism that presents the seat belt to the driver as they get into the vehicle and take their seat, would assist greatly in this area.

Driving Experience and Activity Day

On the second day we were driving the Lexus UX 300e to a number of sites around Edinburgh to partake in various activities which included; discovering the art of sashiko, a 1200-year-old Japanese craft, lunch at Scotts Restaurant, Port Edgar Marina, including a Miso making masterclass with Robin Sherrif, and the last stop, Blueparrot Productions for a Light Painting session with the Lexus UX 300e, guided by David Gilliver.  As the weather forecasted rain and was on the cool side, I decided to go more casual (see inlaid photographs).  I therefore wore; blue suede and burgundy brogue leather spectator leather soled shoes by Daniel, TM Lewin slim fit cotton trousers, Hackett London slim fit cotton burgundy shirt and an M&S light blue thin gilet.  I also took for the day a Hammond & Co beige linen blazer.   

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As part of the team at MenStyleFashion.com, I am spending this winter season in Andorra for a few months, these are the benefits of remote working. I am an avid skier and snowboarder having started at the early age of ten. I thought this season I start with a completely new outfit from the UK outwear company TOG24.

My outfit is colour matched around the navy style camo look. The Blizzard ski trousers or salopettes are navy camos as well as the Lockton ski gloves. This was teamed with a Dark Indigo Hail Men’s ski jacket. I spend around 3  days a week on the slopes for around 3 hours over the last 7 weeks so I have a good feel of what the outfit is like. I skied on cold windy days as well as the sunny ones of which Andorra has plenty. I avoid heavy snow days as well as rainy days.

TOG24 Hail Men’s Ski Jacket – £200

First of all, I love how TOG24 is incorporating recycled material in its clothing range with the thermal eco filling being made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. The Hail jacket which is made of durable ripstop polyester comes with a waterproof rating of 15k and has a breathable rating of 20k. The Hail jacket comes with 1 zip chest pocket, 2 lower zip pockets and a ski pass pocket on the sleeve. The zip chest pocket in which I kept my mobile phone also included a wipe to clean my goggles. All zips come with ski glove-friendly pullers. Inside the Hail jacket, there is an inner zip pocket as well as a mesh pocket for your goggles.

To keep the snow out when you ski off-piste in the powder or when you take a tumble, this jacket comes with an inner stretch snow guard as well as snow cuffs with thumb holes. When it is hot, which has happened already on quite a few occasions, there are arm vents that can be opened with a zip to improve ventilation. The hood is fully adjustable with three glove-friendly pullers one on each side and one on the back. The hood can be used with or without a ski helmet.

The branding on this jacket is quite minimal which I like, there is a printed TOG24 logo on the left chest and a rubber Yorkshire Rose badge on the left sleeve.

The Hail jacket is not a heavy jacket and is perfect for most conditions you will face skiing in Europe. I would not go out in it when it is minus 25 degrees. On warm days the jacket provides enough ventilation to keep you cool. My only gripe that I have is that the zip of the chest pocket does get stuck now and then, where it catches on the inner fabric.

The Hail jacket comes in two colour schemes: Dark Indigo/Black and Chilli Red/Black

TOG24 Blizzard Men’s Salopettes – £110

The matching TOG24 Blizzard salopettes are in the Navy Camo colour scheme, perfectly matching the Hail jacket. Also here the insulation is made from recycled plastic bottles. The salopettes are fully adjustable with velcro waist adjusters and the elastic braces that are length adjustable as well as detachable. The hook bar, as well as the double studs, make sure the salopettes are firmly closed. Pocket wise there are two zip pockets with glove-friendly pullers on the zips, and there is a velcro patch pocket on the right leg.

The waterproof, breathable and windproof materials kept me warm and dry in cold temperatures. The inside of the Blizzard Salopettes is soft with different materials used at the knees and the bum end. There is a higher back waistband that protects you from the cold when bending over. Ventilation zips in the legs provide ventilation on hot days. I like the reinforced panels on the inside that prevent ski buckle damage. I have plenty of old ski trousers that have been damaged that way. Last but not least there are snow gaiters and zips to have a snow-free connection between the trousers and the boots.

The Blizzard ski trousers are almost perfect, the elastic braces keep losing themselves during all the ski and snowboard moves and will have to be adjusted quite often if you want to prevent the ski trousers to go down a bit. You can stop that by making the waist tighter though.

Lockton Waterproof Ski Gloves – £50

The Lockton gloves are in the same Navy Camo colour scheme as the tousers and are made of waterproof and breathable material. They are tailor-made for winter sports with thermal lining and a cushioned palm for comfort. The fingertips are reinforced mad there is an adjustable wrist strap and a strap to keep the snow out from entering. The thumb has a piece of plastic that you can scrape your googles clean with, this is the first time I have seen something like this and is handy when you are in snowy conditions.

The ski gloves kept me warm and are very easy to put on and take off. The only thing that is missing is some elastic wrist straps to prevent the gloves from falling down when you take them off. Not fun when you are in a chair lift.

Conclusion

I have skied and boarded for more than 35 years and I have had plenty of different makes of ski gear. In my opinion, TOG24 ski gear represents good value for money with designs that are cool on the slopes. The materials are durable and will easily last a few seasons even with the heavy use as I do.

Sale Now On

There is a sale now on at TOG24 and the ski season easily has another 2 months to go, making it even better value for money.

• The Blizzard Men’s Salopettes – Navy Camo are reduced from £110 to £49
• The Hail Men’s Ski Jackets – Dark Indigo is reduced from £200 to £140
• The Lockton Water Proof Ski gloves are reduced from £50 to £15

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We received a Maxwell Scott Flero Medium bag way back in 2015 for review. And after its six-year anniversary, I thought it would be great to have another review of how it has endured. The Maxwell Scott Flero Medium certainly has been on one huge adventure since then. I have used it for hotel stays, heading to the gym and weekend travel adventures.

My wife has also used it for storing her shoes and carrying what most women love to carry? My wife is Italian and owns many luxury bags from Italy. So for her to grab this bag, highlights the quality and design.

Made In Italy Leather

I have many Italian leather bags and I find the quality of leather varies. After five years on and off use, I am impressed with how the bag still looks, both inside and out.

The YKK zip quality is very robust and has withstood many years of opening and closing. The hardware is still looking in pristine condition and the secure twin buckle straps ensure that my belongings are safe from landing on the reception floor. It is a great call to action to make sure I strap the buckles in. It looks odd walking with the straps open hence why I like it.

The gold buckles still look brilliant, this is important because it is part of the stylish design of the bag. The stitching is excellent and works for durability as well. The bag is heavy and therefore handled lots of weight over the years. Including many high heels, makeup and belts.

Gym Use

For me, my gym is all about image. So when heading to the gym I like to showcase the bag. I throw in my swimming kit and clean set of clothes. I also like to throw in my trainers. I often get comments about how stylish my gym bag is. The metal feet at the base still looks, great and I like this hardware because it keeps the leather from being torn. The versatility of this bag suits my lifestyle. So after work out, I like to walk out using the robust handles. Been able to detach the shoulder strap is important for me simply for it’s a blokes way of showing how tough he and his bag is. Gyms are all about showing off a man and his bag most of the time.

Hotel Reviews

I have reviewed many hotels since 2015. When entering any four or five-star hotel, my bag image is essential for marketing and my overall confidence. The bag has to earn its trust when packing my essentials. This back is a great weekend bag, I stored enough items for two days. Because there are no dedicated compartments I can throw as much I can in the bag. I love the dual floor-to-floor zip as I can place many extra items with ease when packing. When walking into the hot I want to feel comfortable which works due to the adjustable/detachable luxury Italian leather shoulder straps.

Conclusion

The internal zipped pocket to separate my essentials, like car keys, house keys, phone charges and wallets is very important. When I have chosen no to use it, I have left myself in awkward situations pulling out my wardrobe to find where the keys are. I am so impressed with the leather tanning of this bag.

I also review luxury cars and a man’s bag status is very important when turning up to car reviews. All us men look at each other’s bags when checking into the hotels across Europe. Because the leather attachments on the zip are all still intact and the bag looks better with wear. I feel confident in carrying it in front of businesspeople.

We do compare bags at the reception area. I find it fits into small compartments when my car is being fully loaded. If I choose, it looks very stylish left at the back seat of the car for anyone peeking into some Audi‘s I have reviewed.

Thanks for creating a truly quality bag that unless it gets stolen will last the full 25 years guarantee. My wife is literally packing her gym kit in it as we speak. Yes, men do ask me when I pull out her make-up bag, am I reviewing makeup for men too?

Details of Flero Medium

• Where to buy: www.maxwellscottbags.com/men/travel/luxury-leather-luggage
• Price: £711
• Secure twin buckle straps
• Floor to floor wide zip opening
• Adjustable, detachable shoulder strap
• Metal feet to base
• Capacity: 38 Litres (cabin size)
• Dimensions: 51 x 29 x 25 cm (width, height, depth)
• Weight: 2.1 kg

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Four are the fundamental pillars of luggage, a primary design that introduced even more ingenious elements of functionality. Lightweight construction, style and technology applied to control for ease moving the streets of Europe or in this case Venice, Italy.

I always judge people by their luggage style. With Carl Friedrick, I boost confidence when walking around Venice.

Whilst in Venice I decided to put all four elements to the test. Venice is all about walking and appreciating this open-air museum. It is also the city which uses the most suitcases regarding travel and moving items around. Venice is about strutting in style and making sure you are noticed.

Four Hundred Bridges

When walking around Venice you need a robust but elegant travel case. It is important that the suitcase is made with lightweight polycarbonate, in mind. There are 400 bridges, that connects the city of Venice to the mainland. It’s taxing on the body and it is hard going moving around to your Airbnb, hotel or friends palazzo.

I like the double leather handle as when I have to pick up the suitcase it balances both me and the luggage.

Stylish Whist Walking

The pebble stones can be harsh on the suitcase so it’s important that an aluminium lock frame stays in place so my clothing and accessories are not compromised.

Fine Leather Detailing

This leather trimming is why this Check-In luggage stands out. It also gives a very luxurious finish and message to the overall style of the suitcase. So when I was checking in to this newly refurbed contemporary Palazzo in Venice. I was proud and confident I matched the Venetian interior design, thanks to Carl Friedrick.

The Check-in Large Grey Polycarbonate Suitcase

It is a fantastic size to check-in. Very easy to push around. I like how it matches some of the decors here in Venice.

Personalised Tags

This option makes it very personal when receiving the suitcase. I like the silver lettering and makes sure my luggage is clear to get when the porter collects it for me. I love leather and how it looks and feels. It’s the attention to detail within this Check In luggage that makes it worth buying,

Wheels

Carl Friedrick has designed the luggage to make my journey better, my load is lighter, and my wheel life simpler. Especially in Venice, the wheels were put to a robust beating. Climbing bridges, walking on all sorts of pebble pathing. To wheeling it in style here into this palazzo hotel. When buying expensive suitcases you want it to last without compromising their style.

Carry On Collection

I would opt for all the collection as when it is all together it looks amazing and stand out. This luggage is well suited for both men and women. With how I dress in my knitwear and lioness belt weighing in a whopping 5kg, my luggage has to as light as possible and stylish too. The grey goes with many colours and is suited for business, weddings and any type of travelling at airports.

In Venice, you can travel to the airport by boat so when coming into Venice make sure you look stylish. The boats pull up to the pier of hotels. So you’re walking the runway in style.

It is easy to also grab and put it in a Riva boat. The leather trimming matches the design of the classic wooden Italian boat.

When visiting Italy or any destination; luggage is all about showcasing your travel fashion, performance, functionality and style.

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I am on a huge estate here in Tuscany Italy called Fattoria Mansi Bernardini. Everything is closed once again and enduring lockdown number two means I wanted to wear more loungewear comfortable clothing. Looking sloppy is not what I am about. I meet people on the estate and I like to look presentable.

Bamigo

I am trying out a new brand from the UK targeting loungewear for men in a stylish way, called Bamigo. Bamigo’s collection features a range of T-shirts, underwear, socks and loungewear. Its collection uses a unique blend of bamboo fabric mixing it with cotton. Using bamboo makes the production process much more environmentally friendly than cotton. To make one kilo of cotton, 8,000 litres of water is needed. In contrast, bamboo grows naturally and needs no artificial watering. Bamboo shoots can grow a metre each day.

I can say Bamboo feels very soft on my body.

For me, it’s important to have clothing that is easy to take on and off most importantly have a sustainable message behind it.

Packaging

Receiving items is an exciting part of my day. The two items came in individual recyclable boxes. With a clear message from the brand, made with passion, packed with love, to be enjoyed in comfort.

I opted for the following two homewear items as they are stylish, practical, and easy to wash items.

Zip Sweater

I am a huge fan of soft and high-quality zip sweaters. I opted for the Theodore sweater due to there is a subtle branding embroidered on the chest and a Bamigo label on the cuff. I am not a fan of brand labels that are plastered on the clothing.

The fabric is made using bamboo, meaning it’s super soft. It certainly feels lovely on my skin.

The fabric used for our loungewear has been specially developed by the brand,  it is therefore a unique aspect in the market.

I have combined the sweater with my Hugo sweatpants. I like to also wear it with casual jeans, or for a more stylish look, you can team it with a polo shirt.

Bamigo Theodore Zip sweater

Sweatpants

As far as loungewear goes these Hugo sweatpants are super soft and stylish sweatpants that feature a regular fit. Again these are super soft and make the perfect match with the Theodore Zip sweater.

A drawstring waistband and ribbed ankle cuffs ensure the perfect fit for every man. Good for doing situps in them so I don’t put on any more weight.

They are detailed with a subtle Bamigo label on the back. A brushed lining provides an extra-soft touch and added comfort. Two zippered pockets complete the look. I like this as it gives it a more stylish look for working at home.

Bamigo Hugo Sweatpants

Just before I put them in the wash I go for a run around the estate. Yes, dangerously versatile which means I would recommend buying other colours so you have a variety of loungewear looks. The loungewear options come in grey and navy blue colours.

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With many of us getting used to a new ‘normal’, which includes working from home and being far more reliant on the space we live in, it’s little wonder that expenditure on home improvements has increased. An area where many will no doubt miss a luxury offered by the office is the quality of the coffee, with no commute also eradicating the train-station or high-street coffee many employ. So, with options limited, it’s time to start brewing at home – which is where today’s review item could come in.

Background

Founded in 1919, Kitchen Aid is by no means a new brand when it comes to making kitchen appliances, although they are probably best known and recognised for their stylish and well-engineered stand mixers. Alas, like many companies, over the years they’ve branched out into new areas, and have been making coffee machines for a good while now.

Today’s item differs from most traditional coffee makers, using a relatively new (and very much on-trend) method of vacuum brewing. It’s essentially a two-stage process, which starts off with the coffee grinds being placed in an upper chamber, whilst the required amount of water is poured into the chamber below.

The lower chamber acts like a kettle, and when switched on starts off the brewing process by boiling the water, thus creating pressure and pushing the liquid up into the top chamber. Here, the hot, pressurized water and coffee mix, forming stage 1 of the brewing process. Up to now, it’s very similar to the process used on a wide variety of coffee makers, but the next step is where it gets a bit sci-fi.

The lower chamber is allowed to cool, which in turn creates a vacuum of pressure relative to the upper chamber. With a vacuum-formed, the water is then pulled back down from the upper chamber through a filter, which captures the coffee grinds and ensures all the water passes through them – thus extracting the maximum amount of flavour.

In Practice

So now that we’ve covered how the process works, how does the Kitchen Aid actually perform? The machine is simple to disassemble, aiding quick filling of the lower water tank. The lower tank is marked to aid your filling, with notches indicating fill points between 3 and 8 cups, with a maximum 1-litre capacity.

The filter twists simply into place in the top half, whilst a stand is provided so you can add the coffee grinds without the base (lower tank) attached. It’s then a case of locking the top ‘ball’ half over the base, which locks together with a satisfying notch to let you know it’s watertight. The lid for the lower section can be fastened to the upper chamber, although this felt like a slight afterthought with lacklustre fastening.

Flick the kettle-like switch and the lower half begins to boil, taking just a few minutes to force the water up into the top chamber thanks to the potent 1440w element. Another minute or two pass as the water is pulled back down in a slightly less vigorous manner (all the while extracting flavour).

The end result? Aside from impressing your friends with the intriguing process, the coffee is strong, full of flavour and the filter does a good job of making sure no grinds make it into the finished brew. Very little crema is created, unlike an espresso machine, but that’s more a difference of process than a negative on the Kitchen Aid (something to be aware of).

Where this machine excels is in its ability to produce a large quantity of good coffee in a short amount of time no replacing grinds between each cup or waiting for the gas hob to provide the required heat. Fill, add beans and go, it really is a breeze and a noticeable step-up from cafetière or similar brew methods, both in quality and speed.

It’s not all good though, and there are a few issues that need to be discussed. Kitchen Aid seems somewhat aware of the first; cleaning. In fact, the instructions make specific reference to the cleaning process and how the included brush is there to aid this process, so they’ve done what they can to address the issue. You see, whilst the coffee maker may have a fantastic looking design, it makes for a very tricky routine with some internal surfaces tricky and difficult to access. These surfaces are not only hard to clean, but also trap some of the finished brews when in use, meaning there would consistently be ½ a cup or so that couldn’t be enjoyed.

The trade-off is for aesthetics, which are hard to overlook as it looks fantastic on the countertop. The build quality too is absolutely top-notch and the included brush/coffee measure certainly goes a healthy way towards alleviating the concerns.

The bottom Line

If you’ve already fallen in love with the looks of this machine, I don’t blame you, and it would also be tricky to offer any hard arguments against purchasing. Yes, it’s tricky to clean, but there’s always a trade-off with form/function and the build quality is first-rate. The vacuum process is as intriguing as it is efficient, making this machine an accessible way of producing quality coffee at home.

The Kitchen Aid Vacuum coffee brewer currently retails for £159.00.

Update: Kitchen Aid has discontinued this product

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Harber London is a company founded in 2012 that sells handmade leather goods. What started as a business selling leather laptop sleeves now sell all kinds of leather goods from wallets, passport holders, phone cases, bags and leather accessories. The vision of Harber London is: “We want to create honest products that reflect our unique point of view, our style, make the little stuff better, and we don’t stop until we get it right.” All of Harber London’s products are handmade by craftsmen in Spain.

Leather Bifold Wallet with RFID Protection

The Harber London Wallet collection consists of five bifold wallets, MenStyleFashion takes a closer look at the leather bifold wallet with RFID protection. This wallet comes in six different colours: tan, black, deep brown, navy, grey and burgundy. Here we are reviewing the tan coloured version of the wallet. The cowhide leather is vegetable tanned and ages beautifully with use, to give the wallet its own unique character. The wallet looks minimalist with a small logo on the front. On the inside of the wallet, there is al larger logo with the lettering Harber London.

What immediately stands out and what makes this wallet unique is the zipless coin pocket. It uses a flap to keep the coins in place. The other thing that stands out is the ability to store a total of 18 cards if you want to. There are literally pockets for cards everywhere, even in the area where you would normally put your banknotes. There is also a card section which can be accessed via a pull tab, which is great to store less accessed cards like your driver’s licence. Amazingly with all this storage, the bifold wallet does not feel bulky at all. For closing the wallet there a minimalist magnetic closure system.

The wallet seems to fuse a minimalist design together with old school craftsmanship to create a timeless piece. You can keep everything organised from, notes, coins to cards in a slim minimalist design. This is a wallet that will see through the transition from a cash-based society to ultimately one that becomes cashless. The RFID protection in the wallet will keep your ID and Credit Card information safe from identity theft. This wallet oozes quality and will make a statement when pulled out.

Features

Here is a list of all the features of the wallet:

• Colours available: tan, black, deep brown, navy, grey and burgundy.
• Super Slim wallet design.
• RFID Wallet protection.
• Coin wallet compartment built in.
• Fits 18+ cards.
• Convenient Pull tab for easy card access.
• Magnetic Wallet closure.
• Keeps bulk to a minimum.
• Fits most currencies, Pounds, Euros, Dollars.
• Handmade by expert craftsmen in Spain.
• Made with Full Grain Vegetable tanned cowhide leather.
• Dimensions when closed: 9 x 10.4 cm | 3.54 x 4.09″ inches approximately.
• Dimensions when opened: 17.8 x 10.4 cm | 7 x 4.09″ inches approximately.

Where To Buy

Harber London products all come with a 1-year warranty and free fast worldwide shipping. You can buy the products online at harberlondon.com.

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Storm Cara in the UK was in full swing whilst we were driving the Aston Martin DB11. Unrelenting rain, floods, and winds gave us the opportunity to test out the new collections by Helly Hansen. So we toured the UK, Spain, and Pyrenees to experience both jackets as travel companions.

The new Edge Series of commuter-friendly rainwear is constructed with the best 3L Helly Tech Protection fabric, which is waterproof and breathable while remaining super comfortable. They also benefit from being designed with easy-to-adjust features to ensure wearers won’t look out of place during transit. Features include articulating straps on the sleeves, and an internal cinch belt, a shapeable hood, and even the ability to cover your bike through snaps at the cuffs to ensure you stay fully dry during rainy commutes.

The new Edge Series of commuter-friendly rainwear is constructed with the best 3L Helly Tech Protection fabric, which is waterproof and breathable while remaining super comfortable.

To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com.

Combining Helly Hansen’s classic, soft and 100% breathable PU material with lightweight Helly Tech Performance waterproofing, the Helox Active PU Jacketdelivers professional-grade technologies in urban design.

We put to the test the Active Hybrif Pu Jacket

Snowing here in Andorra. This jacket worked a treat as it was not that cold. I liked how the jacket absorbed the snowdrops.

To celebrate Helly Hansen’s long-standing relationship and presence in Japan, the new Japan Connection collection draws inspiration from the insight of Japanese design and combines it with professional technologies. The clean style mixes with technical fabrics to create sportswear, rainwear, and windproof apparel, including a 3L Helly Tech denim fabric.

When it was getting colder in the UK, we opted for the Lifaloft Hooded Insulated Jacket.

The grey camo looks great even during city tours and is very versatile regarding weather. So as we headed to Barcelona it still was needed for cooler weather.

https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_no/lifaloft-hooded-insulator-jack-65604

https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_no/lifaloft-hooded-insulator-jack-65604

https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_no/lifaloft-hooded-insulator-jack-65604

About Helly Hansen

Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional-grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive.  Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics more than 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with Lifa® Stay Dry Technology, and today’s award-winning and patented H²Flow™ temperature regulating system.

Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its ski uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 55,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world.

Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear, and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries and trusted by outdoor professionals and enthusiasts around the world.

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Leather laptop bags are always fashionable and elegant. These bags don’t only look good, but they’re also extremely durable. However, leather laptop bags can be a bit expensive.

If you’re a business professional who requires a durable and stylish laptop bag, you can never go wrong from choosing a leather laptop bag from Vonbaer.co.uk for all of your business events. But, you have to take note that not all leather laptop bags are equally made.

Regardless of your needs or preferences, below are some of the key tips to choose the best leather laptop bag in the market:

Take Note of the Size and Dimensions

One of the first things that you should consider when shopping around for a leather laptop bag is the size or its dimensions. Whether you choose leather backpacks or messenger bags, the best size suited for you may depend on the size of your laptop and the other things you usually bring in business events.

Never purchase a leather laptop bag that’ll only accommodate a 13-inch laptop if your laptop is a 14-inch one. Most manufacturers these days offer laptop bags in various sizes and forms. Before you purchase a leather laptop bag, check its size and ask questions about the bag’s dimensions from the manufacturer.

Determine the Type of Leather Used

Not all leathers are the same. Even if a manufacturer claims that the leather is genuine, its quality may significantly vary.

The most expensive type of leather is full-grain. Usually, even if it’s challenging to manufacture, luxury fashion houses prefer this because of its durability and beauty.

Another durable type of leather is top-grain. Its primary difference from full-grain leather is its surface. Top-grain leather is known for its finer finish.

Genuine leather basically refers to the lowest quality of leather. This material doesn’t look or lasts long compared to laptop bags that are made from top-grain leather and full-grain leather. Typically, genuine leather laptop bags are affordable.

Colour Choices

Dark brown and black leather laptop bags are ideal for business events. These bags project a sense of power and authority. On the other hand, lighter and tan brown bags are more suitable for a casual working atmosphere.

If you’re looking for the most formal option, consider a black leather laptop bag as it complements other colours. Don’t choose bags that have two different colours or have stitching with contrasting colours. A single colour leather laptop bag is always the safest bet.

Pay Attention to the Laptop Compartment Padding

If you’re a clumsy person and you often toss your bag anywhere because you’re in a rush, you must pay attention to the padding of the laptop compartment.

A padded leather laptop bag offers an additional layer of security for your laptop and other fragile items you usually bring with. Choosing a leather laptop bag that lacks proper padding should be avoided at all costs.

Check the Hardware’s Quality

Before buying any leather laptop bag, you have to check the quality of its hardware. The bag’s hardware may include the zippers, locks, handles, buckles or metallic rings.

If you’re planning to purchase online, read the product description and ask questions to the manufacturer about the little parts of the bag.

Style and Comfort

Regardless of how beautiful a leather laptop bag looks, if it’ll not offer you comfort, it’s just a waste of money.

The majority of these bags have a messenger bag-like style. Such bags have an adjustable strap. But, there are also leather laptop bags that have a briefcase-inspired top strap, which offers flexibility when carrying your laptop.

If you always use public transportation to attend business events or you need to travel often, it’s best to choose a leather laptop bag with an extra handle.

Warranty

Once you’ve decided to buy a leather laptop bag, never forget about the warranty. Most manufacturers have their own policies when it comes to warranty.

Others will provide a lifetime warranty, while some may just provide a limited time warranty. So, better check about the warranty of your preferred leather laptop bag before you finalize your purchase.

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the perfect laptop bag for business events, no matter what your preferences are, you have to take note that price isn’t always a sign of quality. Oftentimes, there are brands that charge more for lesser quality items because of their name. If you want to get the best value of your investment, choose a leather laptop bag that’s of high quality and genuine.

Moreover, keep those above-mentioned tips in mind to purchase the right one for your needs.

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What do all wardrobes in the world have in common? Outerwear. No matter what size, shape or form or even purpose or quantity, outerwear is definitely on everyone’s list of wardrobe staples. For some this may be leather jackets, blazers or trench coats, for others the timeless leather biker jackets that have proved timelessness really does exist.

Having established this point of leather outerwear being a force to be reckoned with, it’s no wonder more and more brands are introducing a great variety of leather outerwear for men to choose from. Yet, there is that question of quality, fit, style, craftsmanship and in many cases functionality. Is it even possible? To find all of these elements in one brand and hence in one top-notch durable piece of outerwear? Sure you can. Have you met The Jacket Maker?

Meet The Jacket Maker

A direct to customer brand that was founded as a solution to three problems often experienced by customers. These being accessibility, convenience and perfection. Furthermore, offering consumers a choice of Ready-to-Wear, Made-to-Measure and Bespoke outerwear options.

Since its inception, The Jacket Maker has always strived to simplify personalization in the fashion industry. Aptly quoting their CEO and Co-Founder Syed who says ‘We believe you should never settle for anything almost perfect’ covers just how close The Jacket Maker is to such aspects as attention to detail, design, quality craftsmanship and yes even durability.

Not forgetting their inclusive nature that invites individuals from all walks of life, genders, orientations and cultures to experience the best of this one of a kind start-up. You’re always welcome at The Jacket Maker.

Shopping at The Jacket Maker

It’s super easy and enjoyable to shop at The Jacket Maker. All you have to do is browse through their wide and carefully curated assortment of leather outerwear. If you see something you like, you can go ahead and select a size that’s right for you and follow the instructions to make your order request. They even have reading material and visuals to help customers with finding the correct size or getting their correct measurements. What’s this? Measurements.

That’s right, if need be The Jacket Maker also personalizes regular jackets from their assortment, maybe even a made-to-measure piece or better yet; custom jackets designed from scratch totally based on customer requirements and this can be anything from choice of colour, type of material, style of jacket, detailing, hardware, finishing and personalization. The options and possibilities are endless.

What’s even more interesting, is that The Jacket Maker offers a totally free design consultancy with no strings attached. No matter how crazy your idea for the perfect leather jacket is, you can be sure that The Jacket Maker will bring your vision to reality through their custom leather jacket model. Truly, seeing is believing! So head over and check them out.

Promises to The Jacket Maker Customer

True to the core, The Jacket Maker promises customers the following elements that are always found embedded in every awesome leather piece that they produce.

Finest Raw Materials: The raw materials used by The Jacket Maker, add life to their jackets, using nothing but the best possible materials. All their jackets are made with full grain natural leather, using YKK zippers and polyester lining.

Exquisite Craftsmanship: All products by The Jacket Maker are handmade, each piece being crafted one at a time by one craftsman with an equal amount of precision and attention to detail, unlike mass chain productions.

Fair Pricing- Directly to You: As mentioned before, The Jacket Maker’s direct-to-consumer model, enables their products to be sold at ¼ the price of what luxury brands would sell them for. This is only made possible, by cutting out middlemen, storefront costs and inefficient marketing spent.

Sizes that Fit All: Exlusivity is a buzzword these days, but The Jacket Maker takes this point quite seriously. The brand understands the feeling of wearing an awesome leather jacket, especially one that is made special. All their jackets are offered in eight standard sizes from XS to 4XL along with a Made-to-Measure and Customized option.

Full Customization: The Jacket Maker also understands the freedom of expression, diversity and the feeling of being unique. This aspect is played through to the very detail that is found in any bespoke leather jacket made by this one-of-a-kind brand. It is because of this understanding and belief that customers are free to share their ideas for their bespoke jackets in a free design consultancy via email. This being one of four stages of The Jacket Maker’s bespoke process.

Concluding Thoughts

After reading this first-hand account on The Jacket Maker, it is pretty evident that it is one of the best leather outerwear brands that stays true to its credo, guaranteeing customer satisfaction and so much more. Head on over if you’d like an experience you will always remember.

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When choosing the perfect ski jacket for your time on the mountain, looks are obviously a major factor. The slopes have always been a place for flaunting a little style flair. What’s more important, however, is that your chosen outerwear performs well on the task at hand. Here’s what you should be looking out for.

This is the second season we are wearing Superdry snow wear and we are once again not disappointed. The quality is second to none.

When you’re spending full days in the snow you get wet. When you’re charging down mountains repeatedly you get hot. Finding a ski jacket that tackles both of these problems effectively is the key to staying comfortable while riding. In short, you want something that lets moisture out, but not in.

Pockets

Pay attention to the finer details. Things like headphone compatibility and goggle pockets may not be as important as fit and waterproofing but they can certainly make a day on the mountain more enjoyable and comfortable.

Ultimate Snow Action Jacket

This is a jacket designed to keep you protected in almost any conditions out on the mountain, and is bursting with high-quality features.

A ski jacket is your first line of defence against the cold, harsh winter elements. We reckon it succeeds admirably. Breathability and waterproofing are both excellent,

The jacket is super comfortable and very warm. The fabric is of high durable quality and looks really cool on the slopes. The jacket is very versatile and matches any pants. Pockets are plentiful and the loose, casual cut and long hem lend themselves well to backcountry skiing and snowboarding. Excellent stuff.

Superdry men’s Ultimate Snow Action jacket. Hit the slopes in style this season with our Ultimate Snow Action jacket. Featuring a hidden bungee cord adjuster on the hood, eight front pockets, a pocket on the sleeve made specifically for your ski pass and a pocket on the other arm. Inside, the jacket has a media pocket for your phone and a snow skirt. This jacket also has pit zip ventilation, for those warmer ski days, making it ideal to wear all season round. Finished with an array of Superdry Snow logos, this jacket is essential for your snow wardrobe. Complete the outfit with brightly coloured salopettes to add a pop of colour to the look.

Ultimate Snow Rescue Pants

Of all your ski gear, ski pants may be the most under-rated. You need to consider your skiing style and conditions to get the best ski pants for your needs. Spring skiing, where it’s warmer and wetter will have entirely different criteria vs a cold, dry climate. It’s worth some research to choose the best possible pair. A 100% nylon outer means great durability and abrasion resistance with thicker nylon reinforced cuffs on the pant legs are great for preventing fraying. This is important in my opinion as this area often sees a lot of abuse during skiing.

Superdry men’s Ultimate Snow Rescue pants. These snow pants come with a zip and popper fastening, hook and loop waist adjuster straps and leg length adjusters in the pockets for a personalised fit. These pants feature coated zips and thigh vents to keep you comfortable. These pants also feature zipped hems with boot gaiters and boot hooks. For practicality, these snow pants feature two front zip pockets, two back pockets with a hook and loop fastening and two handy thigh pockets. The Snow pants are finished with branded zip pulls and poppers, a Superdry Snow logo on the upper thigh and two Superdry snow badges on the thigh pocket.

These pants are heavy and thick so they will endure a beating on the slopes. The fabric looks and feels great. Once again will team with other Superdry Jackets.

Ultimate Snow Service Gloves

When it’s cold you will lose a lot of heat through your extremities so choosing the right ski gloves is vital. Superdry has a great range of colours & styles so whether you’re skiing in the alps or walking in the UK, you will find something to keep you warm.

Superdry men’s Ultimate Snow Service gloves. Hit the slopes in style with the ultimate Snow Service gloves. Comfort and performance have been combined in the design of these gloves, which have been crafted from a highly breathable fabric and feature technical reinforced palms for improved grip. Waterproof inserts and a weather tolerant coated fabric means your hands will stay dry as you ski and the super-soft interior adds a touch of warmth and luxury. The gloves are completed with an adjustable strap, goggle wipe on the thumb and forefinger and a Superdry Snow logo badge on the wrist and Superdry Snow logo across the front.

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When it comes to spending money, most of us enjoy spending on things we’re interested in; fast cars, nice watches or a luxury getaway. These items can easily cost considerable sums of money, with their relative impact on your life and wellbeing often somewhat small. Why is it then, that when it comes to spending money on the areas that really make a difference to your everyday wellbeing, spending is typically frugal?

A high-quality mattress can make a big difference to the quality of your sleep, yet they often get overlooked or ignored as a purchase because they’re not an ‘interesting’ buy.  Why is it that a car, where you may spend 2 hours a day, can have 10’s of thousands of pounds justified on its purchase, yet a mattress, where you spend ~8 hours a day, is often dropped to the bottom of the list?

In fairness, this is exactly how I used to feel – a mattress is just a fabric bag filled with springs, my current one provides a good night’s sleep, so what’s interesting about trying something new? Except that’s not the mattress landscape we find ourselves in today, with numerous, high-tech foam-based offerings battling it out against the traditional, sprung mattresses. MSF thought it was about time we saw what all the fuss was about, so reached out to Emma Mattress, a UK based manufacturer which specialises in sophisticated foam mattresses.

Arrival By Post

The first difference between a spring and foam mattress is the purchase route. Thanks to their ability to be vacuum packed, foam mattresses can be delivered direct to your door in a courier friendly box – handy! The box itself is surprisingly compact (considering it contains an entire mattress), but don’t be fooled into thinking it’s lightweight; there’s still a considerable amount of material maintained within and lifting the mattress upstairs is best handled between two.

Inside the box, the mattress is essentially rolled into a long sausage, tightly held by a thick plastic sleeve. Removal of the sleeve is an easy process, thanks to the thoughtful inclusion of a cutting blade in the box. A moulded plastic guard ensures the blade is held away from the mattress cover, stopping any accidental slips causing damage during unpacking.

The mattress, blade and information leaflet are all that’s to be found in the box. Once released from its plastic wrapper, the mattress will begin to inflate and take shape. According to the manual, it’s ready to sleep on within a few minutes, although be aware the fresh mattress gives off a gluey, plasticky odour during its first few days of freedom.

Sleep & Comfort

Before covering the mattress in bedding, it’s worth discussing how well clothed it already is. The top cover feels incredibly soft and premium to the touch, with apparent temperature regulating properties to boot. The grey lower cover contrasts very nicely and feels as durable as you could ever need it to be – grab handles can be found around the periphery too which make manoeuvring the Emma that little bit easier. Conveniently, the zip running the periphery of the cover allows you to easily remove the white upper portion for washing – a welcome aid to bedroom hygiene.

The foam inner is constructed of three main layers: An ‘airgocell’ upper layer provides breathability and initial squish, with the memory foam layer underneath providing pressure distribution and further contouring-comfort. Finally, the bulk of the mattress is made from ‘HRX’ foam, a firm lower-layer designed to provide counter-pressure and lower-back focused support. This HRX layer also has additional cooling channels cut through it to stop you overheating at night. These cooling channels are very welcome, as many memory foam mattresses restrict your body’s ability to ‘breathe’ to such an extent they can become a very sweaty place to be!

Lying in the Emma for the first time, you can really feel the design intent of the three-layer system. The softer top and second layer allow you to sink into the mattress just enough to spread the pressure over your body, with the firm under layer providing ample support and stopping you from sinking in too far. It strikes a very nice balance, with overall squishiness hitting the sweet spot for me.  Everyone has different tastes mind you, which Emma cover well by offering a 100 day money-back guarantee.

Of course, a good mattress won’t necessarily shine after a single night – likewise, a terrible mattress may only show its true colours after a few weeks. For that reason, I used the Emma as my sole mattress for a full month before writing this review and am pleased to say the initial impressions carried through. It’s certainly a big step up from my previous sprung mattress, or any other mattress I’ve slept on during the last year for that matter, with the result being a month of pain and ache free sleep.

It’s always difficult to gauge these things accurately – I never struggled with sleep previously but I’d definitely say it’s providing a boost to the quality of sleep I’m able to achieve. I never find myself waking from discomfort, which couldn’t be said of the previous mattress I’d used. I’d previously been put off foam mattresses after a few experiences of overheating in their suffocating squish, but the combination of cooling channels and breathable materials in the Emma really seem to work – I didn’t find myself overheating during my time with the mattress.

Conclusion

Memory foam, or foam technology for mattresses in general, may not be anything new, so I sadly can’t preach about how the Emma is a total game changer. However, as a cocktail of foams packaged together, the Emma is a very compelling buy. It looks and feels high quality, can be delivered direct to your door and is easy to unpack and ‘install’. The thoughtful addition of a zipper for the top cover, the grab handles and small knife in the box are excellent examples of the attention to detail that has gone into this product.

There’s little, if anything to dislike then – and even if you do, Emma have you covered with their 100 day money back guarantee. A 10 year guarantee backs up any purchases, whilst prices sit between £429 for a single and £799 for a king. To my mind the mattress easily justifies its cost, making it a sure-fire MSF recommendation.

Check out  https://www.emma-mattress.co.uk for more information.

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I like living guilt-free. I don’t need some nagging and pulling in the back of my head, making me feel crummy for my decisions. Who doesn’t?

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Right?

Between straws and the turtles and the plastic bags and I have a hard time keeping up with what I should and shouldn’t be buying or using.  It probably all started with the time a lady at Starbucks yelled at me for the plastic straw in my chai latte. Or maybe it’s when I turn the tv on and see all the news about the ocean filling up with plastic from water bottles.

I’ve definitely started to be quite a bit more conscientious of the moral, ethical, and environmental impact of the things I buy.  I just want to have some water and sip it guilt-free.

That’s why my lime green Kool8 bottle is so great.  Not only does it eliminate the need for plastic because it’s a reusable water container.

I swear I read somewhere that one reusable water bottle saves 217 plastic water bottles from ending up in a landfill in one year.  But you have this whole other guilt-free component, too- for every bottle purchased, the company also donates one bottle, so you have a one-for-one donation situation. Pretty sweet deal.

Even better, 20% of the company’s profits go toward helping underprivileged and struggling regions across the world get water to those who really need it.  So now I get to feel good about my purchase and reminded of that good at each and every sip.

Ethical businesses are becoming a huge trend right now and supporting those kinds of companies can make a big impact on the planet overall.  I can’t stop myself from using any plastic, I can’t avoid all straws,

Because It’s Cool and Convenient

Just last weekend I was out paddle boarding through Lady Bird Lake in Austin, Texas.  It was close to 97 degrees, with some insane humidity. I like my active life, I like having adventures, and I like being able to quickly throw a bag together with some snacks and water, throw it in my backpack, and head out the door.

This water bottle is the perfect size for me. It’s not too big and it’s not too heavy, and I can throw it in my backpack along with some snacks and sunscreen (and it never leaks, thank God!).  It holds just the right amount to get me through a few hours of active play. Super convenient.

But remember that temperature and humidity I mentioned? This bottle kept my water nice and chilled, for the entire day out.  I can’t stress how refreshing it was to open, worried it was going to be that warm, unappealing temperature, only to discover it felt like hadn’t dropped a degree.  And we’re talking it sitting in direct sunlight, all hot and humid out, and no change in temp. Fantastic.

Because Try as I Might, I’m Accident Prone

According to its site, this Kool8 bottle is made from industrial strength stainless steel.  If I hadn’t read it, I wouldn’t have guessed because it doesn’t feel unnecessarily heavy or dense.  But I had to look it up because low and behold- I’m naturally prone to many an accident.

Let’s base this off a few nicknames I’ve had: “Butterfingers” and “Disaster Dee”, or a few of the bones of broken: three fingers, one ankle, one collar bone, two wrists, or the average lifespan of my phone screen before it needs replacement: six months.

I can’t help it and try as I might, it doesn’t seem like I’m going to be changing anytime soon.  I’ve accepted it for who I am. But along with that acceptance comes a few minor life adjustments, including more durable purchases.

The Kool8 bottle is so durable and has done a great job proving it can withstand my mishaps and misadventures. Tumbling down rocks, slipping into the river, falling out of my unzipped backpack and rolling down the driveway into the street- it feels like it can handle it all.

My sister-in-law asked me if I wanted one of those neat glass water bottles one year for Christmas, with the little crystal stones inside, and my brother and I just laughed at the waste of money that one would cost.

The colour stays well, the bottle lasts long, and resists minor scratches, and survives my clumsy daily life.

Because I Want to Be Better

This is a broad one.  I want to be a better person, I want to be a better citizen, I want to be a better inhabitant of the earth, I want to be a better friend, I want to be better with my health, I want to be better with my choices and lifestyle.

Honestly, this bottle actually supports quite a few of these.  I like supporting companies that support the planet and that support the people on that planet as this bottle does.  I’ve hit the point where I realize it’s better to save money with one investment, like this bottle than purchasing over 200 plastic bottles a year (hundreds of lost dollars!).

Drinking water and staying hydrated has been a major goal of mine.  Not that this is some major revelation, I mean water is one of our five basic necessities.  But it can be hard to remember to drink how much water is good and healthy for my body and supports me being active and heading out on various adventures and activities.

In warmer areas, it’s easy to overheat. When we drink water, our brain functions better, our body becomes more efficient, skin clears up, organs function better, our endurance improves, our clarity is better.  Everything is better.

With non-descript plastic water bottles, I forget to drink (yes, even when it’s insanely hot).  When I have to go out of my way to purchase a water bottle, I have a tendency to shrug it off and just tell myself to wait for some water until I get home. The Kool8 bottle actually makes me more conscious and aware of having to consume water, and it simply makes it easier to consume.

Whether it’s because of some health purposes, ethical and moral reasons, lifestyle choices, or whatever matters to you, this bottle offers a handful of positives that make it a wholly worthwhile purchase.

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I was pleased to be asked to review the Varidesk as desks have been part of my entire working life. I’m quite an old guy, coming up for 70 this year but fit as a fiddle as I work out at the gym most days. I started work at 17 as University wasn’t for me, being a late developer! I worked for 30 years for British Rail and ended up being a Project Manager looking after the reconstruction of railway stations in London and the southeast of England. Following privatization of the railways I was offered voluntary severance and with the payout I started buying property and also set up a business repairing and supplying surgical and optical instruments to hospitals, again in the southeast. I sold this after 13 years and went into property development with my son and subsequently bought more properties to let out to students.  During the course of all this going on my wife and I had three of our own children and adopted two. We had also fostered 117 children over a period of 17 years and 2 of them stayed for life but that’s another story!

You will realise that when I started work computers were not on the scene so it was very interesting for me using the first business models on a flat desk and getting a cricked neck in the process. The evolution of the desk hasn’t kept pace with the amazing choice of computers we have now so I was very pleased to review the Varidesk which for me is a quantum leap in desk technology. The Varidesk is designed for those requiring a larger workspace and is easily adjustable so it can be used either sitting down or standing up. Great for those who like to move around while working or who suffer from sitting in the same place for too long.

The Review

The desk comes in a well-padded box and to my delight needs no tools to put it together as it comes completely ready assembled. Unless you go to the gym regularly you may need to get help to lift it as it weights 35lbs (15.88 kg). It is extremely robust and well made with elegantly curved surfaces

The unit is packed flat but by squeezing handles on both sides the substantial spring-loaded mechanism enables it to easily glide into position. It can be placed on any surface and of course, is very portable. The beauty of this model is that it can be adjusted to the height that suits you with 11 different positions which will give an ideal height to any user whether you wish to sit or stand which is a such an advantage if you start to get stiff and want to move position, an ideal of course if you have a bad back. It also enables you to find the ideal position, in seconds, without breaking your concentration.

The unit remains sturdy and stable even when fully extended and because it easily glides into any position there is no need to remove any of the items when changing position. The surfaces are non-slip and are coloured black which can be a bit hard on the eye but is a very small disadvantage.

The two-tier design is 36 inches (91cm) wide which is enough to easily accommodate two monitors on the top shelf with a spacious lower keyboard and mouse deck or alternatively space for ancillary items. There is an even wider model 40 inches (120cm) for those who have even greater workspace needs.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I have been very impressed with this model, which costs £365 but is very good value because it has been manufactured to such a high standard.  A standing desk is such a big advantage, especially as it is so versatile and will suit people of all heights. A big plus from me, no more cricked necks or bad backs!

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Patron

The Patron Company has been producing premium quality tequilas since 1989 and is currently considered to be one of the top premium tequilas worldwide.

The company was started by Paul De Joira (founding partner of Paul Mitchell Hair Products) and Martin Crowley, after the latter returned from a trip to Mexico with a bottle of premium Tequila as a gift. The tequila was produced by one of the oldest distilleries in Mexico with very high quality ingredients and bottled in hand blown glass bottles, made from recycled glass.

Recognising a gap in the market for ultra premium tequila, particularly in U.S.A,, the partners bought the rights from one of the oldest tequila distilleries in Mexico and began production.  Almost immediately, the brand was a success and sales and exports increased to the point that in 2002, a purpose built facility was constructed  not only to keep up with sales  but also to ensure that the whole process of production could be meticulously monitored –  from harvesting the agave (the main ingredient in Tequila)  to hand bottling the finish product.

This tequila is produced using the agave plant which is grown in one of the most fertile regions in the Jalisco Highlands, Mexico. The Patron Brand pays a premium to local agave farmers to ensure they only obtain the highest quality agave. Conversely, Patron are the only Tequila company that set a floor price for the Agave to ensure that no matter what the conditions, the farmers are still able to make a living.

The agave is harvested, ‘steam baked’ and crushed using a large hand carved stone called a ‘tahona’ to extract the juice or ‘Mosto’. This Mosto then goes through a double distillation process and aged in hand selected wooden barrels for varying periods, depending on the type of tequila required

To ensure the high quality end product Patron employ the services of the first ever Tequila inspector in Mexico, Mr Francisoco Alcaraz. He was first employed as a government inspector in the 1960’s to check the quality of Tequila for tax reasons.  As a result of travelling around numerous distilleries in Mexico , Francisco saw how the tequila was produced and gleaned this information to formulate the very best way to produce high end tequila. He has pretty much inspected and produced every bottle of Patron ever produced so far. He is so important to the company they have even erected a statue of him in the grounds of their distillery.

Continuing in the tradition, the bottles of Patron Tequila are all hand blown using recycled glass and numbered by hand. The corks are even hand cut and imported from Portugal. Straight away you are handling a meticulously presented product.

The Taste

Reposado

The Reposado has a light golden hew, coloured by the oak casks in which it is aged for two months.

Complex yet smooth, this tequila can be used as a mixer for high-end margaritas. However, to appreciate not just the flavours but the sensations, I would recommend this one for sipping: instantly mouth tickling to the back of your teeth, warm and smooth. It feels like your mouth is slowly being coated with the subtle flavours of orange, citrus, black pepper, light floral, vanilla and lastly, Almond. My fellow reviewer described it like ‘your mouth was being given a warm hug’

Silver

The silver is crystal clear in colour, reflecting that this tequila has not been aged in oak barrels.

Fully flavoured by the Agave the taste is smooth and warm. The flavours are citrus and warm orange; From the tip of your tongue to the back of the throat the sensation is firstly sharp , then becomes smooth and velvet. The silver is clean, fresh and a lot easier to shot then the Repasado.

Very good for mixing to make ultra-premium cocktails

Anejo

The Anejo is aged for 12 months in small white oak barrels to give the flavour real depth and Character. Lots of body and smooth. The initial sensation coats your mouth almost like good legs on wine coats a glass. Strong yet mellow, almost banana confectionery in smell, with sweet cooked agave aroma and earthy black pepper.

This one needs to be sipped and appreciated.

Right from the inception of the Patron Brand, the company has lived up to its name (and Spanish translation) in truly producing the ‘Godfather’ of all Tequilas……and Most importantly of all, after a heady night of tasting these exceptional tequilas, my hangover was clean and unclouded.

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