30 September 2014

REVIEW: Sportviz XTS Sunglasses

I can see clearly now...

Protecting your eyes is very important if you are a runner, cyclist, swimmer or skier. Making sure you have constant clear vision is key to success and staying safe, so a good pair of sunnies will always be handy. But what if you wear glasses and can't take them off to sport a pair of sunglasses, swimming goggles or a ski mask? Do you resign yourself to a life of just watching sport? No, you get a pair of Sportviz XTS Sunglasses.

29 September 2014

FEATURE: Home Security



Safe as houses.

Gone are the days when a simple motion-activated burglar alarm was the height of security. The old-fashioned, neighbour-annoying, screaming alarms are pretty antiquated when compared to today's modern wireless systems. To get a feel for what security options are out there for the security-conscious, gadget-loving masses, we gathered a whole host of WiFi home monitors to test, to help us sleep better at night.

26 September 2014

NEWS: Pompidoo bags to get XRD protection

Causing an impact.

Since reviewing an iPhone case with XRD protective foam built in, we've been pretty curious about this stuff. XRD is essentially a soft foam which, upon impact, hardens and therefore absorbs up to 90% of the energy. A darn useful thing to wrap your £400 phone in, so imagine having some to protect your £4000 camera.

REVIEW: Braun WaterFlex Shaver

Smooth.

Beardy-weirdies, fuzzy-freaks, scruffy sods... all these hurtful terms have in the past been used to describe the male writers of this dear website. Until we discovered Braun. We recently reviewed the company's CoolTec Shaver and since then many of our number have enjoyed faces that are as smooth as the bonnet of a Porsche. Keeping our mugs hairless can be a bit of a chore however, which is why we were keen to explore Braun's range of fuzz-removers further. And so... the Braun WaterFlex!

25 September 2014

FEATURE: Autumn Apparel

The leaves might fall but your style won't.

This is our favourite time of year. Sure, the cold weather and icy mornings might make it harder for us to flight test remote control helicopters, but here at The Test Pit we've always loved wrapping up in autumn clothing. To prepare you for the worst the transitioning season can throw at you, we've tested a collection of awesome apparel to keep warm while still looking cool. From jackets and hoodies, to boots and base layers, we've found the best of the best to wear this autumn.


24 September 2014

REVIEW: CAT B100 Rugged Phone


More than nine lives.

Last year we got a bit giddy over the news that CAT, makers of tough diggers and even tougher boots, were bringing out a range similarly rugged mobile phones. Our review of the CAT B15 Rugged Smartphone involved a paddling pool and lots of bravery - and we weren't disappointed. Now CAT have... well, not gone one better, but actually taken several steps back to produce a lo-tech phone (note the lack of 'smart') designed to survive the roughest of environments. So we took it to the toilet.

22 September 2014

REVIEW: View Quest Retro DAB Radio

Looking back.

Switch off Netflix and log out of YouTube; there's still some great content out there in radio land. But if you're worried that the only radio device you own these days is the rubbish app that came with your phone ("Please connect headphones to act as aerial") and that it won't cut it, get this. The View Quest Retro DAB Radio both plucks the tunes from the air and from your iOS device thanks to a handy lightning dock.

REVIEW: Lightwave RF Automated Home Heating


Battle winter with your phone.

It's great to return to a product line we've reviewed in the past, especially one we loved so much the first time round that we still use it today in Test Pit Towers. As our first review of the Lightwave RF Home Automation System shows, this is an incredible line of products that weigh in at very attractive prices. The good news is that Lightwave has also branched out into controlling our home's heating systems; a welcome addition considering how cold it is around here.

19 September 2014

REVIEW: Hexbug Aquabot Shark Tank

You're gonna need a bigger bowl.

We're big fans of the robotic toy range from Hexbug, and in the past we've tested both the microbot Hexbugs themselves and also recently the amazing Strandbeast. But Hexbug's domain stretches further than dry land and down into the darkest depths of the oceans (well, a five inch plastic fish tank). We got to grips with the Aquabot Shark Tank.

17 September 2014

REVIEW: Snuggle Sac

Wrapping up.

With summer officially consigned to the past, and with the nights drawing longer and the temperatures dropping, we could all do with a bit more warmth at night. If you've got kids you'll know that no matter how many blankets you pile on top of them, come the morning (usually 3am) the covers will be on the floor and your child will be complaining they are cold. The answer? Get them a Snuggle Sac.

15 September 2014

NEWS: LEGO Star Wars to host first 'Golden Brickies' Awards

I'd like to thank the Empire...

The people from LEGO who provide us die-hard Star Wars fans with our regular interstellar brick hit, are holding a brand new Oscar-style competition just for fans. The Golden Brickies is an award ceremony which will take place at LEGOLAND Windsor in which budding builders-cum-film-makers will be honoured.

COMPETITION: iPhone 6 Rugged Life Case from Caseit

Get on the case. 

The brand new iPhone 6 might have only just been announced, but already case and cover companies are producing products for the phone that you don't yet own. Ever ones to ensure our most precious (and, if the iPhone 6 price predictions are right, expensive) tech is safe from damage, we've teamed up with Caseit to offer five lucky readers the chance to own the new iPhone 6 Rugged Life Case.


12 September 2014

REVIEW: Britax Dualfix Rear-facing Car seat

Facing backwards to move forwards.

As part of our ongoing look at parenting gadgets that help keep children safe during car journeys, we were keen to test a rear-facing child seat. Legislation regarding the direction in which children travel in the car is one area that the UK is tragically lagging behind the rest of Europe, with the majority of British parents still using forward-facing seats, even for children under one.

With that in mind we contacted car seat maker Britax to test one of their latest rear-facing seats, the Dualfix.

11 September 2014

REVIEW: Elliot Brown Bloxworth 929-007 Watch

One to watch

Following the recent news story about an Elliot Brown watch that survived unscathed after being submerged for six months beneath the sea, we were keen to learn more about this rugged timepiece and the company that built it. After being sent one of the watches from Ian Elliot himself, we started testing the gorgeous Bloxworth 929-007.

10 September 2014

REVIEW: SunnyCam

A shade better.

Action cams are all the rage today whenever you need to get close to the action and then immediately upload to the internet in the hope of being included in a Fails of the Week compilation. However, as great as these new strain of tiny rugged cameras are, they usually require some form of complicated mount, either for your helmet, bike, jet ski, drone or dog. Wouldn't it be better if there was a camera you could just pop on your face and go? Now there is... the SunnyCam.

8 September 2014

NEWS: LEGO to release Boba Fett's Slave 1 Ultimate Collectors Series Set

Mind your head. 

Following on from the recent UCS Batman Tumbler set,  LEGO have just announced that not only are they now confirmed as the world's biggest toy company, but their next complex large-scale set will be Boba Fett's personal ride from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.


COMPETITION: KitSound Audio Bobble Hat & Earmuffs

Toasty sounds.

As the temperatures drops and winter starts to get it's chilly tendrils into us, it can be tough going for us techheads. As we require near-constant connection to a pair of headphones, be it for listening to the latest tunes or that recording you made of your dog farting, it can leave our delicate heads somewhat exposed. Fortunately KitSound have the answer to cold head music listening in their range of hats and earmuffs with built-in speakers... and we have two to give away!

6 September 2014

VIDEO REVIEW: Revell Argus Camera Helicopter

Revel in this.

Another RC helicopter from Revell, and another early morning flight test in a Yorkshire field. This time we test the Argus Camera Helicopter and hope not to step in any cow pats while we're at it. Also, parts of the review were filmed on the SunnyCam HD Video Glasses, the review of which will follow soon.

5 September 2014

VIDEO REVIEW: LEGO Technic Pull-back racers

Pull the other one.

Continuing our look at the new Technic sets from LEGO, we check out two sets that feature a unique pull-back-and-go action, the Desert & Black Champion Racers.

Once again we've broken the old camcorder, cleared the desk of the usual crap, and filmed this helpful review for you, dear reader.

Hit that play button.


REVEIW: Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner

 Steam dreams.

We've featured a few cleaning devices in the past (including the unique Karcher Window Vac), but lately Test Pit Towers has been looking a tad... well, stale. All those stinky reviewers sweating over keyboards has certainly added to the general mess, and we decided that enough was enough - we need something more than just the dust sucking prowess of a vacuum cleaner, we need the big guns. And so we tested the Thane H20 X5 Steam Cleaner.

4 September 2014

REVIEW: Blue Mo-Fi Headphones

You'll be anything but blue.

You've probably heard the name Blue before associated only with listening to sound as part of their digital microphone range (such as the Tiki USB microphone, reviewed here). But now the sound experts have reversed their priorities and ventured into the realm of making noise, namely via the new Mo-Fi headphones. We popped a pair on and sat back.

2 September 2014

COMMENT: Be a hoarder, save the planet



September welcomes Waste Less, Live More Week

My first computer was a  Commodore Amiga 500. The year was 1991 and Christmas Day would be forever remembered as one of the best ever. My parents got me the pack that contained The Simpsons game where Bart battles aliens, and also the Captain Planet game which allowed kids to literally kick CO2's arse. I miss it all; the groan of the loading floppy drive, the starkness of those 32 glorious colours, and the speckled sheen of the sun-faded beige plastic casing. I threw it away in 2008.

1 September 2014

REVIEW: Sparkup Book Reader


 The voice of stories past...

So you've had a visit from the in-laws and while they were staying with you they read to the kids every night. Not only did the kiddies love to hear their favourite stories read aloud by nan and granddad, but it gave you and your partner some bonus 'special time'. Score.

But now that the grandparents have gone home the kids still want to hear their voices reading The Gruffalo, and no matter how hard you try to impersonate your mother in-law, the kids aren't happy. Fortunately you had Sparkup to hand while they were here, meaning story time is still just as easy.
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