Car Products Tested » cdavies

Coffee To Go – Handpresso Outdoor Set reviewed

cdavies — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:59:38 +0000

Handpresso Outdoor Set review

Verdict: + Handpresso makes great espresso! - Flask not overly good

Shop for the Handpresso Outdoor

The official description

Taken from the Handpresso website: ‘Discover Handpresso! The World’s first eco-friendly, non-electrical coffee machine designed to offer you outstanding espresso wherever you go, whenever you want. With Handpresso, coffee breaks are shared and enjoyed together. Make premium quality espresso anywhere! Perfect for holidays, camping, fishing, travelling, in the office at home or wherever else you prefer. Light, stylish, easy to use, clean and store the Handpresso is a trendy, practical and fun gadget every coffee lover must have.’

Design and build quality

We were sent the Handpresso Outdoor Set, which uses the E.S.E espresso pods, rather than ground coffee. A Hybrid version is available, which uses both pods and ground coffee. The kit itself is nicely presented in a quality carrying case, which has thick, padding walls to not only prevent damage to the items but also to keep the water in the flask warmer for longer. In the kit is the Handpresso unit itself, 4 ‘unbreakable’ espresso cups, 2 good-quality napkins, a small 300ml flask and pockets for your pods and the instructions.

We couldn’t fault the quality of the kit overall. The Handpresso espresso maker is made solidly and feels nicely weighted. The little espresso cups and flask are equally decent in looks and build too.

Test time…

For the testing period, we gave the Handpresso kit to our resident coffee geek Nathan. Here are his thoughts; For espresso purist’s (shot glass timer at the ready, you know who you are!), pods of any kind are second-rate. Having said that the Handpresso has some features we really liked, and the espresso from the pods is easily good for coffee enthusiasts.

Build quality is excellent and pumping it up and watching the pressure build on the gauge is fun, though reaching the required 16 Bar pressure takes some effort, at around 40 strokes of the handle. The most difficult part is keeping the water hot enough to get a ‘proper’ espresso shot. Water for espresso needs to be in the 90 – 95˚C range. Pouring ‘off the boil’ water into the Handpresso and then loading the coffee pod takes a few seconds, by which time the temperature is well down, leading to pale crema/sour shot.

Water stored in the included 300ml flask will be far too cold (ed; for the purists)! We got the best results by pre-heating the bowl part and screw-on cap with boiling water, and by using the same to brew. Also, pumping the Handpresso up to pressure before putting in the pod and water will save quite a bit of time.

Using the espresso shots from the Handpresso, we made a couple of other drinks including a macchiato and a latte, both of which came out well and tasted great considering we were just using the e.s.e pods.

Plus Points

Machines like the Elektra Micro Casa a Leva are esteemed for their smooth, lever-delivered pressure, as opposed to a loud vibrating electronic pump – and the Handpresso is just that! A minute lever machine! Very cool.

Many high end coffee machines pre-infuse the coffee with water before pressure is applied (E61 Grouphead), and the Handpresso has this too. As it is inverted read-to-go, water contacts the coffee for as long or short a period as you like.

Overall

We really like the Handpresso Outdoor Set for its high quality items, attractive presentation and all-round handiness. We found the kit to be a little too pricy though at £135.00 for the pod version, and up to £164.00 for the Hybrid set (which can be used with E.S.E pods or ground coffee). Personally, we’d just buy the single Handpresso Hybrid unit.

Having said that, if you’ve got the money or want to make a gift of the kit, go for it – you won’t be disappointed.

Regarding the water not staying very hot for very long in the flask (60 minutes), it’s down to your preference as a person. A real coffee geek (Nathan) will definitely prefer the water used from boiling, but as a coffee lover you will be perfectly happy with the results (Ed: I was!).

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Superb quality kit, Handpresso makes great espresso!

- Flask doesn’t keep water hot for very long

Shop for the Handpresso Outdoor

Kit weight: 1.4 kg | Kit dimensions: 27 x 21 x 9 cm | Includes: 1 Handpresso unit, 4 cups, 2 napkins, 1 x 300ml flask | Website: (click) Handpresso.co.uk | RRP: Handpresso Outdoor Set £135 / Handpresso Hybrid Outdoor Set £164 (prices vary)

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Huge thanks to Fairfax Coffee for supplying the Handpresso Outdoor Set!

Words: Nathan Fielder/Chris Davies | Photo’s/Films: Chris.D, Matt Davies | Testers: Nathan Fielder/Chris Davies

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Clear As Day – Serengeti Lizzano sunglasses

cdavies — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:26:21 +0000

Serengeti Lizzano eyewear review

Verdict: + Well made, exceptional lenses - No negatives here!

The official description

The Serengeti Lizzano’s we were supplied came with the Photochromic Polarized Glass lenses. Serengeti state on their website that ‘The amber-colored Drivers lens amplifies contrast and definition, delivering vibrant colors in all environments… photochromic properties lighten and darken throughout the day, providing the perfect light transmission in any condition and proprietary polarization delivers a stunning view.‘

Design and build quality

At CarProductsTested, we love things that are made well and beautifully designed. The unisex-designed Serengeti Lizzano sunglasses are just that. Those qualities, mated with an obvious air of cool mean that we can’t fault them on either of these factors. Have a look at our photographs of them for proof of this.

We like that the Lizzano’s have a seemingly perpetual stylish look to them, one that won’t date or become unfashionable easily.

Picking up the Serengeti’s for the first time they feel weighted in a good way – like picking up a good quality watch. The arms are spring-loaded and positive but not too heavily-sprung, meaning that they will comfortably fit different head proportions without nipping into the skin.

Test time…

As these Serengeti glasses are aimed at drivers, and we’re living in the land of changeable weather - the U.K. – we’ve had the pleasure of using them whilst travelling in a whole heap of varying conditions, from lashing rain to heavily overcast, dull skies and brilliant sunshine, so testing them wasn’t a problem.

Putting on the sunglasses, we weren’t expecting anything other than the view looking slightly darker. However, the Lizzano’s are seriously good. We’d liken the view to watching normal T.V, before changing over to a High Definition channel. Everything is much sharper, more focussed.

Colours intensify and deepen, but at the same time details become far more visible. Things like a car’s rear lights stand out as do traffic lights and other LED-lit road signs. The yellows and orange’s from side indicators,and brake lights stand out like a warning beacon at sea.

The tones of colours are far more vibrant and lustrous, and the colour of a vehicle (which can look washed out on a cloudy day) are brought to the fore. The shades of green on the trees and grass became richer – like they belong in the Amazon rainforest. More importantly, when wearing the Lizzano’s, people were easier to spot.

The photochromic properties of the Serengeti Lizzano’s, which adapt to light changes, made wearing them a very pleasant experience. Instead of having to take off the sunglasses every time the weather changed, we were able to to just leave them on. In addition, we found that the physical Amber hue of the Lizzano’s lenses relaxing on the eyes.

One of the worst lights to be in when driving is after it’s rained heavily and the sun is low. You then have glare directly from the sun, but also from it bouncing off the wet road. It’s painful just looking at the road ahead, and dangerous too as the view in front can all but disappear. The Lizzano’s made such a huge difference to this, and are perfectly suited to this sort of situation.

Other features we liked

The adjustable nose pads made for comfortable wearing. The pads are made from soft, grippy rubber rather than plastic so there was minimal marking left behind on the skin, even after prolonged use.

Our Verdict

The Serengeti Lizzano’s are superb sunglasses, and we loved how they adapted to light changes. Retailing at £194.00, they seem steeply priced but you really are getting your money’s worth. The high standard of craftsmanship and materials used are obvious.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Made well, beautiful design, light-adapting ultra-clear lenses

- All good. We couldn’t find any negatives

Shop for Serengeti Sunglasses

Functions: Polarised lenses, sprung hinges | Colours: Espresso, Satin black| Website: (click) Serengeti Eyewear | RRP: £194.00

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Thanks to Bushnell Performance Optics UK for supplying these sunglasses.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.Davies, Matt Davies

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Up to Scratch? We Try the T-Cut Scratch Magic Pen

cdavies — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:48:35 +0000

Up to Scratch? We Try the T-Cut Scratch Magic Pen

Verdict: + Easy use, does work - Obvious in sunlight

What’s it for?

It’s as suspected Watson, we deduct from the name of the product that it’s for hiding and repairing scratches. No, it’s not actually magic before you ask.

What does the packaging promise?

‘Scratch Magic Pen has a clear formula, suitable for use on all paint colours and finishes, including metallics. It is quick and easy to use and masks scratches and stone chips in one quick application and protects paint from harsh weather conditions, rusting and oxidation.’

How do you use it?

It’s ridiculously simple – anyone can use it, and that’s the attraction of the Scratch Magic Pen. Simply find the light scratch you want to repair on your paintwork, clean and dry the area properly, take out the pen, shake it for around 60 seconds, push the nib down on a separate surface (we used paper) a few times to get the liquid flowing and apply to the scratch.

It’s just like using a felt-tip pen really, and is literally like drawing on the bodywork.

Does it work?

The T-CUT Scratch Magic Pen definitely works, and does cover up most light scratches. Anything deeper than that though, and it doesn’t make much difference visually. With stone chips, as they are literally that – a chunk out of the paintwork – it won’t disguise them as they’re usually down to the undercoat but we do like the way it’ll instantly seal that area, and stop water getting in which causes bubbling or rusting.

We tried it on both flat paint and metallic and it did make a big difference to obvious scratches, hiding the bulk of the ugly mark. Quite impressive stuff really, considering it’ll go with any paint colour.

Any drawbacks?

The Scratch Magic Pen is good, but we noticed that although from some angles the scratch is totally hidden, once you see it in bright sunlight the product from the Magic Pen is far more obvious, and can even look a little messy, even if you’re careful applying it. Still, we’d rather have that than a glaringly obvious scratch and it is noticeably less apparent on both metallic and non swirl-marked paintwork.

Overall opinion

We like it! Yes, it’s not the totally perfect answer to a scratch, but for that you’re looking at either a machine polish or a panel re-spray. For those that have neither the time, resources or money for these options, the T-CUT Scratch Magic Pen is certainly a decent solution.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Simple to use, hides light scratches well, protects from rusting

- Product easily seen in sunlight

Suitable for colours: Any shade of paint | Website: www.carplan-international.com | Price: £8.99

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Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt Davies

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Pump, Pump It Up… We Test HandiWorld’s HandiRack

cdavies — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 21:00:25 +0000

Pump, Pump It Up…

We Test HandiWorld’s HandiRack

Verdict: + Hugely useful, very well made - Lets in water

Design and quality

The idea behind the HandiRack is to have roof racks which are useable, easily storable, lightweight. Something temporary which anyone can fit and use.

For fitment, HandiWorld say they can be used on any 3 or 5-door solid-top vehicle, as long as on the 3-door car, the rear windows will open. A 3-door Mitsubishi Pajero we were using as a test-bed had no rear-opening windows, but luckily had built-in roof bars running the length of the roof each side. Let’s be clear, HandiWorld said to us that their HandiRacks were not designed to strap to these type of roof bars, but we used them anyway by looping the strap under and over the bars, and we never had a single problem

We like high grade gear, and this product was certainly that. The material surrounding the inflatable tubes is strong, durable and tough. The material is similar to a German-made inflatable boat we bought a while ago, which is ultra-resilient and has survived a load of heavy-use trips. A good thing.

The HandiRack’s straps and metal rings running between the inflatable sections – to strap your gear to – are the same superb quality, with heavy-duty stitching keeping them in place.

Our favourite features

As mentioned above, we can’t fault the materials the HandiRack is made from, or the actual workmanship and we applaud the guys at HandiWorld for not making these cheaply.

These are also quick to fit! After using them two or three times, we were attaching them in just a few minutes. They inflate in no time too, due to the supplied 2-way air pump. Our testers loved the way the racks deflate to a small size, where they can be then stored and hardly take up any room. Great for security; get to destination, take rack off, deflate, chuck in boot.

Although the HandiRack system is light, they can hold an impressive 80kg (2,821 o.z) in weight. We must have put near enough that on them a few times, and there were no issues.

Any drawbacks?

After a pretty heavy downpour of rain one time, we found that a couple of the seats in the vehicle the HandiRack was attached to were quite damp. It seems the belt which goes inside between the doors to hold the racks down is made of similar material to a safety or seat belt. These soak water up, and that alongside the belt nipping the door seals in a bit, made the water run to the interior section of the strap, which then drips down onto you, or your seat. We suggest that if the belts were coated in plastic or rubber to stop them soaking up water, this would probably be a solution.

We also noticed that after some use, the HandiRack had left very fine scratches on the paintwork of the roof. However, this is normal – as detailing enthusiasts we know that even on dry, clean paintwork, rubbing anything other than a good microfibre cloth across it will cause fine scratches and swirl marks. The answer? Secure a couple of soft microfibre cloths the full way under each rack. Simples.

Price

We feel the £55 (approx.) price for the HandiRack is spot-on. We really can’t fault the quality of these, and although there’s the water issue, the fact remains they really are priced fairly. A pair of decent secure roof bars cost £30 more at least, but then you have the trouble of storing them etc when not in use etc.

Who are they good for?

If you rarely use roof racks and just want a quick, simple solution for carrying something too big for your boot or trunk – and also something that’s easily storable – then these are for you. They also look very cool, for you ‘boarding dudes out there. But, if you’re planning on a long trip away, then buy a pair of the traditional, solid bars.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Hugely useful, well priced, excellent build-quality, lightweight and compact

- Water leaks into car when raining, due to straps

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Thanks to the guys at HandiWorld for sending this product.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt Davies | Other Testers: Nath Fielder

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We try the… Victorinox SwissTool Spirit Multi-Tool

cdavies — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:06:22 +0000

Victorinox SwissTool Spirit

Verdict: + Beautifully made, excellent quality. - Unsprung pliers

Design and build quality

The SwissTool Spirit from Victorinox is beautifully-designed. A true ‘gentleman’s’ multi-tool which could be kept in the glovebox of a Bentley, or left on some large mahogany business exec’s desk, and not look out of place. We loved the sleek and stylish shape, and with the main flat-ended knife blade out, it takes on the familiarity of a traditional barber’s razor, albeit with a concave handle design, rather than the razor’s convex helve.

Because it looks so elegant though, does this mean the SwissTool Spirit is lacklustre when it comes to use? Absolutely not! The build quality of the Victorinox is excellent, and the metal used on any of the tools is definitely not low-grade. Even the blade unlock catches are crafted and patterned with looks and ease of use in mind.

Our favourite features

Usually, we really, really don’t like a combined serrated/straight-edged blade on a knife. There’s generally not enough length of either edge to be effective on whichever surface you are using it on. However, although the SwissTool’s flat-ended blade is 80% serrated and 20% straight-edged, we found it to be a great combination – in fact, probably the best combo-blade of any of the multi-tools we tested. It’s sharp enough to cut or whittle wood on either part of the blade too, without the serrated edge digging in and jamming.

The wood saw is also one of the best we’ve come across on a multi-tool. It is long, slim and the teeth are extremely sharp and highly aggressive, reminding us of a Caiman’s jaws. The saw ripped through wood with ease, quickly and effectively. Our other liked feature of the Victorinox was the metal file, which not only has a good depth to the file ridges, but also incorporates a metal saw which works well. We also found the the Phillips posi-drive screwdriver to be good, with a long reach and well-shaped, strong edges.

Any drawbacks?

Our dislikes on the Swisstool Spirit were firstly the fact the pliers were not sprung, and also that when using the pliers under a lot of pressure the thin handles of the tool tend to dig into your hands making it uncomfortable. We felt the pincer-end teeth also were not grippy enough and needed to be slightly deeper, although the main teeth in the centre were nice ‘n chunky.

Price

At nearly £102 rrp, this is a rather expensive tool. However, the prices vary hugely across the ‘net, and we’ve spotted them for as little as £75. The SwissTool Spirit is well worth the asking price though and is a real quality piece of kit all-round, even down to the beautiful leather pouch it comes with.

Who’s it for?

The Victorinox SwissTool Spirit is perfect for the man-about-shed (and town). While very functional, it still retains a smart and elegant look. It’s got all you’ll need for messing about in the garage with wood (or metal) or for fixing basics on your vehicle. As a gift for someone into their finer things, this will be perfect and definitely appreciated.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Finely crafted, high quality, good features

- Pliers not sprung, another plain blade would have been nice

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Thanks to Burton-McCall for supplying the Victorinox.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt Davies | Other Testers: Nath Fielder

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Leatherman Wingman; A Classic Multi-Tool Tested

cdavies — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:05:41 +0000

Leatherman Wingman

Verdict: + Outstanding value, good quality. - Combi-blade, no saw

Design and build quality

Leatherman’s Wingman is built to a quality people would expect from a company with over 28 years in business. Its finish and feel comes across as dependable and solidly-built. With design in mind we noticed that in connection with its name, when closed it takes on the shape of an aircraft wing. Possibly a Douglas DC3 Dakota’s. Nice.

Leatherman must be highly confident in their build quality, as they offer a 25-year warranty with the Wingman which we find pretty amazing on a tool of this price! Although there’s physically not many tools on the Wingman, they’ve made the best use of them by making them multi-funtional i.e; a file one side and a ruler on the other, or the can opener with a wire-stripper incorporated. Also, we found every one of the tools regularly useful, instead of there being a stack you’ll rarely use.

Our favourite features

We really liked the sharpness of the knife blade, and it’s very well finished. The serrated section is especially vicious (I literally just sliced open my finger after brushing against it), but that’s a good thing. A good feature is that the knife and scissors flip out without having to open the main tool.

We do like the sprung pliers, but there’s also a slight negative to those as well (see below). A small tool on the knife which might seem insignificant, but has proved hugely useful, is the Package Opener. It’s extremely sharp, and makes opening even the thickest cardboard box easy and safe. Why not use the knife instead? Because knives have a tendency to go right through the box and into whatever’s inside.

We loved the release/unlocking pieces for the blade and scissors. They push down easily, and even with wet or cold hands could be located and used with no problems.

Any drawbacks?

We don’t much like combined blades on most knives or multi-tools, and with the Wingman found that when trying to cut stuff with with straight edge of the blade, the serrated section got in the way and vice versa, as neither section is long enough to do what you fully need. Individually, they would no doubt be excellent and it’s a shame they aren’t.

Having sprung pliers is always a good thing, and the plier teeth have a good depth and grip to them. However, the handles open just slightly too wide if you’re gripping anything big, so it’s hard to get a purchase on them properly. The scissors have a nice opening design, but the thumb shank end section is a little sharp and digs into the thumb uncomfortably. We felt the scissors could have been shaper too.

Price

When we found out the price, we were genuinely surprised! At just under £40, the Wingman is superb value for money. It certainly looks and feels more expensive, and we would have guessed at nearer the £55 – £60 mark.

Who’s it good for?

The Leatherman Wingman would be great for anyone wanting a handy multi-tool for generalised use around the home, office or workplace. Its smaller size and light weight mean that it’s hardly noticeable when clipped to your belt or pocket, and it’ll sit nicely your vehicle’s glovebox too. Sure it’d be still good for the outdoors and camping etc, but features such as the mini-ruler and Package Opener mean it’s perfect for the above use.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Outstanding value with good quality, tools are ‘everyday useful’, 25 year warranty!

- Blade good quality but we dislike combi’s, no saw, pliers spring too far open

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Thanks to Pelican PR / Whitby & Co for supplying the Leatherman.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt.D | Other Testers: Nath.F

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Test: SOG PowerAssist S66

cdavies — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:02:07 +0000

SOG PowerAssist S66

Verdict: + Superb quality, aggressive blades, powerful pliers - File too dull

Design and build quality

One of our first impressions of the SOG was its weight – it is heavy! It has a very industrial look, is simply-finished and is built like something we’d find in our grandfather’s toolbox from a time were things were built properly, and to last. It also looks like a piece of the T-800 robot from The Terminator has been blown off. Nice!

The PowerAssist hasn’t a huge amount of tools, but all are useful and well thought-out.

Our favourite features

We were highly impressed by the PowerAssist S66, and it has many fine features – here’s a few we really liked. Both blades (one straight, one serrated) are of excellent sharpness and finished to a high standard. We found the serrated knife blade especially impressive – it’s fierce, insanely sharp and would rip and atom in half. The blades both incorporate the SOG Assisted Technology too, so they flick or spring out with one deft movement, making access simple and easy.

The pliers are simply ingenious.With SOG’s ‘Compound Leverage’ system, alongside the pliers’ deep teeth, they have awesome gripping strength and the cutter went through our 3-core wire like it wasn’t there! Another aspect of the S66 we loved was the V-Cutter. This can be used for cutting webbing, material, seat belts etc, and if you’re into your hunting, it would be very deft for skinning animals.

A useful feature was the ‘Piano-Locks’ which hold the smaller tools such as the screwdriver, can opener etc open. They keep them firmly in place, but when you come to unlock them, it makes it really very easy.

Any drawbacks?

A couple of negatives we came across. Firstly, the file – it was nowhere near rugged or deep enough and just doesn’t seem to fit in with the overall industrial feel of the S66. It needs changing to something more aggressive for sure. There’s no saw on this SOG either, and we’re of the opinion it should actually replace the file instead.

Something else (which can be a matter of opinion) is that the pliers are unsprung. We’d have preferred them to be, but perhaps with the Assisted Technology there’s no room for this feature? A less significant thing is the little knobs for both opening the blades, and the ones for unlocking them. If your hands are warm they are fine, but if the weather is cold, they dig uncomfortably into the skin when you’re opening and closing the blades often.

Price

At £90.95 this may seem expensive, but it really is worth every penny. The brilliant quality of it, and the way it’s been thought-out and executed makes it well worth your hard-earned cash. Buy it, and you definitely won’t be disappointed.

Who’s it good for?

The SOG PowerAssist S66 is a great all-rounder of a multi-tool. Whether you’re out on a building site, road tripping, camping, hunting or just plain ol’ lazing about your house bored, the S66 will come in useful. Okay, it’s maybe on the heavy side for backpacking, but for all the above reasons it’s simply excellent.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Superbly well made tool, highly aggressive serrated blade, hugely powerful, & grippy pliers

- File too dull, no saw blade, unsprung pliers

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Thanks a bunch to BushGear for sending us the SOG.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt.D, Nath.F | Other Testers: Nath.F

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Reviewed! Gerber Legend – Multi-Plier 800

cdavies — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 13:00:19 +0000

Gerber Legend - Multi-Plier 800

Verdict: + Great pliers, decent quality. - File, 3 flat drivers

Design and build quality

The Legend - Multi-Plier 800 appears instantly purposeful from the moment you pick it up. It’s a definite workman’s tool and looks like it could have heavy usage day after day without a problem. It certainly looks a lot heavier than it actually is, but as the handles are made from Aluminium this keeps the weight down to around 250 grams.

The handles are grippy, due to the rubber inserts and them having a textured finish, which helped when we used it in wet or cold conditions. It hasn’t got a zillion tools on either, and sticks to a more basics-approach.

Our favourite features

One of the testers sung the praises of the replaceable RemGrit saw. A good feature which means if it blunts, instead of having to send it back to the manufacturer for sharpening, you simply buy another, but there are some negatives to it too (see below).

We really liked the sprung pliers, and they are certainly ‘proper’. The wire tungsten carbide wire cutter on them is a total beast, and cut right through 3-core wire like a knife through butter. The cutter is replaceable too. The knife, although a combi-blade which we do dislike, comes well-sharpened and will slice through most of what you throw at it.

Any drawbacks?

When using the pliers, although the handles do give good grip, we found that the thin ‘unlocks’ for the blades dug into our hands, making it uncomfortable. Coming back to the RemGrit saw, it’s not too good for wood cutting, but rather for tiles, bricks etc. It will cut metal too, but not very efficiently. Also, we found another review where the guys claim they spent hours trying to find hacksaw blades to replace the the RemGrit, but most wouldn’t fit!

Although the scissors are powerful, we have to mention that unfortunately after only a short time using them the spring retainer section on them kept slipping out of place, making them almost impossible to use. Another brief mention should be about the file on the Gerber – the grooves are not very deep, or rough enough to get any work done quickly.

Another thing we didn’t overly like was the fact there are 3 different-sized flat-blade ‘drivers on this tool. As flats are not used much anymore why have that many? We feel the smallest could be replaced with a different tool, such as a mini posi-driver.

Price

This Gerber has some good qualities, but there are some real let-downs that we were disappointed with, and with an RRP of around £100 it seems a little expensive. However, we’ve seen prices vary hugely on the web, so there are some bargains to be had and if you can pick one up for around the mid-£80-mark, then that’s more like it!

Who’s it good for?

If you’re on building sites a lot, then the Gerber Legend – Multi-Plier 800 is an excellent tool to carry around. With those superbly powerful pliers, the beasty blade and a respectable build-quality, you’d find it would come in handy constantly. We always recommend keeping a multi-tool in your vehicle anyway though, and no doubt it’ll come in handy while you’re travelling about!

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Good quality, grippy handles, great pliers, access to tools without opening handles

- File no good, 3 flat screwdrivers

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Thanks to Barker Publicity for sorting the Gerber multi-tool for us.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt.D | Other Testers: Nath.F

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Reviewed: Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi-Tool

cdavies — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:59:22 +0000

Reviewed:

Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi-Tool

Verdict: + Separate blades, easy access tools, survival guide - Short blades, bad screwdriver

Design and build quality

Okay, so we’re talking about Bear Grylls here. If you haven’t heard of him, you’ve not watched T.V in the past 5 years. For those who don’t know, Bear is an ex-S.A.S soldier, the epitome of an outdoorsman, fairly mental (he eats nasty stuff, a lot.), an all-round nice chap (follow Bear’s Twitter feed for proof), and knowns more than the vast majority about surviving in the wildest of conditions. He is The Man. Working alongside Gerber, he’s released his own version of a multi-tool. So, how good is it?

The Ultimate has a nice modern look to it, and it’s very compact too. For its size though, it’s surprisingly heavy at 268 grams (9.5oz), which is even weightier than the big SOG we tested! As this is also a Gerber, the quality of it is mostly decent all-round. As Bear doesn’t like multi’s normally, he designed the Ultimate to have tools on that are all useful, and none that aren’t. This is the case, and it’s kept to what you need for the outdoors.

Our favourite features

First off, we really like the fact you don’t have to open the handles to access any of the tools, apart from the pliers of course. This is a very good thing, and well thought-out as it means quick ‘n’ easy access when you need them double-time. The sprung pliers are good, as they don’t open too far, have a nice, light spring and the handles are comfortable and grippy too.

There’s nothing worse than a blade or other gadget snapping back onto your fingers when using a multi, but happily the tools on the Ultimate all lock firmly into place, giving you peace of mind. These can only be unlocked by pulling down two sliders on either side of the handles. Although we take slight issue with the blades on the knife (see below), we do respect that there’s separate serrated and straight-edged blades, instead of there being one combi-blade. Kudos deserved there.

Another aspect we enjoyed was the scissors. These are small, sharp, well-sprung and a good deal of force can be applied with them. Lest we forget too, the brilliant foldable Bear Grylls mini survival booklet which slips into its own pocket in the sheath. Awesome professional info for building shelters, traps, signalling, navigation and lots more. We like this!

Any drawbacks?

Our biggest gripe with the Ultimate was with the philips screwdriver on it. Whichever size or type of screw head we tried it on, it either didn’t fit or would barely grip, bizarrely. As well as screws around the home, we tried it on at least 5 types and sizes on the engine bay of a 4×4, and couldn’t get it to work properly on any. This definitely needs changing.

As mentioned, the serrated and straight-edged blades are separate which is definitely good. However, they are also very short which can slow your time cutting things. Sharpness-wise, we found the straighty to not be honed enough straight from the box, and a little dull, but the serrated blade was nicely finished.

Although the wood saw on the Ultimate Multi-Tool has plenty of aggressive and sharp teeth they clogged easily and it is, again, a very short length making sawing anything larger than a couple of centimetre’s diameter difficult and slow.

Price

With an RRP of £49.99, we feel the Ultimate is priced a little too high. However, as always there are a stack of savings to be had through a quick search via Google, and we’ve seen prices well under the above figure, making it more appealing.

Who’s it good for?

Bear Grylls obviously designed the this with a focus on outdoors use. The Ultimate would be a good starting point for a younger person wanting to get ‘into’ their multi-tools and camping. That’s definitely not a demeaning comment of this multi, but with it having cool styling and shorter and less aggressive blades than most, we’re sure a lot of young dudes and dude-esees would be very happy, and much safer, with the Ultimate as a gift.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Two separate blades, access to tools without opening handles, pocket survival guide

- Bad posi’ screwdriver, heavy for size, blades are short

——————

Thanks to Barker Publicity for sorting the Gerber multi-tool for us.

Words: Chris Davies | Photo’s: Chris.D, Matt.D, Nath.F | Other Testers: Nath.F

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Tested! Britemax Interior Dressing

cdavies — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 13:43:33 +0000

Interior Shine Test:

Britemax Interior Dressing

CarProductsTested Verdict: 85% - Nice finish, smells great, bad spray pattern

What finish does it give?

Both in finish and feel, Britemax’s Interior Dressing is great. The shine is not overly deep, and furnishes trim with a smart look, and as there is no silicone in it (spray shop safe) the feel left behind is just like a waxed paint surface. There’s none of that sticky, gross residue left behind as some interior shines do – ready to ruin your best shirt sleeve, should you happen to lean on the door when driving.

Another plus with it not leaving behind a gummy finish or feel is that dust doesn’t tend to settle and stick to the surfaces as easily – helping to keep your interior cleaner, easier.

Whatever car’s trim you use the Interior Dressing on, it will not cheapen the look of it – but rather we found it improves it greatly and retains a smart finish.

How long does it last?

After many a test, we found it lasted for a good 2 – 3 weeks on average, and even then, a simple wipe-over on the trim with damp cloth will bring back a decent amount of shine.

We also used their Interior Dressing on the plastics and rubber in the engine bay (once we’d cleaned it using Britemax Grime Out), and it gave some superb results! The parts we used it on were given a fresh, vibrant and new look – and popping the hood a week or so later, it still looked just as great, even though we’d driven through a few downpours in that time.

Any other good stuff?

The Britemax Interior dressing smells great, and has the scent of freshly squeezed Orange juice. The aroma hangs around for a few days after you’ve used it too, which is nice. We also like the fact this is body-shop safe as no silicone’s are used. Lack of silicones also means a lack of that horrible, greasy finish that some dressings stuffed with silicone are guilty of giving.

At £12.95 for over 700ml of product, it may seem pricy but the Interior Dressing goes far and lasts a decent while, plus you are buying a quality product – you clearly get what you pay for here.

Any drawbacks?

The sprayer nozzle on the bottle we had fired too much product out, and the spray pattern itself tends to splatter the Interior Dressing, rather than misting it onto the surface. This is okay for larger surfaces, but for your dash and smaller areas it can make a mess of glass etc.

Need-To-Know Info:

+ Leaves a fairly natural and non-greasy finish, smells superb

- Spray pattern not fine enough

Price: 709ml (24 fl. oz) – £12.95 / 3.78L (1 u.s Gal.) – £29.99

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