Specialized Ambush ANGi helmet – Review
Why would you pay almost R4 000 for a mountain bike helmet? Lance Branquinho did just that, acquiring the Specialized Ambush helmet. Included in the price, is Specialized’s ANGi crash sensor that sends a distress signal if the rider is knocked unconscious. Mountain bike helmets do strange things to your hair and function mainly as a fashion accessory – until...
Leatt MTB1.0 GripR gloves – Review
Mountain bike gloves are about protection, but also ‘feel’. Lance Branquinho tried a pair that offers a balance between these two requirements: the Leatt MTB 1.0 GripR gloves. Riding gloveless isn’t clever. Your hands are a contact point, and when you crash, the instinct is to put a ‘hand out’, to brace your fall. And if a glove does not...
Hami Hammock – Review
If a hammock was absent from or low on your camping must-have list, you haven’t met the Hami yet, writes Sonya Schoeman, after finally tearing herself away from it. Hami is a family-owned South African brand and very new – it launched in July 2022. The concept is by husband-and-wife team Gen and Idan Burstain, both active outdoor people and...
Connex Lumen digital projector – Review
Is a projector costing half the price of an Epson any good? Justus Visagie tested the Connex Lumen to find out. Purchasing a digital projector usually requires a significant expense. In South Africa, Japanese giant Seiko Epson dominates the local market with projectors costing around R6 500 and up. But increasingly affordable options have popped up in local shops, including...
Philips Essential XL Airfryer – Review
If you’re in the market for an air fryer, chances are you’ve come across the Philips name. The Dutch brand invented the convenient cooker in 2008 and has become the dominant force in countertop convection. Jesse Adams has been using the Essential XL Airfryer for a year and shares his ownership experience. Philips has sold more than 10 million air...
Philips Espresso Machine 5400 Series – Review
Is a home coffee machine costing around R13 000 worth the price? Jesse Adams tested the Philips Espresso 5400 to find out. Coffee is the third most popular drink in the world after water and tea according to National Geographic. And while most households will make do with a simple kettle and the instant variety, an army of discerning coffee...
Snap test: We tasted five microwave popcorns; this one came out tops
Popcorn is the perfect snack when you’re feeling peckish, but not sure what you’re craving. If you hate cooking or delayed gratification, microwave popcorn is the answer. Martha van Zyl did a trolley dash, grabbing six bags of ‘instant’ popcorn from her local PnP and Woollies, and got popping. The contenders First, we tested butter-flavoured microwave popcorn from these three brands:...
Woollies vs Yum Yum: who makes the best caramel peanut butter?
Forever keen to offer consumers more options, and to be more profitable, peanut butter makers have taken to flavouring the much-loved nut butter. We decided to pit Yum Yum’s caramel peanut butter against the Woollies alternative. By Martha van Zyl. I have recently rediscovered my love of peanut-butter-and-syrup sandwiches, the food of the gods. If you were a fan as...
Genius SlimStar 280 keyboard – Review
The Genius SlimStar 280 is a cheap wired keyboard available from several retailers in South Africa. To decide whether cheap equals nasty, Justus Visagie bought one and filed this report. Physiotherapists and experts in ergonomics maintain that a computer monitor should be raised to prevent a pain in the neck. But these days, most people use laptops. Those who wish...
Which of these ‘healthy’ peanut butters tastes best?
The contenders The peanut butters (PBs) we assembled were of the ‘smooth’ variety (not crunchy), and each label stated that no salt or sugar was added. We bought the 400g jars, and the ambient temperature in the kitchen was 27°C. Black Cat – R42.99 Yum Yum – R35.99 Woolworths Food – R38.99 Pick n Pay Livewell – R33.99 All four peanut butters are halaal and...
