Independent reviews
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Art Supplies
Grabby's switch to a quarterly subscription brings its strongest art box so far, packed with its own branded supplies and a genuinely charming nature-themed activity book.
Art Supplies
Two watercolor options from Grabby, including the trending double-slider set with 56 colors, tested for pigment quality, practicality, and everyday value.
Art Supplies
A 24-door art and craft advent calendar from Grabie with paints, watercolors, brush markers and holiday projects. Here is what works, what does not, and who it suits.
Fountain Pens
A hands-on look at the Graf Von Faber-Castell Classic in ebony wood, covering build quality, the extra fine 18K gold nib, and whether it justifies its price.
Fountain Pens
A close look at the 2023 Pen of the Year, a piston-filled fountain pen layered with ancient Egyptian symbolism, from the lapis lazuli scarab to the Eye of Horus.
Luxury Pens
An ornate limited edition fountain pen inspired by Ottoman art, with 18 rubies, guilloche lacquer, and a piston filling system.
Fountain Pens
A matte lacquered barrel, polished chrome trim, and a distinctive feel make the Tamitio appealing, but the tiny slippery section is worth thinking about before buying.
Stationery & Desk Accessories
Two beautifully crafted wooden goods from Granberg, a small workshop brand: a magnetic wooden cutter knife and a compact cocobolo planner pen.
Trail Running Gear
A field-tested gear list for a long day in the Grand Canyon, from a minimalist roller bag and a road-to-trail shoe to soft flasks, sun hoodies, trekking poles, and fuel that goes down easy in the heat.
Outdoor Apparel
The Aerograph Puffer uses aerogel-infused insulation that self-adapts to dropping temperatures, aiming to replace two jackets with one.
Travel Gear
A lightweight puffy-style travel blanket with a foot pouch, pillow pocket, and enough weather resistance to double as a hiking ground cloth.
Fountain Pens
A closer look at the Gravitas Flagship in dark olive: torpedo-shaped aluminium body, micro-grooved section, steel number six nib, and a fair price at €105.
Fountain Pens
A grade five titanium fountain pen with an iridescent finish, a number eight nib, and a large-capacity vacuum filling system that ticks a lot of boxes.
Fountain Pens
An uncoated raw copper pocket fountain pen with a Delrin-sealed cap, roll stop, and a number six steel nib. Here is what works, and what to consider before buying.
Fountain Pens
A precision-machined titanium fountain pen with a steel JoWo nib, comfortable section, and eyedropper capability. Here is what works and what to watch for.
Fountain Pens
Two Gravitas fountain pens share the same vacuum filling system but differ in size, nib choice, and price. Here is how they compare in practice.
Fountain Pens
The Gravitas Vac 2.0 brings the Kraken vacuum filling system to a more manageable size, with an in-house nib and full serviceability.
Fountain Pens
From a hand-hammered sterling silver writer to a robust all-metal EDC, these ten fountain pens are the ones that earned the most ink time this year.
Fountain Pens
A fountain pen that pairs sustainably sourced salmon leather with sterling silver guilloche work. Here is what to know before buying.
Everyday Carry
A full month of everyday carry with the Grimsmo Norseman, covering its action, the divisive recurve tanto blade, sharpening challenges, and whether it justifies the price.
EDC
Groove's first knife doubles as a low-profile money clip with a fast-flipping 1.74-inch blade. Here's what to know before buying.
Wallets
A full grain vegetable tan leather card wallet with a cash flap, handmade in the USA, and priced around $45. Here is how it holds up in daily use.
Art Supplies
We put Gucci's limited-edition watercolor pencil set head to head with a budget-friendly Prismacolor watercolor set to see where the money actually goes.
Stationery
A bamboo and fabric pen pouch from Taiwanese interior brand Gudy, with a strong magnetic clasp, wide opening, and generous capacity.
Running Headphones
A value-focused bone conduction option goes up against the best-sounding pair we have tested. Here is how the trade-offs stack up for running and cycling.
Running Gear
A half marathon test of the Hoka Rocket X2 and Beats Studio Buds Plus, with comparisons against the Saucony Endorphin Pro 3 and Asics Metaspeed Sky Plus.
Budget Accommodation
A net cafe capsule stay in the heart of Shibuya Center Gai, priced per hour instead of per night, plus the best alternative if its limitations are deal-breakers.
Running Shoes
From daily trainers to race-day supershoes and rainy-day cruisers, this nine-shoe rotation shows how each role fits into a half marathon training block.
Everyday Carry
A fall-ready everyday carry lineup featuring slim leather phone cases, tactical wallets, premium folders, and everyday gear that leans into the season.
Bike Computers
A brighter display, longer battery life, dual-frequency GPS and a new companion app make the third-generation Karoo a solid buy, even if the changes add up more than they dazzle.