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.
Stationery
Four ballpoint colors plus a pencil mechanism in a slim barrel. The Blen 4 Plus S packs an eraser, low-center-of-gravity design, and the Blen system into one pen. Here is how it performs in daily writing.
Stationery
A 48-shade lineup of capless felt-tip pens with a matte, paint-like ink finish, plus the caveats you should know before buying.
Stationery
A cheap, widely available disposable fountain pen with a clever cap seal, smooth fine nib, and a huge ink supply. Here is what it does well and where it falls short.
Stationery
A metal-bodied, twist-action highlighter with a half-line tip, Moist Keep Ink, and surprisingly broad refill compatibility.
Stationery
Zebra revives its legendary Knock Pencil series with the M-1700, a simple, lightweight mechanical pencil built around pure writing comfort.
Stationery
Zebra's Pitat pairs a clip-on notebook holder with a magnetic knock-type gel ballpoint pen, solving the eternal problem of where to keep your pen.
Stationery
Zebra's new Sarasa Clip 3C packs a side-spring mechanism into a body 8% slimmer than before, at a very tempting price.
Stationery
Zebra's limited-edition Sharbo X revival brings back the spirit of the 1977 original with modern refinements, including emulsion ink refills and a smoother knock feel.
Stationery
The Tect 2way RO adds a knurled grip, a unified grip-and-cone body, and a calmer matte finish to Zebra's low-center-of-gravity mechanical pencil.
Art Supplies
A 26-color half pan travel set with seven tools, paired with an affordable 100% cotton cold press pad, tested on real artwork.
Stationery
The Zeno CX, developed in Japan and manufactured in Korea, promises strong value at around ¥1,000. Here is how it writes, feels, and compares against the Pentel GraphGear 1000.
Stationery
A metal-heavy Korean mechanical pencil with a low center of gravity and a distinctive silicone grip, tested against the Pentel GraphGear 1000.
Stationery
The relaunched ZOOM brand's first ballpoint pen pairs a floating-feel knock mechanism with a duralumin body and a surprisingly capable new refill.
Fountain Pens
A green resin, numbered-edition fountain pen from a new Italian brand, offering cursive italic grinds most companies leave to nibmeisters.
Indoor Training
The Zwift Click packs virtual shifting, steering, and menu control into two thumb buttons for $49, including the Zwift Cog and freehub.
Smart Trainers
The Zwift Hub One pairs a direct drive smart trainer with a single-cog Zwift Cog and handlebar-mounted Clicks, removing cassette swaps entirely.
Smart Trainers
The Zwift Hub brings direct drive smart trainer performance to $499, cassette included, with clever setup touches that help beginners. Here is what works, what to watch for, and who it suits.
Indoor Cycling Tech
The Zwift Play controllers put steering, power-ups, and the action bar at your fingertips, with solid battery life and a few rough edges to consider before buying.
Running Shoes
The standout running shoes of 2026 so far, from the most improved daily trainer to the best race shoe, max cushion pick, and shoe of the year.
Trail Running Gear
A complete kit list for a 55 km trail ultra in the Lake District, from waterproofs and layers to shoes, socks, watches and audio.
Flashlights
A 2,000-lumen 18650 flashlight that solves the accidental-activation problem without living in lockout mode.
Running Shoes
A dual-foam, carbon-infused plated trainer with an energetic yet controlled ride, a snug fit, and strong value at £165.
Running Shoes
New foam, new upper, new geometry. The Adizero Adios Pro 4 gets a complete redesign aimed at regular runners chasing PBs, with marathon racing very much in mind.
Running Shoes
A long solo effort puts the Adizero Adios Pro 4 through almost full marathon distance to see whether the ride, protection, and fit hold up when the legs start to fade.
Running Shoes
A plate-free daily trainer built around Light Strike Pro foam, a sharp rocker, and a price well below elite racing shoes. Here's how it performed on a 15K first run.
Running Shoes
Two well-priced Adidas daily trainers with very different rides. Here is how the Evo SL and SL2 compare on foam, fit, grip, and which one suits your running.
Running Shoes
The third Prime X trims weight and refines the Strung upper, but the midsole loses the magic of the original. Here is what to know before spending £250.
Running Shoes
Raced over a full marathon in wet conditions, the Prime X Strung delivered bounce, propulsion and fresher legs late in the race, with a few trade-offs to weigh up first.
Running Shoes
A close head-to-head between two of the lightest, bounciest everyday running shoes of the year, covering ride, fit, durability, and which one suits you.
Running Shoes
Two of the best value daily trainers go head to head. Comfort, speed, fit, grip, and which shoe suits your running.