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.
Running Shoes
Topo Athletic's first deeply cushioned neutral road trainer blends a roomy anatomical toe box, Zip Foam midsole and rocker geometry into a genuinely enjoyable daily ride.
Running Shoes
Tracksmith's first running shoe blends firm, responsive cushioning with everyday comfort, but sizing quirks and a premium price make it a considered purchase.
Running Apparel
From the Van Cortlandt shorts to the Brighton Base Layer, five Tracksmith running staples that balance classic style with real performance.
Trail Running Gear
Two gear picks put through a half marathon on the South Downs: a carbon-plated trail shoe built for hard-packed terrain and a durable merino-style running sock with a lifetime warranty.
Everyday Carry
A practical travel everyday carry lineup covering a wallet, phone mount, flashlight, notebook setup, sling bag, watches, and a travel-safe pocket knife.
Running Gear
Five products tested over nearly eight hours of wet, technical Lake District trails: two Garmin watches, a carbon-plated trail shoe, bone conduction headphones, and running sunglasses.
Running Shoes
A traditional, reliable daily running shoe with balanced cushioning, built-in run tracking, and strong value at its discounted price.
Running Shoes
The Velocity 3 swaps its Warp upper for a flat knit design, gains a softer Flow midsole and extra rubber, and shifts its character towards easy miles rather than fast ones.
Stationery
The new Gloss Grey Jetstream 4&1 pairs a high-grip glossy coating with Light Touch ink, and a limited Blue Black refill adds a fresh color option.
Stationery
The F 7-color bundle and two limited edition sets deliver smooth, fast-drying gel ink in subtle muted shades that make journaling a pleasure.
Gift Guide
From fidget-grade metalwork to a build-it-yourself dive watch, these are genuinely unusual gifts for the man who already owns it all.
Everyday Carry
From a card-sized charging toolkit to a hollow covert coin, these are the strange corners of the EDC world where novelty and genuine usefulness sometimes overlap.
Running Shoes
A forward-looking preview of eight expected running shoe releases, based on what previous versions got right and what we would like to see improved.
Running Shoes
The Vasia Condor 3 pairs a sugar cane based EVA midsole with a recycled upper to deliver a cushioned, easy pace daily trainer that closes the gap on its conventional rivals.
Watches
Sapphire crystal, a screw-down crown, quick-release bands, and solar quartz power make the Ve R1 Racer a compelling mid-range pick.
Everyday Carry
Knives, lighters, notebooks, wallets and lamps that would not raise an eyebrow in a 1930s pocket dump, yet are all still available to buy now.
Fountain Pens
A tiny €25 eyedropper pocket pen and an oversized 3D-printed giant go head to head, showing how much size really matters in a fountain pen.
Fountain Pens
A two-inch eyedropper fountain pen with lovely finishes and a finicky fill. Is the Wancher Pooch a cute pocket companion or a pen that shrinks below the usability limit?
Running Shoes
An hour-long 10K in the Zen Running Future One reveals a firm, stable, snappy ride, a snug booty-fit upper, and impressive eco credentials at £180.
Stationery
A closer look at the 2023 Coloring Planner, including how its upgraded paper handles pencils, water-based markers, alcohol markers, and even watercolor.
Planners
One planner user narrows down four contenders for 2026: the Sterling Ink Common Planner B6 and three Hobonichi formats, with honest notes on what worked and what didn't.
Running Shoes
The 361 Flame delivers a fast, snappy carbon plate ride at around $160, with a firm but comfortable midsole that works for tempo runs, intervals, and race day.
Trail Running Shoes
The 361 Futura 3 delivers plush cushioning and a superb upper, but its weight may give some trail runners pause. Here is what stood out on a first proper test run.
Running Shoes
Early miles in the 361 Ventus reveal a balanced dual-foam cruiser with a roomy fit and a stable, comfortable ride at a mid-stack height.
Fountain Pens
Twelve fountain pens, from budget Chinese writers to Italian and German icons, that defined a year of discovery, comparison, and changing tastes.
Travel Gear
An ultralight travel umbrella that weighs just 3 ounces, folds down smaller than most mini umbrellas, and costs around $26. Here's how it performed over five months of travel.
Art Supplies
Three acrylic picks with very different talents: one translucent white, one ultra-opaque white, and one slow-drying paint that gives you time to work.
Running Shoes
One flat 10K and one hilly half marathon on consecutive days put these two racing shoes head to head. Here is how they compared in real race conditions.
Running Shoes
Two of the year's standout carbon racing shoes compared on stack, weight, price, and real-world race performance from 5K to the marathon.
Running Shoes
Two top-tier Adidas racing shoes with very different missions: long-distance super shoe comfort versus short-distance punch. Here is how they compare on weight, stack, fit and ride.