VIDEO: Vapourlites E-liquid EVOD batteries and cartomisers

The first thing that struck me about Vapourlites’ EVOD batteries and cartomisers was the sheer volume of vapour. 

The EVOD 650 was much like other e-liquid batteries, but with a sleeker, classier feel.

It lasts well and heats vapour to the point of a satisfying vape.

But the star of the show has to be the EVOD 900 VV Spinner battery.

With adjustable voltage to vary the vapour volume and a sleek design in chrome (other colours are also available) it makes for a cool-looking as well as very functional item.

The one downside seemed to be the relative fragility of the EVOD 900 VV Spinner.

Mine lasted around three weeks before going kaput.

I’m unsure whether this is a natural shelf-life or a faulty one.

But, the EVOD 650 is still going strong and, while not as powerful as its larger cousin, is still a force to be reckoned with. 

I tried both batteries as well as clear and smoky black cartomisers with a variety of e-liquids.

I felt the smoky black cartomisers inhibited the flavour to some degree and made for a slightly mechanical taste whichever liquid I used.

The clear cartomisers also fared poorly in flavour terms, tasting weak even with premium e-liquid. 

Therefore I felt the EVOD range worked better with other cartomisers, not necessarily from the Vapourlites range, which is a shame, when you consider how well the batteries work (when they are working).

All In all I’d rate the EVOD 650 at 7/10, the EVOD 900 VV Spinner at 8/10 and both varieties of cartomiser at 5/10.

• For more information and to order any of these products click here

Nip + Man skincare for men

With winter’s icy chill in full cry skincare becomes ever more important as temperatures plummet.

And with the boom in male grooming and a raft of top products from Nip + Man to guard against drying and the appearance of aging, there’s no excuse for men to let themselves go.

Nip + Man Scrubbing Facial Wash (150ml) £7.50

This was fabulous for exfoliation.

Unlike other exfoliating products I found this was not abrasive and was sensitive though vigorous, in clearing pores and removing the grime that can build up after a day’s existence in the 21st century.

It also hydrates and moisturises as it cleanses because of Brazilian papaya and contains invigorating caffeine.

Nip + Man Manotox (50ml) £19.95

As a man in my early thirties I’m conscious of avoiding any signs of ageing and this stuff can really help.

It’s not cheap, costing the best part of £20, but you can actually feel and see it working in the mirror as skin is tightened and firmed without the need of any nasty botulism.

It contains a substance called liftonin, which reduces the appearance of lines and wrinkles and gransil, which it is claimed helps smooth the appearance of the skin.

Nip + Man Daily Power Moisturiser (100ml) £7.95

Daily Power Moisturiser is an energising day cream that hydrates and nourishes skin with a combination of ingredients to moisturise and brighten the complexion.
This power-packed formula gives dry, dull skin a wake-up call with brightening and smoothing ingredients to deeply hydrate.
Daily Power Moisturiser is designed with caffeine extract to brighten the skin while grape seed oil tightens and tones and jojoba oil soothes and nourishes.

I hugely recommend it. 

Nip + Man Turbo Face Wash (150ml) £7.95

This energising, gentle formula that works to clean and refresh skin daily.
The boffins at Nip + Man have created a formula including moisture-boosting black quinoa awakening caffeine.

Turbo Face Wash is described as “the ultimate quick fix for tired skin”, and as someone who occasionally burns the candle at both ends I found it a must-have part of my skincare routine.  

For more information click here

VIDEO: Attack that plaque and fight bad breath with UltraDEX dental care products

Get a million pound smile and make bad breath a thing of the past, by sticking to an oral care routine.

That is the advice from dental hygiene specialists UltraDEX.

And the firm has just the right tools to achieve terrific teeth by attacking the 100 million bacteria in the average human mouth.

The award-winning UltraDEX Performance Oral Care range, with its clinically proven technology is backed by extensive scientific research.

From fresh breath sprays to toothpaste and a daily oral rinse I found the neatly-packaged products to be a revelation.

The big surprise was the oral rinse, which was flavourless and colourless.

Where was the minty mouthwash-style aftertaste, I wondered.

But, on reading the packaging it was made clear that these trifles are unnecessary as, by means of alchemy, they’ve managed to pack in everything healthy teeth need without gimmicky flavours.

For those menthol-mad die hards there is a sachet of mint flavouring included, so all bases are as covered as your grateful canines and molars. 

A dizzying array of other kit can also form part of your regimen, as brushes and floss are also part of UltraDEX’s fine collection.

After spending years of simply brushing my teeth, there’s no way I’m not keeping to this new routine to keep the dentist’s whining, whirring drill at bay.

• For more information on the UltraDEX range click  here

VIDEO: Travelodge, Covent Garden, London

If you’re planning a Christmas or New Year jaunt to London, you could do a lot worse than stay at the central Travelodge, Covent Garden hotel. 

The rooms were relatively spacious, especially when you consider the price (from £69 a night for a double room).

And the location and views at the admittedly a little dated-looking (on the outside) hotel were stunning.  

London landmarks, including the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard were visible from the bedroom window, making the Drury Lane location all the more special.

I combined the stay with a visit to the free-to-enter Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park and a stroll through Covent Garden, to experience notoriously expensive London on a budget.

New Year visitors can also enjoy free fireworks not too far away to see in 2015.

And with the festive cheer of Hyde Park and the jaw-dropping street entertainers in Covent Garden, it was possible to enjoy the delights of the capital for next-to-nothing. 

Back to the hotel, I simply must mention the terrific breakfast.

The choice was superb and the food unlimited, which again is perfect for the budget traveller.

Travelodge is renowned as a budget option in hotels, but I have stayed at some far more expensive accommodation and it has lacked the convenient central location and the fabulous views of one of the most recognisable skylines in the world.

So, think about Travelodge, Covent Garden for your next London getaway.

• For more information or to book click here

Audiofly Clublife Paradise in-ear headphones by Tiësto

Some very cool new in-ear headphones landed on my doormat last week.

The mint green, or “aqua”, as makers Audiofly are calling them, ear buds are made in collaboration with superstar DJ Tiësto, who helped with the design process.
And, as well as looking superb, emblazoned as they are with the Dutch DJ’s iconic ‘Nyana bird’ logo, the isolating ear buds really do pack a punch.
And they even glow in the dark!
To test out these bad boys I fittingly called up a series of Tiësto tracks to experience what the makers call the “true club sound – anywhere”.
The bass response on ‘Love Comes Again’ was very pronounced and crisp and the vocals on ‘Red Lights’ were as clear as a bell.

The £29.99 headphones come in a range of colours (some cost more) and are just about on general UK release now.
They feature a mic for hands-free calls and come in stylish packaging with a quality ‘Clublife’ protective pouch. 

There really is a ring of truth in the company’s claim that: “Paradise earphones boast a full, balanced sound to capture the feel of the club and takes you there everyday.”

Specifications:

- 9mm dynamic driver

- Small/medium/large silicon tips

- Soft storage pouch

- Glow-in-the-dark headphones

• For more information click here

No1 Traveller airport lounge

Flying is stressful.

You rush to the airport, only to get herded through various gates, queue up and have orders constantly barked at you, and then you get crammed into a winged metal tube for hours before being catapulted to your destination.

Therefore anything that can bring an element of relaxation to proceedings is most welcome.

And that is where No1 Traveller airport lounges come in. 

With lounges at Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh and Birmingham airports, there’s a good chance there’s a No1 Traveller lounge near you.

I visited the lounge at London Gatwick Airport on a trip to Athens and was blown away by the service.

I perused newspapers and magazines, ate tasty cheese and biscuits and ordered a delicious hot meal. 

And the unlimited drinks certainly helped the trip start with a swing.

The lounge itself also offered stunning views of the runway and I really felt like part of the jet set as I watched planes take off and land.

If you’re flying, make time for some lounging too.

• For more information click here

VIDEO: The London Dungeon

A journey through London’s grim and gruesome history awaits visitors to the fantastic London Dungeon.

On a recent visit to the ever-popular attraction, which has now moved from near London Bridge to the South Bank, I encountered enthusiastic actors recounting bloody tales from yesteryear.
Beginning before we’d even entered, a funny-voiced scary jester welcomed us and we were soon enacting a head-chopping photo opportunity.
Then it was onwards and downwards into the murky depths.

  

With the sights, sounds and smells of the capital played out, from plague-hit streets with reanimating corpses, through the Gunpowder Plot to Sweeney Todd and Jack the Ripper, there was no end to the gore.
There were moments where a palpable sense of fear was felt, as a band of travellers and I made our way through the warren of catacombs beneath old London Town.
Clever use of animation, video effects, animatronics, lighting and suspense make this attraction a must-see stop if you’re in the capital. 

Real rats and cockroaches were also in evidence, as was an epic boat ride through Brian Blessed’s, sorry Henry VIII’s, dungeons and Traitors’ Gate.
The near two-hour tour is excellent value for money (£25.20 for adults, or from £17.50 if bought online) if a little overlong, but the moment where everyone gets ‘hanged’ at the end, on a 10 metre drop ride, is well worth staying the course for.
I had a ghoulishly good time and would recommend it, but try not to lose your head!

 

Click here to book tickets.