Going for gold
BERGHAUS RAIN MOTION JACKET
Super light, seriously waterproof protection from Berghaus, which has used 3L Pertex Shield to create this high-performance, all-activities jacket with a 20,000mm hydrostatic head rating. The lightweight face fabric and technical membrane, plus PFC-free durable water repellent finish means you're ready for anything, and in this colourway, you'll be easily spotted whether you're smashing summits or staying dry at a festival.
£240, berghaus.com
DALI KUPID SPEAKERS
A cute, compact passive speaker with a 26mm soft dome tweeter and a 4.5-inch wood fibre woofer, that offers considerably more welly than the dinky dimensions would suggest. The cabinet is internally damped to reduce resonance, while rear bass ports extend low-frequency response without overwhelming smaller rooms. If yellow isn't your thing they're available in four other shades, and thanks to nominal sensitivity they're super easy to drive.
£299, dali-speakers.com
ORIS BIG CROWN POINTER DATE
An automatic mechanical watch built around Oris' signature pointer date complication, with a central hand indicating the date around the dial perimeter. The ‘big' crown was originally designed for people wearing gloves, while the stainless steel case and domed sapphire crystal provide added durability. The transparent caseback reveals the self-winding movement, but the real winner here is how the sunshine yellow dial contrasts with the flawless steel case
£1,750, oris.ch
The new black
MOCCAMASTER KBG SELECT
First launched in 1969, still manufactured in the Netherlands, and virtually unbeatable in the filter coffee world, this totem to caffeine brews a full 1.25L pot in around six minutes, maintaining water temperature between 92 and 96°C for the perfect extraction and flavour. The copper heating element is designed for longevity, while the manual selector allows half- or full-pot brewing. It's simple, easy to repair, and also available in 20 colours if orange isn't your thing.
£268, moccamaster.eu
NUTRIBULLET X MCLAREN PORTABLE BLENDER
The perfect tool for when Lando is screaming out for his peanut butter, avocado and chia seed smoothie. This compact, batterypowered (15+ blending cycles per charge), and colour-matched, portable blender has stainless steel blades to blitz through fresh ingredients, 100 watts of power for pulverising protein powders, while the sealed sip lid means you can blend and drink – not simultaneously – from the same jug.
£49.99, nutribullet.co.uk
FIIO EH11 HEADPHONES
Giving strong Back to the Future vibes, FiiO's super-affordable on-ear retro-tastic Bluetooth headphones have 40mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 6.0 and LDAC support. The semi-open design helps create a wider, airier presentation, while battery life stretches to around 30 hours per charge. Physical rotary controls, app-based EQ adjustment and a built-in microphone add modern convenience, making these a more playful, feature-rich option than their price suggests.
Around £30, fiio.com
Sky's the limit
SMEG MOC01 MICROWAVE
There's more to the modern microwave than the ability to make popcorn and heat up ready meals. This 29L, 900W countertop design isn't just pretty, it features inverter technology for consistent, even heating, has a 900W quartz grill for browning and finishing dishes, and you can combine the four cooking modes to complete a meal from frozen, or use one of the 18 automatic programmes that can handle anything from bread making to shellfish.
From £349.95, smeguk.com
KANTO UKI DESKTOP SPEAKERS
These punchy, expansive and energetic sounding compact active speakers from Kanto are five-star award-winning and cute as a button. They offer a visual and audio upgrade to your desktop, as each speaker has a three-inch driver, powered (in master and slave configuration) by a built-in 100W peak power amplifier with Bluetooth streaming, plus analogue input via RCA sockets, a USB-C slot, and a pre-out for use with a subwoofer.
£227, kantoaudio.com
PRO-JECT COLOURFUL AUDIO SYSTEM 2
A complete hi-fi system combining the Debut Evo 2 belt-drive turntable, integrated MaiA S3 amplifier, and matching Speaker Box 5 S2 bookshelf speakers. Available in a slew of cool colours, it's the perfect betterthan-entry-level system, offering a blend of analogue cool and Bluetooth convenience. Each component isn't just colour coordinated, they've been specced to work well together and remove the fuss from building a system.
£1,799, project-audio.com
Time for lime
OSPREY TRANSPORTER DUFFLE 40
Move over Patagonia, your Black Hole Duffle finally has some competition. This 40L design from Osprey is TPU-coated and impervious to bad weather or general travel abuse, while reinforced handles and stowable straps allow flexible carry options. A wide-opening main compartment simplifies packing, prioritising space, making it well suited to short trips or transporting bulkier gear.
£125, osprey.com
MACBOOK NEO
Whether you think Apple has created a MacBook for the masses, or just built an iPhone with a keyboard, the Neo is going to be phenomenally successful, offering just enough performance at a price that, for Cupertino, feels positively cheap. It's not a processing powerhouse or gaming behemoth, but for most laptop users the combination of A18 Pro chip, 16 hour battery, hi-res display and 1.23kg weight will be a revelation.
From £599, apple.com
ARC'TERYX SYLAN 2 TRAIL RUNNING SHOE
Arguably too beautiful to get muddy, Arc'teryx's flagship trail runners are made to move fast across any terrain. The rockered midsole is built from ultra-responsive foam and a carbon-fibre plate that drives you forward while keeping you stable. Add a hefty layer of Vibram Megagrip Litebase rubber for the outsole, and the result is a firm, efficient ride with strong energy return.
£200, arcteryx.com
Keeping it teal
NOTHING CMF HEADPHONE PRO
Remember when stylish, design-driven headphones cost a bomb? Nothing continues its hot streak with these bulbously beautiful cans that boast active noise cancellation and large dynamic drivers tuned for full-range playback. Bluetooth connectivity is supported by the Nothing X app, allowing EQ adjustment and control customisation, while battery life extends to a frankly absurd 100 hours. Swap out the earpads for an extra pop of colour when you get bored of pastels.
£79, nothing.tech
OAKLEY PLANTARIS SQ
With a unique design that looks like it's been inspired by a bird of prey, Oakley's latest sunglasses are some of the coolest-looking shades ever released. Extended side-shields keep the sun from sneaking into your eyes, and while useful for protecting your conk on long, hot days, the hawk-like nosecone is removable for when you're not in full-on attack mode and you want a more laid-back vibe for the pub garden of an evening.
From £218, oakley.com
SNOWSKY DISC 7
For those of us who still lament the loss of the iPod Nano, this diminutive digital audio player offers up high-resolution playback without relying on a smartphone. Inside, dual DACs can handle files up to 24-bit/96kHz, while support for Bluetooth with LDAC, Wi-Fi streaming and microSD storage up to 2TB keeps it firmly modern. It can also function as a USB DAC or digital transport, making it seriously good value for money too.
€99.98 (around £87), fiio.eu
Tickled pink
HYDRO FLASK POPSTAR PINK BOTTLE
Fashions change fast, but Hydro Flask's ability to keep drinks hot or cold remains consistent. Double-wall vacuum insulation reliably holds cold liquids for 24 hours and hot for 12, while the stainless steel build avoids flavour transfer and doesn't mind the odd dent. A powder coating improves grip, while a range of caps, lids and accessories means you can refresh without buying new.
£39.95, hydroflask.com
NOTHING PHONE (4A)
This ‘desaturated red' finish combined with Nothing's signature design elevates what is essentially a mid-level, affordable smartphone into a desirable piece of objet d'art. It's no slug performance wise, with its Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 chip, smooth 120Hz AMOLED display, and dual 50MP camera system, plus a 5,000mAh battery and distinctive Glyph Bar consisting of a linear arrangement of six white LEDs plus a red recording LED.
From £349, nothing.tech
IROBOT ROOMBA MINI
Robot maids don't need personalities, but that doesn't mean they can't bring a little charm as they clean. Measuring just 24.5cm across and 9.2cm tall, the Roomba Mini is roughly half the size of standard models, yet still impressively effective. ClearView LiDAR handles navigation and mapping, while a single-brush system and strong suction tackle daily debris. It can vacuum or mop, with a dock that stores up to 90 days of dirt.
£379, irobot.co.uk