Tag: holiday

Helly Hansen Scout Duffel and Scout Wash Bag

beauty, Birthday Gifts, camping, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, hiking, Summer, travel

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Whether you’re camping in the Yorkshire Dales, catching a flight to somewhere hot and sunny or heading to a cosy countryside hotel, there are two pieces of kit every traveller needs  and they are  a decent wash bag and a sturdy holdall.

Over the years I’ve owned plenty and the quality really does vary from brand to brand. Broken zips, flimsy fabric that doesn’t stand up to wear and tear, and wash bags that fail to contain leaks – I’ve seen (and cleaned up) the lot. So, when Helly Hansen got in touch and asked if we’d like to test out their Scout Duffel and Scout Wash Bag, I was more than happy to put them through their paces.

A wash bag might not be the most glamorous piece of travel gear, but it’s one of the most useful – and one of the most abused. It needs to be strong, practical, and large enough to carry all the essentials and the Helly Hansen Scout Wash Bag (RRP £25) impressed me straight away. It’s made from tough 600D polyester with a water-resistant TPU membrane and is ideal for keeping the inevitable shampoo or shower gel leaks contained and away from the rest of your luggage.

Inside, there’s one spacious main compartment, plus a mesh ventilation pocket for smaller items like lip balm or toothbrushes. The hanging loop is sturdy and ideal for use in campsite toilet blocks where surfaces can be few and far between. It’s deep enough to stand travel-sized bottles upright and even fits a few full-sized products without becoming bulky. The only thing I’d add is another mesh pocket for a bit more internal organisation, but all in all, it’s a robust, functional wash bag that is made to last.

Now, on to the Scout Duffel. This one comes in four sizes – 30L, 50L, 70L, and 90L – so there’s one for every kind of trip, from overnight stays to longer adventures. We tested the 30L version and found it to be the perfect size for weekends away. It’s got a wide, U-shaped zip opening that makes packing and unpacking nice and easy and even when empty, the bag will hold its shape, which makes organising your things that little bit easier. A handy separate zipped compartment at one end is great for shoes or dirty laundry, and if you want to keep your hands free, padded shoulder straps are tucked away in the top lid so you can wear it as a backpack.

Like the wash bag, it’s made from tough 600D nylon with a TPU coating for water resistance – handy when you’re navigating train stations in the rain or hauling your bag across a muddy field. There’s also a lockable zip on the main compartment, offering that extra bit of security if your bag’s going in the hold or overhead rack.

Both the Scout Wash Bag and Duffel come in a range of colours – Rain Blue, Purple Clay, Alpine Frost, and classic Black so there’s something to suit every taste.

In short, these two bits of kit are practical, well-designed, and built to withstand the demands of regular travel. Whether you’re a camper, a weekender, or a frequent flyer, the Scout range from Helly Hansen is well worth a look.

Organii SPF Sun Cream

Baby, beauty, camping, Children, cruelty-free, health, Summer, Vegan

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Whilst we haven’t seen much sunshine in the UK in recent weeks, it is still important to use sunscreen. Even on a cloudy day you are still exposed to damaging UVA & UVB rays, so it is very important to use SPF all year round.

My family spend a lot of time outdoors, usually walking and cycling, so I always make sure they apply suncream before they leave the house, to protect their skin from the powerful rays of the sun. As my son has eczema, I always look for suncream products that are suitable for sensitive skin, so I was really pleased to receive a selection of Organii sun care products which are organic, natural, vegan and cruelty free and suitable for the whole family

Given the atrocious weather we’ve all been having this year I feared that testing this sunscreen may prove a little difficult. However, I popped them in my bag on a recent trip to Dorset and I’m really glad I did as the weather was much better than forecasted and we enjoyed a couple of glorious days of sunshine which gave us the opportunity to really put them to the test.

The SPF15 Face Everyday Anti-Ageing Face Cream is an anti-ageing moisturiser designed for year round daily use. It is suitable for all skin types and ideal for sensitive skin. When I squeezed it out of the tube, it was quite thick and white and I was expecting my face to resemble a ghost after the first application! I was therefore amazed when I realised just how easily it absorbs, the trick is to not use too much though! The sun cream has a gentle fragrance which is quite pleasant and it leaves my skin feeling lovely and soft as well as protecting it from the sun.

RRP £16.95

The SPF30 Medium Protection Sun Lotion is enriched with organic aloe vera, green tea leaf extract and coconut oil and offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection to help prevent sunburn. I did find the cream a little heavy – more like a SPF50 cream and even when I had rubbed it in it left my skin looking white, but this does mean that you know where you have applied it! I applied it in the morning before a full day hiking, reapplied it on my neck and shoulders (which are prone to burning) mid-way through the day and  despite the heat my skin didn’t burn or turn red at all.

RRP £19.95

The organic SPF50, fragrance free, mineral Sun Milk protects against UVA and UVB rays, and is uniquely formulated to protect and care for your skin. The lotion is slightly sticky when you first put it on and like the SPF30 lotion it does make your skin look white. My husband tried this cream as his skin is quite fair and prone to burning and he spent a whole day in the sun without going red so he was really pleased with the protection it gives.  With this SPF50 cream you can feel confident that skin is well protected and it is perfect for keeping little ones safe in the sun.

RRP £27.95

With its UVA, UVB, and water resistant properties, Organii sun creams offer great all-round protection, whether you are playing on the beach, walking, sailing or just out and about in the sun.

Swan ProSteam Foldable Garment Steamer

Family Life, Fashion, Home, Home & Garden, Hotel, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

As summer approaches, most of us are thinking of going on holiday and with the weather we’ve had until recently, I think we’d all like some sun now! The Swan ProSteam Foldable Garment Steamer is something I’ve been looking to try for a long time, but not had the motivation of a holiday to try it!

Rather than ironing everything whilst you’re staying in a hotel or rental villa, steaming clothes has become the new life hack. Shops use steamers to keep clothes fresh in shops and take out creases so it’s no wonder that steaming clothes has become a good alternative.  The Swan ProSteam is a foldable steamer, specifically for travelling and being able to de-crease clothes whilst on the go. We were sent one to try this week.

The ProSteam is actually very lightweight and not very big. It stands about 30 centimetres tall and the ‘face’ folds in to make it more compact. It comes with its own measuring jug as the water tank can only take 150ml of water.  It’s very easy to set up. It has a delicates brush affixed already so you just need to unfold it, add the water up to the Max mark on the tank and plug in. The light on the top shows when it’s ready which is only about 30 seconds.

I tried a test on this pillow case that I was going to iron.  Holding the brush close to the fabric and always keeping the ProSteam vertical, I just led the appliance down the length of the pillow case and let the steam do its work. After going over the same area twice, I stated to see a difference so a third and forth time proved that some of the creases were falling out with the more steam that was applied.  You can see in the photo where I had been using the ProSteam and where I still needed to work. Looks like it decreases beautifully!

The Swan Prosteam did run out of water pretty quickly so you will need to keep topping it up and if you’re in a hard water area like I am, it’s better to use filtered water. However, if you are using it in a hotel, then hotels nearly always have drinking, filtered or desalinated water in their bathroom taps so it’s less likely that you will get limescale on the ProSteam.  You don’t need to take the measuring jug with you either as you can fill up the tank from the tap as long as you’re careful not to get water on the electrics.  

The Swan ProSteam Garmant Steamer works a treat on the creases and saves having to take an iron with you or trying to set up an iron in a small hotel room. All you need is some hanging space and the steamer takes the same amount of time to steam an item as it does to iron it, but using less space and the ProSteam actually heats up quicker. 

This is a must for going on holiday especially if you’re not sure what amenities you’ll have or are travelling. Don’t forget to take an adapter plug though!

Available for £29.99 at: https://shop.swan-brand.co.uk/products/swan-foldable-garment-steamer?_pos=1&_sid=a176b9bf1&_ss=r

Delph and LotilHigh Protection Sun Lotion

beauty, camping, Children, Family Life, health, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Get ready for summer! Yes, I know it’s raining today but spring is the time of year when you either have your holiday booked, or are booking in and getting essentials together for the big trip away. Judging by the rain out there today, I think most of us are planning on some sun overseas this year so Delph Sun Lotions are definitely going to be needed. 

The range we were sent included two sun lotions, one at SPF30 and one at SPF50+ and an after sun lotion, all in handy 150ml tubes. Delph pride themselves on being of the highest quality, so much so that their products are available on prescription on the NHS for those with sensitive skin and other skin issues thanks to their 4-star rating from Diffy & Robson. Delph is also used by the Ministry of Defence, so you can imagine the types of scenarios Delph sun lotion comes in handy!  Additionally, each of the sun lotions (SPF30 and SPF50) are “very water resistant” so you can swim in both the sea and swimming pools whilst still getting a high level of protection.

Each of the SPF30 and SPF50 sun lotions can be applied directly to the face, in generous amounts (approximately ½ a teaspoon amount just for the face alone) and then a teaspoon to each arm, more for each leg and 2 teaspoons amount to the back and chest. The lotion must dry before going into water and be reapplied every 1-2 hours especially after swimming or towelling. Remember, using the recommended dosage gives the highest possible protection from the sun.

The Delph After Sun is designed to provide deep moisturisation and contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for their anti-inflammatory properties. The Vitamin E helps prevent peeling and prolongs the life of your tan too.

We were also sent the Lotil Lip Care stick with SPF30. This is a great addition to the range to protect your lips along with your face. It also moisturises your face whilst you’re out in the sun, keeping them soft especially against beach weather.

Each of the Delph Sun Lotions are Dermatologically Tested, and have a very light fragrance to them.  There are elements of the scent that remind me of ‘holiday’, presumably because of the sun protection ingredients and there is a very light citrus smell too. The lotions blended into my skin very easily though, so it’s easy to apply to wriggling children who don’t want to have to wait before they get into the pool or the sea! The After Sun is also almost fragrance free and very light, making it easy to absorb.

I can’t wait for the summer and the holidays to begin so that I can finally test the Delph range on some proper sun!

Delph Sun Lotion SPF50+ 150ml from £4.69:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-sun-lotion-spf50-150ml

Delph Sun Lotion SPF30 150ml from £5.09:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-sun-lotion-spf30-150ml

Delph After Sun Lotion 150ml from £1.49:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/delph-after-sun-lotion-150ml

Lotil Original Lip Care Balm from £1.49:

https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/lotil-original-lip-care-balm-4g

EcoFlow River 2 Portable Power Station

camping, Days Out, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Summer, Tech

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We just can’t get away from tech these days, whether it’s a trip to the beach or camping in the Lake District. It seems we can’t do without our gadgets. 

We can all pretty much manage for a day without a charger but if we’re away for longer, then we’re going to need power. Now, a small battery pack will charge a phone but what about bigger devices that require a mains supply?

The River 2 from EcoFlow is a really compact portable power station, the smallest in the EcoFlow range, with a 256Wh capacity and 300W output. The size of a shoe box, it only weighs 3.5kg so is really easy to include when packing for a weekend away or trip in the car.

It is well built, with a flat top so it is easy to pack when travelling. The handle is mounted on the rear of the device which helpfully leaves room for any cables coming out of the back.

Included in the box are two charging leads, a mains charging lead (no adapter required) which takes only an hour to fully recharge the battery, and a car adapter that plugs into the solar connector on the back. Optionally it can be changed through the USB-C connector or for a truly portable option a solar panel can be connected too.

We enjoy going away in our motorhome and much prefer the more remote sites, often with no mains hookup. The sites are peaceful and quiet, but we do sometimes miss a main supply. We do a lot of cycling when we’re away and depending on how far we have ridden my e-bike will need charging, but up until now I have had no way to charge the bike with only a 12v supply. The battery on my bike is 250Ah so using the fully charged River 2 to charge the bike means I can do more cycling when we are on sites with no mains power. I’ve used it to charge my bike a couple of times and founds it only changed up to 90%, I’m not sure why but to be honest 90% is certainly good enough and means I can get another couple of days cycling in when we are away.

A while ago we bought an electric cool box which is great for keeping food and drinks cool when going out with the family. The only problem is whilst I can plug it in when driving, once we’re there we just have to hope it stays cool, with the EcoFlow River 2 I can now leave it plugged in (when set on low (20w) you get 7 hours of use) meaning the drinks are still cold when we get back to the car after a day out.

The EcoFlow River 2 can also be used as a UPS, it has a 30ms switchover so most devices will not notice a power cut and whilst it might not run a PC for too long, it will at least give you time to save your work before shutting down.

I’m going on Scout camp in a few weeks and the EcoFlow River 2 is definitely coming with me, lighting is usually a mixture of small headtorches and large gas lamps but it will be much easier to use a 240v LED flood light. If it works well, I might look at getting the optional solar panel for a daytime recharge whilst we are on camp.

It’s a great device once you know its limits. You’ll not be able to run anything that draws more power such as a cooking device, heater or kettle but for all your tech and low powered devices it’s great. There is a good selection of outputs too, in addition to the 240v socket there are 2 USB-A, 1 USB-C and a 12v “cigarette lighter” too.

I’m really impressed with the EcoFlow River 2, although it is the smallest model in the range, it has a real quality feel and doesn’t lack features. It is controllable with the mobile app using bluetooth or wifi, can be charged in 4 different ways and by using Lithium Iron Phosphate technology, the battery can be discharged 3000 times and should provide years of use.

RRP £269 available here

My Little Sudocrem 22g Travel Pot

Baby, beauty, camping, Children, Days Out, Family Life, health, Home, Sport, Summer

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Cycling weather is upon us and if you need to take provisions, any cyclist knows there’s not much that can be carried on a bike when you go out and about.  There’s also not much you can buy in shops or rely on the local amenities so something like the My Little Sudocrem for minor ailments is ideal. Sudocrem is also excellent for chaffing especially on really long rides!

The My Little Sudocrem tubs are petite circular screw top pods which weight only 22grams. Durable and able to be kept in pockets or tucked into the smallest of rucksacks or handbags, they pack a punch with the full benefits of Sudocrem, just delivered in smaller vessels so that you can transport them anywhere.  Cyclists will love My Little Sudocrem because of the size, and because it’s so handy to prevent, or relieve chaffing.  If you’ve never had little children around or ever used Sudocrem, then I can tell you it’s a dream for so many purposes. As a rich, scentless cream it can be used on almost anything on the skin, from grazes to allergies or even just to keep you skin soft. I use it as a body moisturiser for the summer months when my legs are dry and I’m wearing skirts and dresses, and on my face for outdoor sports when my visage is chapped, such as out cycling or on the water.

The My Little Sudocrem is also brilliant for taking on holiday, or keeping in your car for when out with the children or after outdoor sports.  There’s something very soothing and medicinal about a cold cream on your face after a day out in the wind, rain or sun and Sudocrem has the soothing effect like an aftersun cream, only with a thicker, richer moisturising effect. Also great for the playground when the children have grazes on the swings, there’s a whole host of uses for My Little Sudocrem this summer.

Three available for £8.99 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Sudocrem-Barrier-Multipurpose-Family/dp/B088RJF58C/ref=asc_df_B088RJF58C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=435764429196&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6858848114809714868&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045873&hvtargid=pla-931863630238&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=101204935637&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=435764429196&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6858848114809714868&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045873&hvtargid=pla-931863630238