BBox Insulating Flip Top Bottle

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The insulating Flip Top Bottle from BBox is one of those items you don’t know you need until you start using it. The 690ml bottle (shown here in spearmint colour but is also available in varieties of blue, green and pink) appeals to both adults and children thanks to the colours as well as the easy of use and volume.  It has stainless steel inners with a similar stainless steel straw and a flip top spout so that it doesn’t spill. There’s a bendy carry handle too which makes it easy to fix to a backpack or carry by hand and not get broken.

I found this really easy to use. It’s easy to fil up with the screw lid coming off to reveal the stainless steel. Your water doesn’t have to touch any plastic.  I am particularly passionate about not using plastic bottles because of the damage they do to the environment, but few people know what damage plastic does to our bodies, so stainless steel is the best option.  I like the fact that the BBox Insulating Flip Top Bottle can keep drinks cold as well as hot, so it has use during both the summer and the winter. 

It’s great for take out on trips, and the robust design means it can be taken to football games, put in the car (the insulating layers means it won’t get hot quick) or in a backpack for lunchtime.  The huge capacity means though, that you can stay hydrated all day on just one fill up. It can take drinks from temperatures as low as -20C right up to 120C. Tell me who wouldn’t want to use a versatile insulating bottle with those credentials?

Available from £28.99 at: https://uk.bbox.com/products/690ml-insulated-flip-top-bottle-spearmint?_pos=3&_sid=55527eae2&_ss=r

Brita Water Filter Active Bottle

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

Daily life nowadays means you are running errands, looking after children and/or parents and probably juggling that with a full-time job and adding in a social life of your own. Oh, and don’t forget you need to get exercise too, and lots of it!  We look for gadgets and life hacks nowadays to make life easier but to also improve the quality of life.

Carrying water around is essential nowadays, and especially for children. Brita have a range of water bottles for everyday use but they also contain filters to make the water extra clean.  The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle is a clever 0.6 litre bottle which includes a filter in the top so you can filter tap water when you’re out and about and not have to worry about the nasties.

The bottle is made of 100% BPA free material with a sports cap (so you can use it when exercising or to prevent it falling over and spilling) and has flexible sides so that you can squeeze it to direct through the sports cap. The filter is made of natural carbon and originates from coconut shell material so it’s more sustainable too. The Brita filter cartridge used in the Brita Water Filter Active removes chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine and some herbicides, pesticides and hormones but leaves the useful elements like Magnesium and calcium.  So if you’re out of the house without your Brita filter, any tap in a café or restaurant, or even at the gym will fill the Brita Active Bottle and the water will be cleaner than just taking out of the tap.

The bottle is also multipurpose because it’s adapted for sport. Not just squeezy sides but there’s a sports loop to attach it to your belt as you’re working out or to pick it up and hold it, and it comes with a cup that fixes to the base snugly so that you don’t lose it. The same cup works as a lid to protect the spout.  Taking this out with a pram where you can attach it to the handle bars with the loop or put it in the cup holder, it can also help a toddler drink from a cup as you dispense it into the attached beaker.  If you’re going to the gym and don’t want the attached cup, it’s easy to leave behind and 0.6 litre capacity is probably enough for an hour’s session. 

The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle comes with a cartridge already but when you need to replace it, it only takes taking off the top screw cap and placing the filter in the neck of the bottle. No fuss, and easy to carry around with you if you’re on holiday for instance. The whole bottle with filter and full of water is light to carry too, so it fits into hand luggage. If you can’t take a bottle of water onto a plane, you can take a Brita Water Filter Bottle when it’s empty, then fill it up when you’re airside or on the plane and you’ll know you have filtered water for the journey. Think how great this would be for camping too!

The more you use this Brita Water Filter, the more uses you have for it and realise how versatile it is for everyday life.  It’s a great gift item too for new mums, sports lovers or commuters alike.  Have fun this summer with Brita Water Filter Active Bottle!

Available from £14.18 at: https://www.brita.co.uk/water-filter-system/water-filter-bottles/active

Contigo

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

We are keen walkers and most weekends you will find us out on the local fells or on top of hill somewhere. It is so important to keep hydrated when walking so I was really pleased to receive a Contigo Jackson Chill AUTOPOP™ Vacuum-Insulated Water Bottle. It arrived just in time for our holiday and was a very welcome addition when we were climbing hills on a couple of particularly hot days.

When it comes to water bottles, I have very high standards – I need a bottle with a top that is easy to open and close and most importantly doesn’t leak. I look for bottles that are easy to clean, without too many nooks and crannies that can prove difficult to clean properly. I also need it to keep my water cold, so a bottle with an opening that is wide enough to get a few ice cubes in is a winner.

So how does the Jackson Chill AUTOPOP™ Vacuum-Insulated Water Bottle fare?

Well, incredibly well – not only does it look stylish this bottle is very practical too, the 590ml double walled vacuum bottle has a mouth wide enough for ice cubes and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours. A great feature of this bottle is that you are able to open it one-handed so I don’t need to stop to have a drink and it has a decent sized spout that flows nicely. It is really comfortable to drink from and there was no metallic taste to the water.

Over the last couple of weeks the bottle has been stuffed into rucksacks, slid into pockets, slotted into my bike bottle holder and carried in a shopping bag and despite being flung around hasn’t leaked once. It has a very secure fitting lid which protects the spout from dirt and a button lock which, assuming you remember to click it in place, means it won’t open in your bag, thus avoiding accidental spills.

The feature I like most about this bottle is the secure fitting lid, I have had my fair share of leaky bottles over the years and believe me there is nothing worse than reaching into a rucksack and discovering your bottle has leaked!

I am really impressed with this bottle, not only does it look great, it’s easy to fill, nice to drink out of and is a good size. Reuseable bottles are so much better for the environment than single use plastic ones and if you buy a decent one like this Contigo one you will be using it for many years. This bottle is now an essential part of my walking gear and I have been recommending it to all my walking friends.

RRP £25

Available from Amazon

Ryman’s Royal Coronation Range

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

First with the Platinum Jubilee and now the Coronation, there have been lots of Union Jack products around to help us celebrate. For the Coronation this year, Ryman have a whole range of items to both help celebrate and commemorative items to remember this year.  We were sent some lovely Coronation decorations and souvenirs to review from the team!

For the big street party, there’s the fabric bunting (£1.99). At 3.6 metres long, it’s enough to tie between two lampposts or adorn to the front of the house.  As it’s fabric, it will be more durable in the British weather should you choose to keep it outside for longer than just the Coronation day, and can also go in the wash afterwards for you to use again.

The Union Jack 3 tier Cupcake Stand (£2.99) arrives flat packed but fits together easily. It’s made from cardboard but you can use it again and again for either cupcakes or it would suit sandwiches and scones too if you are going for the full afternoon tea.  The Union Jack design makes it very photogenic for the Coronation Street Party, standing 34cm high and 39cm wide.  After using it, you can easily dissemble it and pack away for another day.  

We were also sent a 1000 piece Charles III jigsaw and water bottle.  The Charles III jigsaw (£19.99) depicts His Majesty The King over his lifetime from boy to King, and some of the events of his life such as becoming the Prince of Wales in 1969 and his military uniforms.  1000 pieces is a family sized jigsaw, suitable for adults as well as teenagers, and makes for a fabulous pastime during the long weekend. Don’t forget that there are 3 Bank Holidays in May alone this year so you’ll have plenty of time to play with it!

The final item was the Coronation Water Bottle (£13.99). The 500ml bottle has the official Coronation crest on the front, and you have the option of personalising it for up to 20 characters, just below the logo, or you can leave it blank. The screw top bottle can be kept cold in the fridge although it can’t go in the dishwasher and is hand wash only. It’s a really useful keepsake of the Coronation as well as a lovely present for someone.

The whole Ryman range of Coronation items is available online, with a mixture of decorations, mementoes and lovely items for the street parties like Union Jack paper plates and straws. Most of the items are reusable and environmentally friendly too!

Items available from the Ryman online store at: 

https://www.ryman.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=coronation