Diablo Max Trail RunnersThe rise and fall and rise of the roller sole, from MBTs to FitFlops has created a whole new wardrobe of shoe-buying opportunities, as if any were needed, of course.
Now Italian footwear maker Tecnica has made a natural extension to this thinking with its trail runner, the Diablo Max. Though, in fairness, it doesn’t overly push the biomechanical line.
Best known for ski and moon boots, its new runners feature the distinctive thicker sole and all-round pumped-up styling of the genre. The emphasis is on increased stability and shock-absorption, rather than toning-as-you-go, though it does have the signature curved sole that prompts that familiar rolling transition with each foot strike.
Looking a little supersize-me, particularly when compared with other über lightweight runners around, not to mention the whole barefoot movement, with shoes like the individually-toed Vibram Five Fingers, the Diablos apparently deliver a really comfortable, secure trail running experience according to those who know.
Cost:$134 (€95) from zappos.com.
Hummingbird Carry-On Zip
A bag made for the all-action traveller or those who like to be seen like that, these Hummingbirds came highly recommended and didn’t disappoint in the hand. There are various size options in the range, including a couple of carry-ons, but all sharing a robust DNA.
They’re 100 per cent waterproof. That’s properly, submersibly waterproof. With RF-welded seams and 19oz scrim-reinforced, tank-tough vinyl. Moreover this 40-litre version is super-light, yet takes a heap of stuff. So much so, the carry-on cops in the airport might weigh you, so pack with a light hand too.
There’s an old Samsonite press ad which pastiched airplane safety instructions, illustrating instead that in the “unlikely event of an accident”, you should climb into one of its cases. Perhaps this is a plan B.
Three point straps can also work as backpack.
Cost: €145 from Great Outdoors.
TomTom High Speed Multi-Charger
The contemporary family car has been turned into something of a mobile charging station, especially on longer journeys where multiple iThis, iThat and iTheOthers are being run simultaneously. It’s enough to make a gadget geek’s heart quicken to a pitter-pat. Or is that the rising irritation of constant swapping in and out of power-thirsty personal electronics?
TomTom has a neat solution: a three-in-one, high speed charger, with two USBs for everything from your satnav to MP3 players, as well as a 12v socket for heavier duty demands from gear like DVD players, for example.
What’s special about the TomTom charger is its “fast charge” USB slot which takes a 2.1-amp load making it ideal for kit like iPads or an iPhone, juicing-up up to four times faster, it’s claimed. And all three ports can work at the same time. So, are you there yet?
Cost:€16 from elara.ie.