Mar 31 2014

Pacapod Hastings Review - Finally… A Baby Change Bag for Him

Posted on March 31, 2014 by admin

Baby changing accessories are fast becoming the new-mums status symbol of choice. Gone are the days when the freebie Boots change bag from the Bounty Pack were readily snatched up. Once upon a time you couldn’t get your hands on these if a local baby boom was taking place, now there are dozens in store sat patiently waiting to be re-homed. It seems nowadays that mums-to-be are frantically hiding the little vouchers from their other half’s and insisting on a branded bag instead. There are some for literally every budget - from Mama Tui’s, to Pink Lining, to the jaw-droppingly gorgeous Nova Harley collection.

Our love for change bags seems to be mostly a consequence of aestheticism. We see something shiny hung over the handlebars of a fellow mums iCandy and simply have to have it. The result is that dads everywhere are having to slope off to the loos on a family day out with a baby on one arm, and a bright fuchsia bag (complete with frills and bows) on the other.

So when Pacapod got in touch to ask if I’d like to review a bag from their new unisex collection, I bit their hand off. Craig hasn’t minded Dexter’s Lara Gill change bag, but I’m sensing he isn’t quite so much looking forward to ‘bum duties’ in public with Mini Madam’s Nova Harley Manhattan (although I am!!!).

I requested the Pacapod Hastings and haven’t been disappointed. This bag works on so many levels I’m not quite sure where to start.

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The Pacapod range was inspired by clothes designer and mum Jacqueline Waggett. What sets these bags apart from others on the market is their unique 3-in-1 baby organising system - making it a truly practical choice for parents. You have the obligatory ‘parent pocket’ for keys, phone and wallet, but the central component is reserved purely for baby. Inside every bag is two smaller bags (pods) - one for nappy changing, and another insulated bag for feeding gear. These slot neatly inside the main compartment and are brilliant for a number of reasons:

It prevents you from cramming your change bag full of needless things
You won’t have to fish around for the essentials as they’re all neatly squirreled away inside each pod
You can simply take the relevant pod (and baby of course) into a changing room - rather than the entire bag
The pods are detachable so can be transferred from bag to bag if you wish

From the front-view the Hastings bag resembles a retro satchel thanks to its leather buckle. It’s in a stylish pinstripe design which is very daddy-friendly yet still looks great for mum too. There’s a generous pocket on the front that has popper fastenings - this is the ‘parent pouch’ alluded to above. Inside are two elasticated pouches for further ‘sorting’ of your bits. I would have preferred this to be zipped to prevent pickpockets but this is personal preference only (it’s definitely Dexter-proof in any case!). 045

The main compartment is zipped and is positively tardis-like. A casual observer might wrongly dismiss the bag as being too small from its outer dimensions but there really is room enough in here to stow away all your essentials - including toys and a change of clothes - along with plenty of room for your pods.

The pods are (as mentioned above) genius. There are four elasticated pouches in the changer pod. One comfortably houses a padded changing mat, the others are labelled for wipes, sanitiser and nappies. Once zipped up, the pod shrinks to dinky proportions and has its own carry handle for quick changes.

Pacapod Change Pod

The feeding pouch is fully thermo-insulated and plenty big enough for 3 bottles, or a bottle, some food and your babies weaning paraphernalia.

The best bit about the Hastings by far however is it’s versatility. Not only is there a top handle for easy hanging off a restaurant chair (or your coat hooks at home), there are also traditional rucksack-style straps which mean you can sling it over one, or both, shoulders (making it part messenger, part rucksack). Add to this the fabulous pram attachment clips and you can pop it on the back of your buggy regardless of whether your pushchair sports a single handlebar, or two. The top loading style also means all the essentials are easy to get to at all times.

Pacapod Hastings

As expected, Craig loves this change bag. The muted colours, size and ease of wearing makes it his bag of choice and he regularly takes it out when he’s having daddy-time with Dexter. It’s also plenty big enough for all his man-bits and will even take a laptop when it’s no longer needed for the children. For £60 it’s a bit of a bargain in my eyes. For a quality bag with so many uses beyond baby, it really is the perfect man-bag for the metro-sexual man.

As for me… I love it for quick trips to the shops and really like the way it hangs so comfortably over my buggy handles. It looks so far removed from a traditional change bag, that I’m often asked where Dexter’s nappies are! I will admit however that I’m still having a love affair with my Nova Harley Manhattan and this is as steamy and passionate as ever. Given we’re about to have two babies under two, this is the perfect compromise. My Manhattan will live on the handlebars, and the Pacapod will ride happily in the buggy basket. Win win.

If you’d like to know more about Pacapod, off you toddle to the website, or you can follow them on Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest for the latest collections and offers.

Disclaimer: I was sent this little fella for the purposes of this review. Any subsequent gushing is my all my own work (I haven’t been bribed or instructed what to write).

Mar 23 2014

Memory-Making: Truprint Canvas Review

Posted on March 23, 2014 by admin

Dexter is set to be a big brother very soon, and then I’ll have two babies to spoil, nurture, worry about, cry over… I honestly don’t know how I’ll cope. Given Dexter is approaching two, the need for a second set of eyes is becoming increasingly apparent. From the second he gets up in the morning, to the second the screaming stops at night, it’s hard work. He wants to help me with everything yet somehow manages to mess everything up. From ‘helping’ mummy unload the dishwasher (aka smashing-all-our-crockery) to ‘helping’ with the washing (aka change-the-setting-when-mummy’s-not-looking) I feel like I spend the entire time reprimanding him on my hands and knees.

But Dexter still has this unique ability to melt me. When I’ve said ‘No’ a little too aggressively and that bottom lip trembles, I always manage to find that little bit of forgiveness that eluded me just seconds before. His beautiful baby curls, tiny milk teeth, chubby cheeks, insistence on sucking his fingers then smearing their wetness over every surface… he’s just perfect.

But it’s very true, sometimes you need reminding.

Having canvasses dotted around the home definitely makes you appreciate the fun times. As a blogger, I’ve been lucky enough to review dozens of these, yet each delivery is as exciting as the last. There’s something really exhilarating about ripping open the packaging and seeing your grinning child twice his normal size. So naturally I was thrilled when Truprint asked me to review a canvas for them.

With 30 years in the trade, Truprint are long-time masters of printing. They’ve built a solid reputation in this time and have worked their magic in the heyday of film in the late 80s right through to today’s Instagram and Facebook prints from mobile devices. It’s true, the website could use a little updating with its tiny font and faffy menus, but this shouldn’t put you off.

For a canvas project, uploading a photo is simple and there are even pop-up tips to help you get the best out of the experience. The project screen is far easier to navigate than the homepage too with all your core options in drop downs on your left hand side. Handily, your project sub total is always displayed top left too so you can see what your creation will set you back.

Hovering over the photo, you’ll also be given the opportunity to further edit it - you can zoom in, change the effect of your image (sepia, black and white, tint etc), the brightness, enhance the colour, flip it and apply red-eye removal. It’s a very simplistic editing suite compared to some others I’ve come across, but perfectly adequate and easy-to-use.

There are some minor niggles. I opted for a sold wrap canvas rather than a gallery wrap (e.g. my canvas images would be a block colour rather than having my photo wrap around the edges). This was necessary as the image I had selected was a close-up of Dexter and I didn’t want to lose some of his head. Although my image is really bright and colourful, the solid wrap is only available in black which is kind of disappointing. It would have been nice to have picked out a colour contained within the image to make the edges less of a contrast, but hey ho.

This leads me on perfectly to my biggest tip when selecting a profile photo for canvas. If you can, try selecting an image with ample dead space around the head so you can opt for gallery wrapping - this makes for a much nicer print.

My canvas at 20″ by 24″ (approx 51cm x 61cm) is the largest size available at £69.99 which is reasonable for such a statement canvas (note that you can get much bigger canvases from competitors but this was the perfect size for us). It arrived well packaged in a matter of days. I was also pleased to see that it came with free wall fittings too which isn’t as common as you might think.

The canvas itself is nice and taut and well secured with heavy duty staples on the reverse. A quick feel around the edges revealed no lumps and bumps that could scrape paintwork (a pet hate of mine) so it was instantly ready for hanging. The colours were bright and vibrant (as per the original) and there was minimal blurring despite me picking a slightly out-of-focus photo. I love the super chunky pine frame (37mm deep) which looks so much nicer on the wall than some of the thinner frames we’ve received from rival printers in the past.

We’ve popped ours up in the lounge above where Dexter sits at the dining table. Here’s hoping it works its magic and helps us stay calm and cheerful during Dexter’s daily dinnertime tantrum!

In conclusion, I’d happily recommend Truprint if you’ve got a canvas project in mind. Naturally I’d always advise you shop around for the best deal but can it’s always worth reading reviews too as the quality really does vary from printer to printer. As for Truprint, the best way to keep informed about special offers and deals is via Facebook and Twitter and you can check out all their other photo gift ideas on their website.

Disclaimer: I received this lovely canvas free of charge in exchange for my thoughts.

Mar 14 2014

BOB Revolution SE Review (My New Baby)

Posted on March 14, 2014 by admin

Whenever I get a pushchair to review I always crack on with some serious Googling to see what others think. I don’t do this to inform my review in any way, I just like to see if there are any smart features that they’ve spotted and I haven’t. On doing this I was shocked to discover that the BOB Revolution SE hasn’t had much press here in the UK. I know it’s a pretty popular brand in the States, but for some reason us Brits just haven’t got onboard in quite the same way. I can’t for the life of me think why.

This pushchair has gone down a storm here - especially with Craig. It’s a very sophisticated pushchair with the best steering we’ve come across to date. Of course, with a new baby on the way we did have our reservations about whether it could serve us well given we’ll need a twin for a few months - but it’s now become our sole singlet for getting Dexter from A to B and we can’t imagine life without it.

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So what has made us sell our much-loved Graco Evo, and super lightweight Maclaren XT Turbo, and join the BOB Revolution (see what I did there?)?

Look, Quality and Comfort

To kick off - it’s made from aircraft grade aluminum giving it a quality finish and making it supremely sturdy. Surprisingly it still remains super lightweight. Having said this, I can certainly still see the benefit of investing in an umbrella pop stroller for holidays (these are far easier to chuck around and check-in as luggage), but for everyday life these are more trouble than they are worth. They tip under the slightest weight of a change bag and aren’t suitable for trekking, running or off-road trips. Although admittedly, this pregnant and gym-phobic mumma isn’t likely to be competing in an Iron Woman Comp anytime soon, I can definitely appreciate everything the BOB has to offer.

It certainly looks outdoorsy. The material is water-repellant and tough-wearing, and the seat is ergonomic and incredibly well padded. The multi-position reclining seat is also far wider than conventional joggers (at 37cm it’s 2cm more than many of its rivals) but as this is positioned over the wheels rather than between, the overall width of the pushchair is not affected. This has led to us lovingly referring to it as ‘The Tank’.

BOB Revolution SE

There’s tons of room for a fidgety toddler and it’ll support weight of up to 70lbs. I’ve heard some niggles about the head height on the BOB but I have to disagree with this. The hood is big and does gather at the tip of the pushchair seat BUT there are handy pull cords to tuck these away. When the canopy is fully extended it provides great sun coverage and there are additional accessories available to improve this even further. The parent window is also really generous (and has a little flap to block out the sun when you’re satisfied baby is happy), there’s even a gap between the pushchair head rest and frame that can be left exposed to allow air circulation, or sealed up when it’s windy - it’s all in the detail with this bad boy.

BOB Revolution Canopy

Off-roading

This is where the BOB Revolution SE comes into its own. Its front swivel wheel is incredibly sensitive and you can happily steer one-handed around crowds or tight corners. This is also lockable should you want to rock baby to sleep, jog in a straight line or take your workout to tougher terrain. This wheel is also trackable so you can ensure it remains at a constant straight line - just use the tracking knob when the wheel is in the locked position to correct it if it should start to veer off to the left or right. This went down well with Craig as it’s something else to fiddle with.

BOB Revolution SE Front Wheel

The adjustable suspension system is also pretty special. It remains super firm on roads and other even surfaces, but can also comfortably absorb the impact of rough terrain. Craig’s played with this in the fields surrounding our home and reports that Dexter appears to be having a comfortable ride.

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The handle bars are well padded with plenty of chunky foam. Okay, it has a bar rather than separate handles (less great for handbags and shopping) - but it does mean it’s nice and comfy for long walks, and offers great control if you begin to sweat. While the handle bar is not height adjustable, it is a comfortable height for the majority of people (Craig is 6ft 3 and finds it the comfiest stroller he’s comes across). The handlebar sticks out too so tall parents won’t kick the back while taking long strides.

There’s also a big red foot-activated rear wheel parking brake that’s easy to snap on and off and feels really secure when you’re on an incline. As with most joggers, there’s also a safety wrist strap on the handlebar for further peace of mind.

BOB Revolution Brake

Obviously if you’re using a jogger off-road regularly, you’ll need to clean it. The BOB features quick-release wheels for this purpose (which is also handy for transportation if you have a smaller car boot). There are also double-sealed wheel bearings to keep out dirt and minimise resistance.

Folding and Transporting

Collapsing the BOB is easy. It features an easy two-step folding mechanism and folds down to an impressive 38″ x 24″ x 16″. If you want to see it in action, head on BOBgear UK on YouTube for instructional videos and ideas for integrating the BOB into your exercise regime.

Suitable from Birth?

Yes and no. It’s not advised to run with any child until around 6 months, or until they can support their own head with ease. You should also be very cautious when taking tiny tiddlers out on rough terrain. Dexter is 22 months now so obviously this isn’t a problem but I would say I wouldn’t have felt comfortable physically running with him until he was 8-9 months

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Source: BOBgear.couk (a stock photo as we haven’t bought the adapters yet)

This doesn’t stop you using your BOB Revolution from birth though. Car seat adapters are available for £20 and support all BRITAX and BOB Gear car seats (I’ve spotted the US version supports more brands so hopefully that capability is soon to be available here). When using a car seat, baby will be parent facing and at a great height thanks to the large chassis and wheels. Impressively, you can still use the integrated sun canopy and parent window when using a car seat - I haven’t come across any other pushchair that can do this.

Anything else?

The basket is very generous for a three wheeler. Admittedly we’ve been spoilt with the Graco Evo which boasts a huge basket, but the BOB is more than fit for purpose.
There’s additional storage within the seat itself with two mesh pockets on either side of your child, and a further mini pocket on the back of the seat.

BOB Revolution Storage

There are tons of extras available including snack trays, cup holders and the most awesome little parent console that sits atop the handlebars. This is typical of pushchairs and travel systems in the BRITAX family.
As with all BRITAX strollers, there’s also a five point harness which considered the safest harness system available.

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Any Cons?

Of course. No pushchair is perfect and you have to thoroughly road-test them before committing to buy. The BOB Revolution SE won’t be for everyone but it is right for us.

The only thing I’d point out before you rush to buy, is that it’s a big boy. With it’s super generous proportions and (albeit detachable) big wheels, you couldn’t park in your hallway and move around it comfortably. We have under-the-stairs storage in our home which means we can pop it out of the way, but if you’re limited on space, this could put you off. It’s also well worth ensuring you can get it in your car boot. We have a 5 door Ford Focus and it fits in if you take off one wheel every time you pop it in - this doesn’t bother us, but may be problematic for others.

Price and Availability

Tellingly, the BOB Revolution SE is only available to buy at selected retailers - mostly selected Mothercare stores. Online, there are a few different places to go, but the stockists aren’t all familiar to me. This is perhaps why you won’t see many, if any, out and about in your local town centre.

BOB Revolution Colourways

It has an RRP of £405 but of course, there are deals available if you shop around. This puts it firmly in the higher-end bracket of strollers on the market, seconded only by the Bugaboos, Stokkes, Quinnys and OBabys of this world. In my opinion it’s worth every penny. Having owned a Quinny, OBaby, Graco, and iCandy before now, it beats the hell out of them.

There are 5 different colourways to choose from too - navy, plum, red, orange and black. Mine is black but most of the fabric is actually grey and this will be the case whichever colour you opt for. I actually love the fact it’s two tone but it’s worth checking out the website before deciding.

There we go! I hope you’ve find this review helpful and I’m more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Hope to see more of you wheeling one of these babies around soon! For a full spec, you can pop on over to BobGear.co.uk, or ask the guys at BRITAX on Twitter or Facebook.

Disclaimer: I’m a BRITAX Mumbassador which is why I’ve received my gorgeous BOB Revolution SE in exchange for my thoughts. I raved on a little but for very good reason