There’s been a global pandemic going on for quite some time now and with everything still under lockdown. Everything still up in the air regarding international travel, what better time to stay in the country? A staycation if you will! While everyone dreams of going abroad and checking out lovely beaches. There’s no better time to check out the great outdoors here in the UK and why not do it with a range of amazing tech to make your time worthwhile?

From helping you cook outdoors, playing with friends to keeping your precious items safe, we’ve got you covered. Furthermore, you know it’s going to be cool, because it’s us, here at How To Kill An Hour letting you know about all this stuff! So without further adieu, here is all the Staycation gadgets for 2021! (Keep an eye on howtokillanhour.com too as there may just be some other cool tech coming soon too)

Staycation 2021

Here are the best gadgets for a staycation in 2021:

Moon Ball and Lawn Darts

First up is something to play with all the family and friends! From giant outdoor toy brands, Waboba and Stomp Rocket.

The Moon Ball is a fun for both adults and kids. It’s a HUGE bouncy ball, now we mean that it’s got a HUGE bounce on it. The ball itself will fit in your hands easily. It’s called the Moon Ball and we think it’s because it could reach the moon! (Maybe). While it is just a small bouncy ball, it doesn’t make it any less fun as it’s rather addictive! It even makes a ‘pop’ sound when it hits the ground and bounces up to 100 feet! (Buy)

 

 

 

 

Feel like you are an engineer or an astronaut with the Stomp Rocket. Designed by Aeronautical Engineers the Stunt Planes include three planes. The Looper makes giant loops; the Glider does tricks and glides over 100 feet; and Wild Cat flips, turns and soars. As you play you’ll start to learn about trajectory by changing the angle of the launch. Furthermore you’ll learn about force by stomping harder or softer, while you’ll also learn about aerodynamics by launching with or without wind. (Buy)

Master Lock Biometric Padlock

The Master Lock Biometric lock is amazing as it’s just like Touch ID! It can save up to 10 different fingerprints and allow you to unlock the lock with just a fingerprint! It is really easy to set up and will allow for 2 primary users and 8 different guests. While first time users will need to unlock the lock using directional system before any fingerprints may be stored or deleted. So now there is no need to worry about losing keys or getting keys cut for other people! (Buy)

Master Lock 5900 Series Portable Safe

You want to keep all your stuff safe when you are out camping right? Why not keep them in an actual safe! Yes one that’s ultra portable and an actual safe! That’s where the Master Lock 5900 Series Portable Safe comes in to play!

It is a literal safe, a handheld fortress which is also shock absorbant and water resistant. Protecting your valuables from theft and damage. Whether it’s your phone, your camera, keys, cash or even jewelry it will be safe inside this safe! You can even keep it in a discreet area of your camper van, tent or hotel before you set off for the day and use it as a regular safe! (Buy)

Tishoo

Pollen season is creeping in and those suffering from hayfever are going to need to stock up on tissues very soon! So why not try out the new style of trendy recyclable tubes, called tishoo! They’re designed to fit in standard cup holders, pushchair cup holders, in backpack side pockets, bike bottle holders, theses are great for any allergy sufferer.

They’re rather well designed too and come in blue floral, tropical leaves, mono waves or red chevrons. Each tube has 40 highly absorbent, 4 ply sheets, which are soft and gentle. Even on irritated skin. The tubes are paper based and 100% recyclable and are easily reusable. Keep an empty tube for change or even a great way to store used face masks. (Buy)

 

Espresso Display

These monitors are the world’s thinest portable monitors at 5.4mm thick and are ideal for on the go creatives. The screen size is 15.6″ or 13/3″ and come with a single USC-C lead. It is a portable touchscreen monitor with a high-quality anodised aluminium design.

The monitor has a dual layer glass for reduced thickness, superior colour rane and a much smoother touch experience. It is highly portable as it is only 900g and is compatible with PC, Mac, Android 6.0+, Chrome OS and Linux. (Buy)

Item finder

If you ever find yourself losing something, don’t you wish you could find out where you last had it? This is where the Chipolo item finder will help you! It is a tiny bluetooth item finder to attach all of your essentials to it. Such as your keys, wallet, luggage or even a bag! The Ocean Edition of the Chipolo is made from recycled materials which are recovered from the ocean. Such as fishing nets, trawles and ropes. As well as cleaning up the ocean, Chipolo will pledge $1 from to the non-profit organisation Oceanic Global to support ocean clean up efforts. (Buy)

 

MEATER Plus

BBQ season is right around the corner and the MEATER Plus is here to make cooking safe! Take the guess work out of cooking with it and make perfect meat every time.

MEATER Plus is a simple to set up and simple to use, there are no wires, no fuss meat thermometer with a guided cook system Therefore ensuring a tasty succulent result every time.

You can even connect your MEATER Plus to any smartphone, so why not pass off the meat checking off to a friend whilst you go to the toilet or go to get the drinks for your guests? MEATER Plus will provide you with estimated cooking times, monitors the meat and sends alerts to your device. Furthermore it will let you know when your meat is cooked to perfection!

The MEATER will allow you to never burn and waste meat every again, whether you are cooking beef, fish, lamb or pork. Be safe and never undercook meat again and get food poisoning. (Buy)

Rambo Shopping Bag

Rad Union are making the trolley cool. It is stylish and sustainable. Not forgetting practical. Use it on the weekly shop and make shopping bags obsolete. They have teamed up with up and coming artists to make bags for it’s bold trolleys. Each trolley is customisable with a choice of bg designs, frame colours and wheel colours. So therefore you can make your trolley/bag truly yours!

Rad Union Trollies also feature hooks so they can be clipped onto a shopping trolley and pushed around with ease, before loading at the checkout. They have strong wheels and a lightweigh frame so it can be easily folded when not in use. The trolley can hold up to 35L and 20kg in weight. Better yet they are made with recycled sustainable and biodegradable packaging!

(Buy – Direct from Rad Union)

Matador NanoDry Large Shower Towel

This towel is incredible it is both super absorbent and quick drying, perfect for a staycation. It is an ultra light shower size travel towel with antimicrobial finish so that it stays fresher for longer.

Made from Nanofibre it is 2.3times lighter than an average microfibre travel towel and can absorb 2.3x its own weight in water. Easily hang it up to dry with it’s snap loop attachment. Whether you’re ready to pack and go, you can stow your travel in it’s silicone travel case with carabiner. Meaning you can save space in your other luggage. It is also machine washable! (Buy – Bear & Bear)

 

TomTom Go Camper

Travelling via camper van would be popular this year, due to travel restrictions and 2 week in quarantine and expensive accomodation. While those are all rules, camping has become more interesting to a lot of the public. Many Brits are using caravans and campervans to holiday in the UK.

Crucial for a successful trip, portable navigation devices are among the most popular accessories for campers. They differ from their counterparts for normal vehicles as they require special requirements which need to be taken into account. They also offer relevant information such as rest areas and nearest campsites.

Just in time for staycation season, the guys over at Tom Tom and ACSI, Europes leading campsite expert have released a collection of more than 9,000 points of interest for the TomTom GO Camper sat nav to help many campers plan their staycation this year!  (Buy)

Fucite SuperCoil 3-in-1 Mag Cable

The Fucite SuperCoil 3-in-1 magnetic phone charger cable features super strong magnets which snap together. Therefore you can snap the cable into many different shapes and sizes. Allowing it for ease of use in difficult situations or make it easy to store. Perfect for home, office and on the road. It has 1M lengthand can extend or retract as much is necessary.

The cable can provide 3A charging and data transfer. It has 3 different tips, USB C, Micro USB and Lightning connection. Making it compatible with most tech, a bright LED lets users know when the cable is powered. The cable is made from a ultra-durable flexible material which users can snap together, re-charge and charge over and over again. While it has a 7000+ plug lifespan and a 10,000+ bend lifespan.

(Buy)

Snore Mask From Beurer

Who knew a snore mask could be packed full of tech! Well now the innovative Beurer Snore Mask is a soft, comfortable eye mask that can be worn in comfort. It will record noises and structure borne vibrations. It will detect your snoring and deliver a gentle pulsation to encourage you to change position, opening the airwaves and stop you from snoring.

Snoring can be because of a number of reasons such as sleep apnoea, position, deprivation nasal or airway problems, alcohol consumption. So the Beurer Snore Mask will help you identify the reason making a long-term solution possible.

The Beurer Snore Mask will record data as you sleep and will work with the Beurer SleepQuier app. Helping you to monitor your sleep and snoring behaviour. Battery operated, it charges via a USB cable, so you can easily charge it during the day. (Buy)

Extra Mentions

We didn’t quite get to try everything out, so here are some extra mentions, that you may enjoy:

Mophie Powerstation XL + Charging Pad

With the Powerstation XL, you can effortlessly charge your Qi enabled devices anywhere. Making it perfect for on the road charging. Charge your Qi-Enabled iPhone or Airpods on the charging surface to charge wirelessly, simply with the push of a button. While you can use the 18W USB-C PD port to charge your iPhone the fastest way possible.

(Buy – From Zagg)

 

 

 

 

While the charging pad has fast charge compatibility so when you get to your destination simply plug in the wireless charging pad and charge compatible wireless accessories quickly. Simply by placing them down on the pad! The premium finish adds style wherever you place it!

(Buy)

Time Porter

This is a nifty little gadget which will help to keep your Apple Watch both charged and safe. It doubles up as a case and a stand, making it perfect for on the road travelling. It has a neatly designed silicone lined case. Which holds the magnetic charging disk, power adapter and extra bands. The built in spool will neatly manage the extra cable while charging. (Buy)

 

 

Joseph Joseph Uni-tool 5-in-1 Kitchen Utensil

This little device is perfect for those looking to go on the road this year. It saves so much space the luggage as it is 5 utensils in 1! A slotted spoon, turned, cutting tool, solid spoon and spatula!

(Buy)

HydraPak 8L Water Storage

The HydraPak 8L Water Storage container is a huge water container at 8L. It is perfect for those on a staycation and even better for the campers in our lives. HydraPak XL can be used to carry around or water for base camp. It has a wide-mouth plug and play cap for easy pouring. It also comes with a dispensing tap which inserts into Plug-N-Play cap to help create a versatile dispensing solution at basecamp or you can drink straight from it.

There is a flexi handle for effortless carrying and hanging. Although it can also free stand with dual baffles for stability. It is built from waterproof TPU film laminate making it very durable and versatile, which can be wiped clean.

(Buy)

 

 

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The Mercedes GLA is dynamic and proportional yet has incredible functions that you wouldn’t expect from an SUV. It really is the modern SUV. Sportniess, high class and strong bold power that you expect from an SUV.

Design

The GLA is bold and powerful and the progressive design gives the compact SUV of the Mercedes GLA some dynamism and elegance. Whilst having an emphasis on surfaces. It has powerful and propotional lines giving it this big and powerful aura. Coupled with a panoramic sliding sunroof to give the interior an airy and spacious feel.

The interior is beautiful with a sense of space that is emphasized by the panoramic sunroof and the high-tech features bring a sense of sportiness to it. Making it feel very very modern as the ambient lighting inside which you can adapt to your mood.

Multibeam LED Headlights that react to the traffic around them, partial main beams masks out other road users without blinding them. Whilst cornering and active light functions illuminate the field of vision so you can detect hazards sooner.

A large 10 inch display is touch sensitive and symbols make operation easier and improve concentration on the road. Whilst the media display and the instrument display are combined to make a fantastic visual widescreen cockpit.

Mercedes GLA Technology

The GLA is packed with a lot of technology that is designed to make your drive even more pleasant. The interior combines a sense of space and sportiness whilst giving it a premium high level look and feel. As a a result the compact SUV of the Mercedes GLA is now more functional than ever and always adapts to what you need.

Such as the Easy Pack tailgate allows you to open and close the boot easily and electronically with just the touch of a button. While you can also have hands free access with motion of your foot. Only on the keyless go convenience package though.

Media

On the GLA is Mercedes MBUX, Mercedes Benz User Experience Infotainment System is their own intuitive, intelligent media rack that allows you to connect with the digital world.

The MBUX functions are very intuitive to operate and are designed with convenience in mind. You can control it with the touchpad in the center console, the control buttons on the steering wheel or the multimedia touch display. Everything is intelligently interlinked ensuring that you always have access no matter what you are doing.

There is also LINGUATRONIC Voice Control. Which with the touch of the talk button on the steering wheel allows you to simply say “Hey Mercedes” and will give you access to many of the offerings from the MBUX without taking your hands off the wheel!

Augmented Reality makes it’s way to Mercedes with the Mercedes GLA. The MBUX Augmented Reality merges graphical navigation instructions with live images. So you can get your bearings in current surroundings even faster!

There is also a handy wireless charging bay for your smartphone. It remains fixed in place with the oddments tray. The MBUX also has access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto!

The intense appeal of the decidedly high-end new PEUGEOT 308 captivates you with its strength of character and dynamism.

To make every moment your moment, you can count on the innovative and practical technologies of the new PEUGEOT i-Cockpit® which enhances your onboard experience. And for driving comfort offering the best combination of efficiency and performance, allow yourself to be swept away by the range of plug-in hybrid, petrol and diesel engines.

The new 308 will be available to order in late 2021

Peugeot 308 Design

Firstly the new 308 is Peugeot’s first car to feature the brand new badge from Peugeot, combining history and modern design in a fantastic look. The design is bold and powerful with the vertical lines of the grill and the long bonnet creating a striking look. Whilst the rear end is muscular and bold with it’s aerodynamics boosted by the low profile roof. While all of this overall creates a strong athletic and streamlined look.

The headlights are ultra low profile, contemporary and hi-tech, creating quite an elegant look. They are chiseled and sleek, whilst benefiting from LED technology. Whilst they are set off by fang shaped daytime running lights along the front bumper. Rear lights are accompanied by ultra compact full LED lights with claw to claw illumination.

Inside the Peugeot 308 Hybrid

The inside of the Peugeot 308 Hybrid features Peugeot’s i-Cockpit, offering easy access to a wide range of features to the driver.

Firstly there’s a brand new heated steering wheel, which has access to all the controls. Such as radio, media, telephone and driver assistance systems. On the i-Cockpit there is also new HUD display or on the GT/premium versions a digital 3D holographic instrument panel! Furthermore for a shared experience for your passengers, the i-Cockpit has an intuitive multi window touchscreen and new virtual toggles. For things such as air conditioning, radio stations and telephone contacts.

Everything is designed with driver comfort in mind. All information is displayed to the driver in the new 10 inch display instrument panel at eye level. Which is fully customisable to the drivers needs!

The 10 inch display is highly customisable and you can have widgets and shortcuts which are very easy to use, which is very similar to a tablet is used! Virtual i-toggles are also introduced. They are arranged on the central screen which offer both aesthetic and technological benefits. The i-toggles can be customised to the air conditioning settings, telephone contacts, radio stations and launching of various apps.

On the center console an arch on the drivers side groups all of the car’s dynamic controls. It extends all the way to the dedicated smartphone charging point too! However, all of the remaining console space is accessible to the passengers.

Always Connected

The i-Cockpit has Peugeot’s advanced infotainment system which allows you to travel stress free with 3D Connected navigation with voice recognition. It has automatic TomTom map updates and also has real time traffic and danger zones thanks to TomTom Services.

Charge your smartphone wirelessly in the dedicated smartphone bay and even duplicate your apps with the wireless mirror screen function.

Comfort

You can also customise the LED ambient lighting with each driving mode, enjoy a great sound system with the FOCAL premium sound system. Whilst the Air Quality System maintains air recirculation, whilst the Clean Cabin Air treatment system on the GT version will keep the air clean! Whilst on the GT premium version as standard and as a choice on the GT Version you can get enveloping heated and multipoint massaging front seats!

Driving

The Peugeot 308 Hybrid also has a range of driving features to help you as you drive. Such as a 180 degree high definition rear view camera, a 360 degree parking assistance with four cameras (as standard on the GT Premium) and blind spot monitoring! Furthermore semi-autonomous features are also available. Such as adaptive cruise control with stop&go features and lane keeping assist!

Electric

The range of the battery inside the Peugeot 308 Hybrid is 37miles if you were to choose to go 100% electric in the 100% electric mode. What’s cool about the electric part of the car is that you can use an e-save function which allows the driver to set aside some electric energy to use when desired during your journey. The electric mode is silent and gives the driver fast acceleration with fewer vibrations.

Driving an 308 Hybrid will also save up to 40% of energy consumption subject to use and charging. There is also a reduced maintenance cost and gives 0 exhaust emissions. The electric part also has an 8-year, 100,000 mile warranty to maintain at least 70% capacity. A full charge will take less than 2 hours and driving in electric mode gives you real-time drivin information. You’ll also get to manage the battery charging or pre-programme the heating remotely thanks to the MyPeugeot app!

MyPeugeot App

From your smartphone you can remotely control your car and schedule a number of functions. Including the battery charging and programming pre-heating. You can also keep an eye on the status of your vehicle and get to see driving data, fuel and or electricity consumption, total journey time and location of the vehicle, amongst other things! Get assistance quickly and easily, manage the maintenance and service of the vehicle.

Peugeot 308 Hybrid Gallery

(Peugeot)

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We were very impressed with the first gen of the Turtle Beach Stealth so when we got our hands on the Turtle Beach Stealth 700 Gen 2’s we were very very excited! It is designed for the PS5 and PS4. It connects to the consoles with a reliable wireless connection via a mini USB transmitter.

Not only can you hear the games in crystal clear audio you can listen to your own music simultaneously without interrupting the gameplay. This is all possible through Bluetooth technology and boy does it work! When it happened to us, we were fascinated about how not only did it not allow the call or the gameplay to overpower one another. Other people in the game couldn’t hear the phone call!

The design has changed too to an all-new metal reinforced headband and has a strengthened hinge design. This brings a better durable design and re-shaped Aerofit cooling gel-infused memory foam ear cushions. This allows for a more premium comfort fit. Allowing you to sit and play for extended periods of time without getting uncomfortable. The upgraded rechargeable battery provides up to 20 hours of wireless gaming.

While a larger high sensitivity mic improves chat clarity and it is concealed in the housing whilst it is muted. Furthermore the 50mm Nanoclear speakers provide crisp accurate sound for the most intimate gaming experience. The 700 Gen 2 is also 3D Audio ready for PS5!

A larger, high-sensitivity mic in the Turtle Beach Stealth 700P Gen 2, improves chat clarity and conceals in the housing when muted, while 50mm Nanoclear™ speakers provide crisp, accurate sound for the ultimate gaming experience. The Stealth 700 Gen 2 is also Sony 3D Audio ready for PS5™.

Turtle Beach Stealth 700P Gen 2 – Specs

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We have had the Rode RodeCaster Pro in the studio for a while now and absolutely love it, it has helped especially well during the pandemic too and haven’t put a foot wrong! Now, Rode have released a Rode RodeCaster Pro Accessory Set which is a great little set to help with your recordings.

The new accessories have been designed with portability in mind and helping to create better sounding podcasts on the go. The Rode Rodecaster Pro Accessory Set includes a DC-USB1 power cable, SC9 TRRS to TRRS cable, HJA-4 headphone adaptors, and XLR-ID cable identification rings.

These accessories compliment the RodeCaster Prom very well and compliment the multiple firmware updates to the Rode RodeCaster Pro’s more advanced updates

The Rode RodeCaster Pro Accessory Set is:

DC-USB1

This is a handy power adapter for powering the Rode RodeCaster Pro on the move from any compatible usb output. Including a powerbank! While a high-power 2.4A min USB output is required for operation.

SC9

Want to connect your phone to the Rode RodeCaster Pro? You can easily do this with the SC9. It’s a high -quality 1.5m TRRS to TRRS cable. Which is allows for a reliable connection of smartphones to your device.

HJA-4

Moving on the HJA-4 is a pack of 4 high quality adapters for converting regular 3.5mm audio jacks to Rode’s RodeCaster Pro’s 1/4-inch headphone outputs.

XLR-ID 

THE XLR-ID is a simple, yes you guest it, ID ring which can be affixed to any XLR plug. Therefore making it easier to identify which XLR plug is connected to which mic! The coloured rings on the mic channels match the same input colurs on the RodeCaster Pro itself!

(Rode)

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