Strathspey 10x42 Waterproof Binoculars Review

Strathspey maufacture their binoculars based on 2 things. These are quality and value. After field-testing their 10x42 waterproof binoculars, I can easily say that they are amazing value for money. They retail for £79.99, which is a bargain when you think about it. Personally, these binoculars, rival other binoculars, which cost at least twice as much.

It arrived in a standard cardboard box, which included the binoculars itself, a bag/holster to carry it, a lens cloth, a neck starp, and some instructions. All the accessories are well designed, and they look like they should last for years of use.




The binoculars weigh 0.6kg, which feels quite heavy when used for long periods, but for normal use, they feel fantastic in hand. They're very comfortable, and feel very well balanced. You can easily reach all the neccessary parts like the focusing wheel, which is a big bonus for people with smaller hands. Under the barrels, there are some thumb rests, which make using the binoculars even more comfortable. The binoculars are too big to carry in a pocket or handbag, but they'll be fine in a rucksack, or hanging around your neck with the included neck strap. The neck strap is well designed, and has also been padded, so there's no strain on your neck when in use.






It's very clear in the instructions, on how to set up the binoculars for your eyes. With the other binoculars I've used, the eyecup has been held right back close to my eyes, but with these binoculars, I have to hold them a bit more forward to get a clear picture, and get a comfortable hold. Because the binoculars are being held a bit more forward, I have to hold the two barrels a bit closer together, than what I do with my other binoculars. But after getting used to this new position, they feel like a dream to use, and I always get a nice circle with no dark shadows. The field of view is reasonably good (6.1 degrees),  which is 107m at 1000m. The rubber eye cups can either be positioned up or down. When down, it's meant to be used with glasses, and when up, it should be used without glasses. I don't wear glasses, but I prefer using the binoculars with the eye cups down.

When I first used the binocualrs, the centre focusing wheel was a bit stiff, but after using the binoculars for a couple of days, the focusing wheel soon loosened up, and now it's very easy to use. To change from focusing on a near object to focusing on a further one, it does require about 1 and a half turns. This means it's very fast and easy to focus on something far staright after focusing on something near.



These binoculars have a magnification of 10x. This magnification allows you to see objects which are quite far away, while still having a good brightness and detail. The reason for the good brightness and detail, is that the large (42mm) lens collects lot of light. The image quality is fantastic, with no shadows, and nearly no chromatic aberration at all. The colours of objects through the lens look very well, and they are very similar to the colours in real life.

These binoculars have watertight seals, and are nitrogen filled, so they are waterproof and the nitrogen stops condensation forming on the lens. The optics are level IV and the prisms are BAK-4 so these binoculars are very high quality and are very resonably priced. The rubber body isn't sticky so it doesn't attract and collect dust particles so the binoculars will always, look nice and clean.

Overall, these binoculars, are very cheap for what they are. People spend so much more for binoculars with the same quality. For the price of £80, you are getting a real bargain. Strathspey say that their binoculars are good quality and good value, and after writing this review I can conclude, that this binocular, fits into both of these categories.

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True Utility MiniDriver Review

The MiniDriver from True Utility is a screwdriver that lives on your keyring. It's made out of Chromium plated steel. It contains 4 screwdriver head on 2 bits. There's a small and large Phillips head, and a small and large flat head screwdriver. The first bit is at the front of the driver, but to access the second bit, you must remove the quick release clip. The second bit is hidden in the shaft of the driver. On the main body there are some anti slip grooves which help you get more grip. If you want more grip, there are 2 notches at the top of the shaft, and you can use a 2 pence or something similar to get more torque. It measures 55mm in length without the clip, and 75mm with the clip. It measures 10mm in diameter.

True Utility SporKnife Review

SporKnife - The name says exactly what this product is. It's a spoon, a fork, and a knife all in one!




The SporKnife is made entirely out of stainless steel. When you open it up, it locks into place with a linear lock. For easy and convenient carry, there's a clip on the rear so you can attach it to your bag or belt loop. You get a generously sized spoon,
which has a fork tip at the front and a slightly serrated edge on one side. The finish on this product is very good, and it looks, and feels very high quality. You can easily open it up one handed. It can't open up too far, because there's a little peg there which stops the spoon form swivelling right round. When the SporKinfe is closed, the serrated edge is supported by a plastic edge, which also stops the spoon from swivelling around in the other direction.

True Utility CashStash Review

The CashStash from True Utility is a Keyring Emergency Cash Holder. It arrived in a large, waterproof box (can be bought separately), which can be used to hold a number of different things.




It is made out of aircraft grade aluminium, and is a lot smaller than your house key. It measures 45mm high by 15 mm in diameter. The capsule is fully waterproof because it has an O-ring near the head. If you carry this on your keyring, there's a high chance that no one will notice it because it's so small. The finish on it is amazing, and the threads join together perfectly. Included in the capsule is a cash slip, which holds your money in shape.




To put the money in the capsule you must bend your note in half on the long edge twice, and then you'll have a long thin strip of money. Put the narrow edge through the cash slip, and start turning the note around it. Place the rolled up note in the capsule, and screw it tight.

SOG Dark Energy Flashlight Review

It's nice to see a company such as SOG who specialise in Knives and Multi tools, attempting to make a different product. The Dark Energy from SOG is a CR123 powered flashlight. I'm proud to say that this flashlight follows SOG's usual build quality. The build quality is perfect.

 




The flashlight arrived in a lovely gift box which included, the flashlight, a battery, and a pocket clip. The flashlight measures 3.8"/9.65cm in length, and it weights 3oz/85.05g. The body is made fully out of black hard anodized aluminium. When held in hand, you instantly feel the very aggressive knurling on the body. It provides a good grip, and makes it comfortable to hold. Near the tailcap there's a hexagonal ring that acts as an anti-roll function. Personally I see this mostly as a design function, as the ring is too small, to act as a proper anti-roll ring. The head is quite a bit larger than the rest of the body, and it holds a quite large orange-peel reflector. The deep reflector gives a decent throw, while the orange-peel spreads a bit of light, so it lights up a large area. So with this reflector you get the best of both worlds. A included pocket clip screws on to the body in front of the hexagonal ring. The tailcap is very tight to the body, so this light wont randomly fall off of a piece of clothing. The knurling on the head twirls in one direction, which gives a nice look to the torch, and it fells very comfortable. The tailcap goes back further than the switch, therefore the light can easily tailstand. At the head, there's a tactical bezel which gives a cool beam shape, while it still can be used as a tactical weapon if needed. Only the tailcap screws off, and it reveals a non-anodized thread and the battery tube. The Cr123 battery fits snuggly in the tube, and it doesn't rattle about in the flashlight. The flashlight is water resistant to 1 meter for 30 minutes



The light does have momentary on, and you use the momentary function to change from one mode to another. You press the button fully once to enter the high mode, where the light gives out 214 lumens out of the Cree XPG R5 LED. Then you press the switch momentary to change into low mode (40%), and then press the switch once again to enter the tactical strobe mode. The battery lasts for 80 minutes on high, and 180 minutes on low.

Overall, this is a very nice, tactical everyday carry flashlight. The tactical strobe, and the scalloped bezel, make this ideal for someone who needs a small tactical flashlight.

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SOG Sliptron Knife Review

The Sliptron from SOG is stated as an Everyday Carry Knife. It is a folding knife, but it doesn't have a lock. Instead it has a slip joint locking mechanism. SOG say this means that the knife only closes when you want it to. It all depends on the amount of pressure you put on the blade. In testing, I found that the lock worked exceptionally well. It never closed unexpectedly. I was a bit unsure about this locking mechanism, but it locks in place with a satisfying click, and closes only when needed.

When closed the knife measures 3.9"/9.91cm, and when opened it measures 6.9"/17.53cm. It weighs 2.9oz/82.21g, and has a blade length of 3"/7.62cm. The knife has a Satin finish. There's also a black version available.

The knife feels very comfortable in hand, and fits perfectly. There's a groove near the  joint of the handle and blade where your index finger sits comfortably. This make using the knife a joy, and my hand never hurts after using the knife for a long period of time. There's a lanyard hole at the end of the handles, and there's an unique design engraved into the handle. The handle is made out of stainless steel, and I did find that the handles does scratch when left in the pocket with other items. The blade is made out of 8CR13MOV Steel, which has a hardness of RC. 56-58. The blade is shaped as a clip point which has a straight cut leading down the top edge to the tip of the blade. The blade is easy to sharpen, and it holds its sharpness very well. I find it nearly impossible to open the blade one handed, but it opens very easily when opened two handed.

 

SOG Powerlock V-Cutter S62 Multi Tool Review

"As one of the original multi-tool manufacturers, we have learned quite a bit over the years. Like how to make the toughest tools with patented gear driven Compound Leverage™ mechanisms. You have let us know, that quick access is a must. Just flip our tools out with one hand and see for yourself how well we listened. Versatility in the field is a necessity and heavy duty construction provides access. There is also a myriad of features that you might not readily see, like our saws cut faster and our files shave better. And while you are at it check out the new V-Cutter. Does all this make sense? You bet, which is why leading military forces choose SOG!"

This quote was taken from the SOG website. After using the Powerlock V-Cutter/ S62 for a few weeks, I'm very proud to say that this multi tool does exactly what SOG says it would do.  




The specifications are very impressive for a multi tool, because it includes a few tools, that you wouldn't find on most multi tools e.g the 1/4 inch socket.

• 1/2 serrated 3" blade


• 3" double-tooth wood saw


• 3 sided 3" File


• V-Cutter


• 1/4" Drive


• Wire Crimper


• Bolt grip Channel in the plier head


• Bottle Opener/Medium sized Flat head screwdriver


• Can opener/Small sized flat head screwdriver


• Hard Wire Cutters


• Large flat head screwdriver


• Phillips screwdriver


• Awl


• Lanyard

When closed, it measures 4.6"/11.68cm in length, and when open it measure 7"/17.78cm in length. It weighs 9.6oz/272.16g, which isn't that heavy, but it does give the tool a satisfying feel in hand. The handle is made out of 460 polished stainless steel, which has a hardness of RC. 51-53.

My multi tool came with the nylon sheath, but there's a leather sheath also available. The nylon sheath is made to a very high standard, and can be clipped to your belt or clipped to a pocket. The sheath closes with the hook and loop measured, which is held in place with Velcro.

As soon as I pulled it out of it's package, I instantly realised that this tool is made to a very high standard. It is a very sturdy and solid tool when used, and doesn't feel like it's going to give up on me anytime soon. When I first opened the tool, I realised that the compound leverage is an amazing design. The tool opened very easily with no hassle, and after a bit of practice, can be opened with one hand with a flick of the wrist. The pliers can be used as a pair of regular pliers, or as needlenose pliers if space is an issue. The Compound Leverage technology means that you generate twice the squeezing power than other pliers, when your applying the same force on the handles. The wire cutters comfortably cut through wire coat hangers. So far, the pliers show no sign of wear and tear. The pliers close perfectly, with no gap inbetween the two sides. Also, on the frame there's an engraved ruler, and the name of the tool. These engraving are deep and clear, and they look really good.

When the components are fully opened, they're held in place with a very simple, but very effective lock. The lock has never failed so far, and it doesn't look like it ever will. To close the tools, you press one side of the lock and the close the tools.

The knife blade is 3" long and is half serrated. I personally love this as you get the best of both worlds in 1 blade. The serrated part makes short work of cutting rope and opening boxes, while you can use the smooth part for nearly everything else.

The double-toothed saw on the Powerlock, is definitely the best saw on any multi tool. It makes short work of anything you throw at it. It never jammed when I tested it on a couple of branches.

The file has 3 sides, which all to exceptionally well at their jobs. They can cut, smooth or finish off a piece of metal.

All of the other smaller tools performed as good as their big brothers. None of them failed when I tested them all individually.

One thing I love about this tool, is that you can disassemble the tool, and swap any of the tools with other ones, but just make sure that the new tools are the same thickness as the old ones. This sets this tool apart from all the other tools, from other manufacturers. All that is required to disassemble this tool is a Allen key.

If you take care of this product, it should easily last you a lifetime. That's all it needs is a bit of oiling and keeping it clean. One thing that I didn't like on this tool, is the metal covers that cover the tools, when closed. Sometimes, when i open these covers they accidentally come off, and are a pain to put back on. You either love these covers or hate them If you don't like them they can easily be removed. Overall this is an amazing product, that has only  fault in my opinion (but this is me being fussy). This tool might be a bit more expensive than other tools, but it's definitely worth it. you will not be disappointed!

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Coast EAL15 Lantern Review

It's not only flashlights, and head torches that Coast manufacture, but they also manufacture an array of lanterns. Here, I have the review of the EAL15 lantern which has 6 different modes, to suit everybody's needs.

As soon as you pick the lantern up, you can feel the reassuring weight, which tells you this is a high quality lantern that's not going to break any time soon. The body is mainly made out of plastic, and the plastic's been covered with strips of aluminium which make the lantern look and feel more expensive. The handle is made out of plastic and has a built-in swivelling hook, so you can hang the lantern off of a small branch, or some rope. Around the LED's there's a clear plastic casing, and surrounding this casing are metal bars, which should protect the lantern if it falls. When standing, the lantern measures 7.5in/19cm tall,  and the lantern has a weight of 16oz/453.5g.

The lantern is powered off of 4 C batteries (not included), which are placed at the bottom of the lantern. To put the batteries in, you must screw the base off and then put the batteries in.  When you screw the base back on, it locks in place with a very satisfying click. The lantern has 5 different modes, which are all controlled off of one switch, which is located at the top of the lantern. These 5 modes are Full Power-Medium Power-Energy Saving-Red-Red (flashing). To turn the light off you must cycle through the modes, and the off mode is after the flashing red mode. On full power the light gives out 60 lumens, and the lantern has a maximum runtime of 50 hours.

This flashlight is a real bargain if you think about it. You get amazing, reassuring build quality, and a good output of light for under £20. You can buy the lantern from amazon at

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Coast HL4 Dual Head Torch Review

The HL4 from Coast is an etremely good value for money. It only costs only £23. For this price you get a lot of features, which should be found only in higher priced lights. This torch combines brightness, long battery life, and low cost all in one light.

The head torch has two modes: the standard 5 white LED's, or a 1 red LED mode. These two modes are independantly controlled from two different switches, which makes choosing the desired mode a lot easier. The red LED becomes usefull when you need only a low amount of light and you want to preserve your nightvision. The light is powered off of 3xAAA batteries, which are easily found all over the world. For its price, the luight gives out an astonishing 144 lumens, which distrubeutes evenly over a large area. The light reaches out to 57m, and the batteries last for 6 hours and 15 minutes. The light is also impact resistant to 1 meter, and water resistant, so it can be used in any weather. The light also features a hinged beam adjustment which makes it easy to position the beam where you want it. Including batteries, the light ways 125g/4.4oz. The straps are adjustable so its very easy to match the light to your head size.

Overall, this is an amazing light and I still can't belive its price. If your after a cheap head torch, that is capable of lighting up your whole garden, this is the light for you. I can promise you, that you won't be dissapointed.

Coast HL4 Dual Head Torch Review

The HL4 from Coast is an etremely good value for money headlight. It only costs £23. For this price you get a lot of features, which should be found only in higher priced lights. This torch combines brightness, long battery life, and low cost all in one light.

The head torch has two modes: the standard 5 white LED's, or a 1 red LED mode. These two modes are independantly controlled from two different switches, which makes choosing the desired mode a lot easier. The red LED becomes useful when you need only a low amount of light and you want to preserve your nightvision. The light is powered off of 3xAAA batteries, which are easily found all over the world. For its price, the light gives out an astonishing 144 lumens, which distrubeutes evenly over a large area. The light reaches out to 57m, and the batteries last for 6 hours and 15 minutes. The light is also impact resistant to 1 meter, and water resistant, so it can be used in any weather. The light also features a hinged beam adjustment which makes it easy to position the beam where you want it. Including batteries, the light ways 125g/4.4oz. The straps are adjustable so its very easy to match the light to your head size.

Overall, this is an amazing light and I still can't belive its price. If your after a cheap head torch, that is capable of lighting up your whole garden, this is the light for you. I can promise you, that you won't be dissapointed. You can buy it from Amazon at coast hl4

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Coast HP7 Flashlight Review (Similar to Led Lenser P7)

Coast Products design and manufacture reasonably priced LED flashlights. The HP in HP7 stands for High Performance, and this flashlights matches up to its name by giving out 251 lumens on high, which shines out to 196m. It lasts a very surprising 5 hours and 45 minutes off of 4 ordinary AAA batteries. It also has a low mode that gives out 58 lumens. In low mode, the battery lasts for 10h, while shining out to 66m.

The HP7's body is made out of anodized aluminium, and it also features a rubber tailcap switch, a lanyard hole, and a spot to flood focusing head. Due to the spot to flood head, this light is a bit larger than other flashlights on the market. It measures about 150mm in length, the body diameter is about 32mm, and the head diameter is about 38mm. Even though of its larger size, the flashlight feels amazing in hand. The light is also impact resistant, and water resistant to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The Coast HP7 also has what Coast call a "Pure Beam FOcusing Optic", which has a fingertip speed focus adjustment. This means that the light gives a even disribution of light in flood mode, and in spot mode, it gives an extremely bright hotspot, with a dimmer surrounding. The fingertip speed focus adjustment, means that the light can go from spot to flood without hassle. The head also can lock in place when you find your desired position. I love the flood mode, where there are no shadows at all, and the light covers a very large diameter.

The flashlight has momentary on, and you can cycle through the two modes very easily, and then push the switcg a little harder to select the mode you want. The tailswitch is protected by the tailcap, which means that this light can easily tailstand. A holster is included in the set, as well as some batteries, so the flashlightn is ready to use out of the box. All Coast products are also backed with a 5 year guarantee.

This flashlight is amazing value for money, and has a lot of the features of some more expensive lights. If your after an extremely good value for money flashlight which can change from spot to flood with no problem, this is the light for you.
You can buy the flashlight from Amazon at
coast hp7

 

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