The claim

The Nomad 7 is one of the lightest solar charges around in relation to its output. This product is affordable and self-contained while at the same time does not negatively affect performance.

How does it work?

The sun’s energy is captured by two solar panels, which then charge any device connected via USB. The Nomad 7 also comes with a 12 Volt cigarette adapter that allows you to charge a second electronic gadget. Due to the self-contained nature of this product, there are no loose cables or leads and the pocket allows you to tuck away the device that’s charging, enabling you to easily use the Nomad 7 off the ground.

How did it work for me?

I love the outdoors; there is no better feeling than being away from the concrete jungles and into the wild. However, the obvious stumbling block that makes me come back to civilisation, besides the fact I have to earn money, is that all of my electrical gadgets and gizmos soon run out of charge. Therefore in recent years I have been a keen follower of the acceleration in Solar Chargers. The next one on the list was the Nomad 7.

Firstly before I plugged anything into it to charge, it has a great array of clips and hoops with which to attach it to anything. I have, in the past experienced solar chargers falling off my bike as I cycled along, however this Nomad 7 was never less than firmly secured. It also has a great pocket with which to put your electrical device while it charges. You may think that this is a trivial attribute, but the amount of times that I have had to perilously balance my iPhone or GPS device on unstable ground next to the Solar Charger certainly makes it worthwhile.

Moving onto the performance, however, shows a slightly different result. While it is lightweight, this does in fact damage the performance levels, and I would advise anyone with an iPhone 4 or 5 to stay away. Anytime that I tried to charge my iPhone 4 it would cut out after a few minutes. After a succession of tries I figured out that this was due to a momentary drop in input caused by a shadow being cast over the Nomad 7. One way around this would be to buy the Guide 10 battery pack and run them in tandem, however with competition so high in the Solar Charger market I advise a th

The Claim?

This camping gadget has won awards, and its claims are pretty extraordinary. Effectively a combined heat and power wood burning stove, this product will let you cook and produce electricity off grid.

How does it work?

The BioLite runs on twigs, pine cones, and any other dry vegetation you may find on a trail, although you can also use wood pellets. You can use it as a normal stove to cook on, but it also has a USB port and generator attached where you can charge phones, plug in lamps or any other small electrical devices.

How did it work for me?

Let me start by saying that this is not a budget gadget. It looks really cool out of the box, and I’m sure those keen campers will be itching to get hold of something like this, but it doesn’t come cheap at around £150. But how well will it work?

I tried it in the back garden, collecting some dry twigs and few pine cones that were knocking around. Despite being a little tricky to light, once it got going it got very hot, and it wasn’t a problem to boil some water on.

It also threw off a fair bit of heat, and I can imagine that would be useful out on a trip. But the real thing that sets this product apart is the power generator, and it really does work. It charges a phone or powers a lamp pretty well, so with this gadget you never need to be stranded with a dead phone.

It weighs in at about a kilo, and it does seem a little bulky, but then most camping stoves are. If you are a frequent camper, or just love these sorts of gadgets it really is a cool addition to your gear. Is it the most cost effective way to charge your phone on your camping trip? Probably not, but it really is much cooler than carrying a battery pack with a charger around with you.

The claim

This stylish, portable solar charger gives power to all of the world’s most popular electronic devices. It has the potential to charge an iPhone for 18 hours and a smart phone for 45 hours. Covered in a durable aluminium skin, this freeloader classic solar charge delivers great results while maintaining a pleasing aesthetic feel.

How does it work?

The Freeloader Classic involves three sections, each crucial to its performance. Firstly two solar charging panels are plugged into the central battery system in order to start harnessing the sun’s energy. These panels charge up the battery which is then able to charge electrical appliances through two USB ports. During periods of inactive use, the panels are hooked together, taking the shape of a standard phone, that can be thrown around without any worries due to the aluminium outer coating.

How did it work for me?

Due to my busy lifestyle i frequently find myself in the danger zone of battery power. I hate being out of charge no matter what the gadget is, be it missing a glimpse of a rare whale because my camera is out of battery, failing to catch the last song of my favourite music festival on video, or, much more likely it has to be said, not being able to find my way back to the campsite because my phone is out of juice. Therefore, with each of these solar chargers comes a bubble of excitement felt by all who go long periods without access to a plug socket.

The Freeloader Classic looks fantastic, the smooth aluminium finish didn’t just calm my fears over any potential damage but also gave the product a fantastic finish. The ease in which it is transforms from being a small phone shaped object to charging is great and certain gives this product the edge of it’s competitors. Another brilliant attribute that the Freeloader Classic holds is the small backlight LCD display that shows the current battery level and helps you maintain the most efficient charging methods.

As with all of the Solar Charge gadgets, the efficiency and speed of charge from the sun can be a problem. However the Freeloader Classic is certainly at the top end of the spectrum.

The claim

This rollable tumbler composter aims to cut down the time it takes the composting process to be completed by easily allowing you to mix the compost within the sphere by rolling it around. Due to the roll-ability the compost is also easily transported around your garden.

How does it work?

The Rollable Recycled CompoSphere Composting Tumbler works by easily allowing you to mix your compost throughout the process by rolling it around your garden within a ‘hamster ball’ type sphere, causing it to intensify and speed up. With gripped ridges and a flat base, the Composting Tumbler, in theory, is easily rolled and once it settles on the flat base cannot roll away.

How did it work for me?

Without any interaction, my compost heap would stay in the same state that it started in while I tended to be the one getting hot and bothered, minus the decomposing I hope. So I have often spent hours forking up my compost, in the hope that it speeds up decomposition. However this never seems to have the required effect. Therefore, when I saw the CompoSphere rollable tumbler composter, I thought I had struck composting gold.

The tumbler allowed me to mix up my compost quickly and easily, even with a brief moment of fun reminiscing over my misspent youth. Rolling this device around the garden can, not only get your children move involved with gardening and waste management, but more importantly take some strain off your shoulders. It will certainly tire them out as the more compost there is, the heavier it gets. You may even be providing the next world’s strongest man, as a full 315L CompSphere is no easy feat to move across flat gardens (nevermind slight inclines). However, regardless of the difficulties in mixing the compost after it becomes ¾ full, it is still an improvement on my previous methods. The flat bottom means it will not roll away, unless a child has left it on its side and you find it the next morning through the greenhouse!

The rolling means that, not only does it mix the compost, but also makes it easier to transport it to the required area. However I found the opening quite small and it was therefore not a speedy process emptying the tumbler.

The claim

The HotBin is not an ordinary composting bin; it speeds up the recycling process through hot aerobic measures that enables you to have rich compost within 90 days no matter the season. It also rids the compost process of forking, unpleasant odours, flies and rats.

How does it work?

Unlike standard composting heaps, the HotBin speeds up the composting process by promoting and maintaining a temperature of around 60 degrees. Using this method, all food and garden waste is able to be recycled in around 90 days without the need for regular forking or rotating.

How did it worked for me?

With the bitter English winters, and even the occasional brisk summer days, I get a bit worried that my compost heap frequently halts its composting process altogether, leaving my leftover sprouts from Christmas day untouched from decomposition for weeks for everybody to see.  I therefore jumped at the opportunity to try out the HotBin, aerobic hot composting system not just to maintain the façade that I like sprouts, but to boost my feeble composting system in general.

It seemed too good to be true that the HotBin would maintain a temperature of above 60C while it breaks down more types of household waste in a shorter period of time than previous composting methods, but I was pleasantly surprised with my findings. After a couple of weeks, spent struggling to get the HotBin beyond LukewarmBin due to my reluctance to read any manual or phone for help, I tried the recommended ‘kickstarter’ system, which soon increased the temperature to the required 60C. The ‘kickstarter’ involves filling up a plastic bottle with boiling water and nestling it deep within the pile of waste.

This HotBin composter does not just accept more waste and perform well, cutting the time scale for fresh compost to 90 days but also looks acceptable, a touch smarter than the wheelie bins that seem to enclose upon us like space invaders.

It is not without its pitfalls however, firstly I do not feel entirely comfortable about its strength, a tad on the fragile side where upon a wayward penalty kick from my right boot, seen disappointing frequently, may cause a cascade of compost to fall over my patio. I also advise that the compost from the HotBin be removed altogether, rather than small amounts taken frequently. This is due to the difficulty I found in replacing the lower hatch.

The claim

An easily constructed compost bin that allows you to adjust the ventilation levels, giving you more influence over the compost process. It also has twin lid flaps, making filling the bin quick and simple, while base flaps sanction the extraction of the final compost swiftly and stress-free.

How does it work?

The Eco King Composting Bin is a container that is made from 100% recycled materials. It provides a casing into which food and garden waste can be placed easily through the twin lid flaps and decompose creating compost.

How did it work for me?

After spending days on end, and various swollen fingers from hammer blows, trying dismally to nail together DIY, wooden compost containers I searched the market for an easier solution and came across the Eco King Composting Bin made from 100% recycled materials (1^st thumbs up!). When it arrived I found it simple to assemble through the rapido click assembly and avoided any further harm to my fingers because it did not require tools. In fewer than 10 minutes I had created 600 litres of mean, green, composting…space.

The smart looking box fitted comfortably into the corner of my garden, and I did not come across any problems regarding putting waste in, or indeed taking compost out. However, the strength of the Eco King Composting Bin soon became its weakness.

The fact that my hands we strong enough to put the box together, meant I was slightly sceptical about how much compost it could hold until it collapsed…sure thing a few weeks into the lifetime of my new compost bin, it seemed to say enough is enough and buckle under the sheer weight, sending food and garden waste all over my garden. I suppose if I had filled it with scrap metal and not grass cuttings the collapse would have been justified. I also struggled to find the use for the Wind-Fix LTD Adjustment for controlled composting, and perhaps thought that this was an added extra that they could do without

The claim

The radiator booster improves the circulation of air around the radiator, helping to increase the effectiveness of the emitted heat and therefore saving up to £140 on your heating bills by lowering consumption. It can pay for itself in as little as 8 weeks.

How does it work?

Using a series of mini fans, the Radiator booster circulates patches of hot air that are trapped behind a radiator. Once the temperature of the radiator reaches 30C, the fans automatically switch on, sucking up hot air and circulating it around the room.

How did it work for me?

I do sometimes feel that my radiators are not working as efficiently as they perhaps could do, and therefore I was curious when I saw the Radiator Booster concept. If it was able to circulate the hot air trapped behind the radiator then surely I wouldn’t need to have my thermostat set quite so high and I would therefore save money on my energy bills.

It was easy to set up, just a simple plug-in and place, and seemed to fit in well with the room. The real test would obviously take place when the radiators were on and above the 30C required to turn the boosters on. While I have to say I could hear the immediate moment that they came on, I soon got used to the very faint ‘whirring’ noise and any television or music being played drowns out the sound completely.

I set up a series of thermometers around the room and took readings before and after the radiator booster was installed. While I didn’t particularly notice any obvious differences in the temperature before looking at the results, they clearly showed a positive change of around 2C.

Negatives: Obvious sound issues may be a concern to many; along with the potentially negative view many people may hold towards their aesthetic feel. They also require a plug socket within a sensible distance from the radiator.

Positives: The increase in temperature consistency throughout the room cannot be ignored, and the savings that these can lead to may be worth the negatives.

The claim

Using two rotating solar panels and an on board battery, the Solio Bolt Solar Charger keeps your electronic gadgets charged. A fully charged on board battery can typically charge your smartphone close to two times.

How does it work?

While in sunlight, two rotatable solar panels charge up the on board battery. In order for the maximum amount of sunlight to be achieved there is a small hole for a pencil to fit through and turn the device into a tripod allowing it to stand and maintain the most efficient angle with the sun. When the electronic gadget needs to be charged, simply use the USB slot and begin charging.

 How did it work for me?

There is nothing worse than being ‘powerless’ in today’s smartphone society. I have lost count of the amount of times I have found myself out of battery. Too frequently I find myself guessing at directions or having to walk the last few miles home instead of a nice taxi ride, all because my phone has run out of battery. Therefore I was excited to get my hands on the Solio Bolt Solar Charger, which claims to charge your smartphone through the sun. Too good to be true? Well I found that although it is durable, waterproof and looks great, the efficiency of it harnessing the sun’s energy is not as promising as first suggested. While it claims to hold enough power to charge two smart phones, I found that anything beyond 120% (1 full charge and an extra 20%) was a bonus. The charging capabilities while in direct sunlight are good, however it seems to struggle when the clouds come over, something that may worry us all in Great Britain as we seldom witness clear skies.

However it is still effective and does provide you with that extra battery life that may be crucial for your camping trip or day out.

The Claim

Space savers seems to have a reputation for being slightly more expensive, but of better quality that many lower end models – but this one is a very reasonable price. This Water Butt is 250 litres in capacity and is ideal for collecting rainwater.

How does it work?

The butt is connected via tubing to the downpipe on the gutter, and collects rainwater as it runs through. It will store up to 250 litres, and has a simple tap at the bottom to fill watering cans etc. It can be used with a standard water butt stand, and is fairly slimline so that it will fit into many tight spaces.

How did it work for me?

I know how important it can be to have a good storage device for my rainwater. Previously I have had a 100 litre model, which filled up very quickly and didn’t last long when the rain was pouring down in the spring.

This model looks much more impressive, and you can tell that it has been well made, much thicker than some of the cheaper, flimsy models. It does seem to fill up well and the water lasts much longer than my older model.

The only issue I can see is that it is a little too slim in that it could blow over in high winds, so I am putting it behind the garage where it is sheltered. Make sure you use a good base as well – the weight of all that water means you need something strong below, and you need a decent gap to get your watering can underneath!

The Claim

Ecobutton is a simple device that puts your computer to sleep when you are away from the desk, helping to save energy and monitoring the energy you are saving. It claims to save as much as £50 a year.

How does it work?

The ‘button’ is attached to a usb adapter, which will plug into your desktop or laptop. When you press the button, it puts your computer into sleep mode, and monitors the savings being made.

How did it work for me?

I am all for helping to save energy, but this has to be one of the most pointless products on the market. Now don’t get me wrong, the button does exactly what is says on the tin – every time you press it, the computer goes into sleep mode. So what is exactly wrong with the Ecobutton?

Firstly, pretty much every computer and laptop will have a standby button on the computer already. Some will be on the keyboard, by use of the ‘fn’ key, others will require the user to change the settings so that the power button will put the computer into standby instead of powering off, something I do already. Indeed, most modern laptops are recommended not to be turned off too often. So do you really need another button to do this? Especially a relatively bulky one like this.

Secondly, does it really save £50 a year? Well this is down to how you use your computer currently. If you leave it on when you leave the room or pop out to the shops, then using this button will save you money. But if you are really that keen to save money, surely you will be turning your computer to standby anyway, so I just don’t believe it will really save that much money. I also question how much energy is used in running the button and recording the energy usage data. If you currently turn your computer to standby anyway, this will actually make your bill increase, albeit only slightly.

In summary, just have a play with your computers settings and ensure you can easily turn to standby in future. It really isn’t that tricky.