Best Of Tech And Travel: Noise Cancelling Buds, RFID Wallets, And Solo Stoves | Vol. 4
Five editorially chosen picks: one hero, three supporting acts, and one wildcard. This drop is designed to be browsed as a full collection, not just a pile of affiliate links.
At a glance
Everything in this drop
Mesa XL by Solo Stove
A compact, smokeless tabletop fire pit designed for dual fuel use.
Ear (a) by Nothing
Transparent, noise-cancelling wireless earbuds with a distinctive yellow case option.
Uno Charger 65W by UGREEN
A fast-charging GaN adapter with a robot face LED display.
The Ridge Wallet
A minimalist, RFID-blocking metal wallet held together by elastic.
Tech Kit Compact by Bellroy
A zipped pouch with elastic loops and pockets for organising tech accessories.
Deep dive
Why each pick earned its place
Mesa XL by Solo Stove
A compact, smokeless tabletop fire pit designed for dual fuel use.
Price
£124.99
Editorial rating
4.5 / 5
Every Brit knows the struggle: you want an alfresco evening, but the temperature has plummeted to a balmy 8 degrees and the neighbours hate smoke.
Enter our Hero product, the Solo Stove Mesa XL. It's the tabletop fire pit that promises to keep your hands toasty without turning your patio into a scene from a Dickens novel.
We've crowned it the hero because it actually delivers on the 'smokeless' promise, saving your eyes from stinging while you pretend it's summer.
The Irresistible
- The airflow engineering is genuinely brilliant; once it gets going, the secondary burn kills the smoke dead.
- It kicks out a surprising amount of radiant heat for something the size of a large cookie jar.
The Clever Part
- Dual-fuel capability means you can burn pellets for efficiency or tiny bits of wood if you're feeling rustic.
- It comes with a little stand to protect your garden table from scorching, which is a thoughtful touch.
The Fine Print
- Because it's small, you have to feed it constantly; it's like a hungry toddler but with fire.
- The soot build-up on the rim can get messy if you aren't careful when refuelling.
The Reality Check
- If you use wood chunks, you'll spend your entire evening chopping kindling like a frantic lumberjack instead of relaxing.
Ear (a) by Nothing
Transparent, noise-cancelling wireless earbuds with a distinctive yellow case option.
Price
£69.00
Editorial rating
4.0 / 5
Most earbuds look like medical devices or Apple knock-offs, but Nothing has decided that what your ears really need is a bit of transparent retro-futurism.
The Ear (a) buds are for those who want decent sound without looking like a Wall Street banker. They're fun, punchy, and offer Active Noise Cancellation that actually shuts out the drone of the Tube.
Finally, tech that doesn't take itself too seriously.
The Irresistible
- The aesthetic is top-tier; the transparent stems and bubble-like case are proper conversation starters.
- The bass response is shockingly good, giving your morning commute the cinematic soundtrack it deserves.
The Clever Part
- Squeeze controls are far superior to touch controls, so you won't accidentally pause your music while adjusting the fit.
- The smart ANC adapts to your environment, filtering out general office chatter quite effectively.
The Fine Print
- The case, while pretty, is a scratch magnet; don't put it in a pocket with your keys.
- In-ear detection can be a bit hit-and-miss if you have oddly shaped ear canals.
The Reality Check
- There is absolutely no wireless charging, meaning you have to hunt for a cable like it's 2016 every time the case dies.
Uno Charger 65W by UGREEN
A fast-charging GaN adapter with a robot face LED display.
Price
£26.48
Editorial rating
4.5 / 5
I didn't think I needed my plug socket to smile at me, yet here we are.
The UGREEN Uno is a 65W charger disguised as a little robot, complete with digital eyes that tell you charging status. It's absolutely unnecessary anthropomorphism, but I can't help but feel a bit chuffed when he winks at me.
It charges your laptop and phone rapidly, proving that serious tech can have a sense of humour.
The Irresistible
- It pumps out 65W, which is enough to juice up a MacBook Air and an iPhone simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
- The GaN technology keeps it cool to the touch, unlike those old brick chargers that doubled as hand warmers.
The Clever Part
- The magnetic feet (shoes?) are a clever bit of design for stability if you use a power strip.
- The LED expressions actually convey useful info, like when devices are fully charged.
The Fine Print
- The robot 'headphones' make it a bit wide, potentially blocking the switch on a standard UK double socket.
- The screen stays on while charging, which might be annoying in a pitch-black bedroom.
The Reality Check
- You will inevitably start talking to it, which marks the beginning of your descent into madness.
The Ridge Wallet
A minimalist, RFID-blocking metal wallet held together by elastic.
Price
£65.00
Editorial rating
3.5 / 5
Remember when wallets were giant leather burgers filled with receipts from 2004? The Ridge Wallet wants to kill that concept with fire.
It's two plates of metal and a piece of elastic, essentially a sandwich for your credit cards.
It's sleek, tough, and makes you feel like a secret agent when you pay for a flat white. It forces you to declutter your life, whether you like it or not.
The Irresistible
- It is virtually indestructible; you could probably run it over with a lorry and the wallet would win.
- The RFID blocking gives you peace of mind against digital pickpockets roaming the high street.
The Clever Part
- The modular design allows you to swap out the elastic or money clip if they ever wear out.
- It forces you to carry only what you need, curing your hoarding tendencies instantly.
The Fine Print
- Getting a specific card out from the middle of the stack requires a dexterity usually reserved for card sharks.
- It's uncomfortable to sit on if you keep it in your back pocket (front pocket carry is mandatory).
The Reality Check
- Fumbling with the cash strap to remove a fiver makes you look less like James Bond and more like a confused origami student.
Tech Kit Compact by Bellroy
A zipped pouch with elastic loops and pockets for organising tech accessories.
Price
£49.00
Editorial rating
4.0 / 5
If your backpack looks like a snake pit of tangled cables, you need an intervention.
This Bellroy kit is our Wildcard pick because, let's be honest, buying a bag for your wires isn't exactly 'rock and roll', but the satisfaction is unmatched.
It's the Marie Kondo of tech accessories. Zipping this thing up and knowing exactly where your dongles are gives you a sense of control over your life that is frankly delusional but lovely.
The Irresistible
- The layout is superb; the elastic loops are tight enough to hold things but loose enough to actually use.
- The materials feel premium and durable, ageing better than the cheap nylon alternatives.
The Clever Part
- It opens completely flat, giving you full visibility of your arsenal without digging around.
- The magnetic slip pocket is perfect for stashing a power bank without fiddling with zips.
The Fine Print
- It is strictly 'compact'; if you have a massive laptop brick, it simply won't fit in here.
- The shape is a bit soft, so if you overfill it, it turns into a lumpy potato.
The Reality Check
- You will spend ages organising it, only to be too lazy to put the cables back in properly, ruining the aesthetic immediately.