Features
Our Favourite Stuff of July 2016
We make our picks of the best products available for men this month.
There’s some pretty cool stuff out there – but it’s hard keeping tabs on what exactly is available these days. So, in the spirit of introducing our loyal readers to cool stuff (kind of ethos around here), we’ve rounded up our favourite gadgets, games, and gear of July 2016.
Gear of the month: Puma Ignite Dual running shoes
Touted as the “lightest Puma Ignites ever made”, the new Ignite Dual running shoes are pretty impressive from the outset. A vivid black and red colourway, extra padding on the mesh uppers and interiors, and the most flexible grooved sole around are just some of the standout features on the Ignite Duals. While light, the shoes also provide an extremely comfortable run. We put these bad boys to the test with a 3 kilometre run around the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town and on a treadmill, and they were extremely comfortable, light, and impact-absorbing throughout the experience.
Price: R1,699
Gadget of the month: Sony Xperia XA
The Sony Xperia XA is a slim, good-looking phone that has some high-end charm at a reasonably affordable price. From a design perspective, the XA is a fairly good-looking phone with a cool 5-inch edge-to-edge screen (with a slight curvature over the sides) that makes it stand out among its rivals. With an octa-core 2.0GHz MediaTek MT6755 processor and 2GB of RAM under the hood, the XA feels silky smooth in day-to-day use, and Sony’s version of Android 6.0.1 rarely lagged or tripped over itself. The 13MP camera is also great in good lighting, but does struggle a bit in low-light environments. However, for the price of the XA, there’s not many other mid-range phones that will give you the same bells and whistles.
Price: R5,999
Beer of the month: Jack Black’s Atlantic Weiss
We got our hands on Jack Black’s newest concoction, the Atlantic Weiss draught. It’s incredibly smooth and subtle, almost bordering on the taste of a lager (maybe it’s just us), but this Hefeweizen (Jack Black’s chosen style of Weiss) has a thick and creamy head – and due to its unfiltered nature, you’ll find some seriously rich, soft fruit aromas. It’s extremely refreshing and a great choice for a relaxed after-work drink or the trusty companion to enjoy throughout the evening.
Game of the month: Rocket League
There’s been a lot of buzz about Rocket League since it originally released as a download-only digital title, but now that it’s available in retail format, we’ve got a chance to see what the fuss is all about – and now we get it. Rocket League is essentially a vehicular version of football, albeit with some crazy power-ups, fun tweaks, and a stellar presentation to go with it. Playing Rocket League is loads of fun, but getting some friends around for a makeshift tournament is where the magic happens. It’s a simple idea that was executed so damn well.
Price: around R550
Skincare products of the month: L’Oreal Men Expert Hydra Energetic range
We still have a little more of winter to survive, and that means things are still going to be a little dry. So, to save us from dehydrated skin, L’Oréal Men Expert’s new Hydra Energetic range caters specifically for the active man of today, because we need to be pampered too. The male skincare range helps fight the appearance of spots and imperfections, while giving you 24 hour skin protection and moisturising. Included in the range is the magnetic effect black coal face wash, the anti-fatigue moisturiser, and thermic resist antiperspirant roll-on and deodorant.
- Magnetic effect face wash – R89.95
- Anti-fatigue moisturiser – R129.95
- Thermic Resist Anti-Perspirant – R24.95
- Thermic Resist Clean Cool Fragrance Anti-Perspirant – R39.95
More gadget stuff to keep you busy:
