Welcome to The WantList, our regular list of the things we have see recently that we simply have to recommend. It could be anything - a fantastic dram of whisky, the latest gadget or something that has simply changed our life for the better.
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All sorted? Good - here are 8 things you should buy this week...
1. Tag Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph SE
£4,850
A chunk of change no doubt, but the Tag Heuer Carrera Porsche Chronograph Special Edition is a stunning timepiece and packed with Porsche design flourishes - including the numerals, red inscription and the stitching on the leather strap.
2. Southern Comfort limited edition Mardi Gras bottle
Southern Comfort has gone all out for Mardi Gras. It had teamed up with MEATLiquor for the creation of a Mardi Gras kit. This included ingredients to make a ‘Southern Passion’ cocktail, plus a New Orleans inspired dish. These kits are all sold out now, but, don’t panic, you can still purchase a limited edition bottle - head to Tesco to find those. If you want to join a party, too, then head to Twitch for some fun on mardi gras night (16 Feb, 8pm).
3. Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level
£1,400
B&O has excelled itself once more with this fantastic speaker. The Bang & Olufsen Beosound Level is a portable Wi-Fi speaker with up to 16 hours’ battery life, has the high-end design flourishes we’ve come to expect from the audio brand and is packed with audio goodness. The speaker can be wall mounted, stood up or even laid down - whichever position takes your fancy. It’s available both in Dark Grey and Gold Tone.
4. Wrexham AFC Aviation Gin bottle
£32
This is brilliant. Hollywood legends Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have officially taken over Wrexham AFC and to celebrate, Aviation Gin has created a very special limited edition bottle that’s available from the football club’s site. It helps that Ryan Reynolds just happens to be owner of Aviation Gin, too, so this is one, ahem, match made in heaven. The limited-edition bottle has the official Wrexham AFC logo and is presented in a fancy Art Deco clear bevelled glass bottle.
5. Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR smartwatch
£189
Another watch, this time one that you won’t ring your bank manager about. The Skagen Jorn Hybrid HR smartwatch is a beautiful looking thing and cements Skagen as one of the best brands for smartwatches that don’t look like computers on your wrist. This one comes with a variety of straps and bezel colours and will connect to your phone, offering up step counts and the like.
6. Little Nightmares 2
From £29.99
Little Nightmares 2 is a fun game out now for the Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox. It’s a puzzle platformer that sees you play Mono, a young boy trapped in a world that has been distorted by the humming transmission of a distant tower. It’s packed with inventive puzzles and is brilliantly atmospheric - not bad for a game where no dialogue is uttered.
7. UA HOVR Machina 2 Colorshift Running Shoes
£140
Under Armour’s latest running shoes are packed with tech that should see you shave seconds off of your 5K time. While three new trainers have been released (the other shoes are the Infinite 3 and Sonic 4), these are our pick: they come with a Pebax propulsion plate that meshes racing shoe speed with long distance comfort. And they connect to the MapMyRun app, too.
8. AndaSeat T-Pro 2 Gaming Chair
£349
If you are looking for a gaming chair that offers a smattering of luxury, then this is it. The AndaSeat T-Pro 2 is made from luxurious linen fabric, has lumbar support, moveable armrests and a multi-functional tilt mechanism from 90° to 160°. Perfect, then, for 'resting' your eyes after a long gaming session.
Previously on the WantList...
1. KEF KC62 Subwoofer
£1,400
There is nothing like a bit of bass to drown out the dullness of lockdown and it doesn’t come much bassier than this new subwoofer from KEF. Ever the brand to push the audio envelope, its new sub, the KC62, offers immersive sound that is way bigger than the size of the thing - it’s no bigger than a football.
2. East London Liquor Co London Rye Whisky
£79.95
A recent entry to our best whisky list and one of the few Rye whiskies on there. Taste-wise, there’s spicy pepper but it’s packed with smoothness, too. This is thanks to the myriad casks its been aged in - including sherry, French oak and more.
3. Yakuza remastered collection
£34.95
One of the best video game franchises that’s over 15 years old now! It isn’t showing its age, though, thanks to these brilliant remasters that bring the games up to next-gen standards. While the collection has been on PS4, it is now available on Xbox Game Pass and Windows 10.
4. TFL Face masks
£18
Given face masks are going to be something of a mainstay the world over for years to come, you better stock up. While our best face mask guide is a good start, these new ones from TFL caught our eye. They feature the Tube map and other iconic TFL signage. You can wear them and think back to a time when public transport was something you used to use.
5. Devialet Phantom I
Devialet is one of the coolest audio brands. Its speakers look like something out of a Clockwork Orange, so when an update comes along we always sit up and pay attention. The Devialet Phantom I has been given a makeover, with new LEDs on board, a modern matte finish, new signature side panels and it is now available in black and white. Add to this AirPlay 2 functionality and this is a speaker to look out for.
6. Grado GT220
£249
Grado is a cracking audio brand and these true wireless earphones carry over its great design ethos to the in-ear market. Here you get a pair of headphones that have 30 hours’ battery life (if you take into account the case), they are easy to pair and audio wise definitely offer the AirPods Pro a run for their money.
7. Saint Maud
£14.99
One of the scariest movies of 2020 is now out to rent or buy. This is one of those movies that has been hyped for ages, as it got caught up in the lockdown cinema release snafu. The wait is worth it, though, as this British tale of extreme religion and mental health is truly terrifying and has already reached ‘classic’ status.
8. Apple Watch and Time To Walk
From £379
If you haven’t got an Apple Watch, then the addition of the Apple Fitness Plus subscription should tempt you to get one. Not only do you get access to myriad daily live workouts, but a new feature gives you a reason to get up and go for a walk. Time To Walk offers a number of talks that you can listen to while walking - from celebrities and the like - that are all there to inspire you.
Previously on the WantList...
1. Philips Fidelio X3 headphones
There’s nothing better than putting on a huge pair of wired headphones while in lockdown. These are some of our favourites. They are open back, so make sure you are the only one in the room, but the sound is exceptional - they tackle high-res audio with ease.
2. NanoLeaf Essentials
We love what NanoLeaf is doing with smart lighting. Its Essentials range comprises low-price smart bulbs and a fantastic LED strip light. They are easy to install but this big bonus here is Thread compatibility - a must for new smart home releases.
3. Hitman 3
The rebooted Hitman trilogy will go down as one of the greatest game franchises of all time - and it’s definitely third time the charm here. Whether it’s the Agatha Christie inspired assassination level or the huge amount of globe-trotting to be had, this is fantastic fun.
4. Smeg kettle in matt black
For us, Smeg is right at the top when it comes to designer kitchen kit and we are loving the new matt range. Our pick is this stunning matt black Smeg kettle - superb for your morning brew and much easier to clean than its glossy bedfellow.
5. Samsung S21 Ultra 5G
The best phone of the year might well be the first one that’s been released. The Samsung S21 Ultra 5G has it all - a sophisticated design, stunning camera specs and enough AI to become sentient. Oh, and it’s also S-Pen compatible, making this a great Galaxy Note alternative.
6. Aberlour 14 Year Old Double Cask Matured
This was released for Burns’ Night but it’s worth buying now, even though the celebrations for the poet have died down. There’s a lovely whack of spices and fudge here, thanks to the sherry and American oak cask maturation.
7. Contigo Autospout Chill Couture Drinking Bottle
Another week, another drinking bottle but Contigo’s Couture line-up has some stunning designs. We chose the Amazonite version but also really like the White Leaf design. Each bottle is stainless steel and 100% leak proof.
8. Diadora N902 Outdoor trainer
Diadora’s trainer designs of late have been superb and its latest, the N902 Outdoor running shoe, is perfect for those 5Ks, or just wearing with jeans. There are two colour versions but it’s the Viridian Green version that’s caught our eye.
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