Product Review July August 09
Crossfire : 5 Star Product
The Invacare Top End Crossfire All Terrain is touted as the monster truck of wheelchairs, designed to let you get out – and in – to the great outdoors. Featuring a lightweight and strong aluminum frame with 25” x 2.75” knobby wheels and huge 8-inch casters.
With its large ground clearance, and forward and side-to-side stability the chair is ideal for an active outdoor adventurer. Our testers found that, due to its bulk it can be rather unwieldy indoors – So no real surprises there – but out in its element, the muddy and winding country lanes and muddy paths, it really is an absolute joy to use. The huge wheels handled the debris on the floor of the forest we visited with aplomb.
A great fit for end users who like to hike, fish, camp, hunt, kayak, garden, or perhaphs invade small countries, the Crossfire gives you the confidence to put yourself in situations you may shy from in less rugged chairs. Certainly one to shortlist if you’re on the lookout for serious outdoor equipment.
Greepers: 4 Star Product
Greeper shoelaces are a pioneering new invention for the special needs and disabilities market that is functional, fun and fashionable – the world’s first ever shoelaces that can never come undone.
As the result of six years of research and development, UK inventor and entrepreneur Peter Greedy patented this unique technology that allows users the convenience of simply tightening or loosing their laces, without ever needing to tie them. This makes wearing shoelaces simple, easy and safe.
Greeper laces can be applied to almost any lace-up footwear and is particularly suited for kids and teens with a wide variety of funky colours and styles, ranging from luminous tones to colour coded stripes, with thick or thin lace-up options. My teenage son popped them on when they arrived and is quite proud of the fact that he hasn’t had to tie his shoes for a couple of months.
We did find part of the plastic lace holder a bit fiddly but once we got it holding the lace they were very easy to use. Not only perfect for the special needs market – but also particularly lazy sons.
Dycem Non-Slip Mats: 4 Star Product
Dycem is a unique non-slip material that solves many of the stabilisation and gripping problems encountered by those with limited dexterity, restricted mobility and reduced wrist or upper limb strength.
Dycem Non-Slip grips on both sides to prevent movement and is ideal for providing support, stability and confidence during everyday activities and exercise.
The mat we tested was the ideal size to be used as a placemat to stop plates and glasses slipping away, or to prevent household objects or craft objects from slipping whilst in use, even with a slanted table. A nice, simple solution to a common problem – Dycem has become the leading brand by providing just this sort of easily workable product. Our tester had the added disadvantage of severe athritis and found the smaller mats to be exceptional jar openers too.