Looking for a completely honest My Muscle Chef review? Look no further. I tucked into My Muscle Chef for over a year and know what's hot and what's not.

Anyone who is keen on fitness and getting their body into the best shape of their life will know that no matter much work you put in in the gym, you need to put in even more work in the kitchen. Nutrition plays an incredibly vital part in both the building of muscle and the loss of body fat and weight.

But unless you have a degree in nutrition, it can often be tricky to work out exactly what you need to be eating in order for you to realise your gains.

This is where ready-made meals can come in handy because they take away all the hard work, leaving just a delicious meal that can be cooked in a matter of minutes and one that will give you the calories you need.

My Muscle Chef is one of the biggest names in the business, being the go-to meal provider for gym junkies throughout Australia, due to their range of meal options – the majority of which are just as good as anything you'd cook yourself – are affordable and they're ready to eat in no time at all. Best of all, of course, is that they display their macro content clearly on the front, making your buying decision even easier.

I regularly tuck into My Muscle Chef meals and have been doing so for the last two years, so feel well versed in providing a completely honest review, to help you decide if the My Muscle Chef way of eating is the only thing standing in between you and your gains.

Having been a long time customer of muscle meals, it was time for a change, as I wanted to find some fresh flavours to add to my training routine. I'm not a hardcore gym junkie, rather, I train 5 times a week and when my mood suits me I will knuckle down and eat well. Unfortunately, my mood rarely suits me, and the result is my diet is far from favourable. This is where a meal prep service becomes increasingly appealing.

Since making the switch to My Muscle Chef I haven't tried any other meal prep services. Why? My Muscle Chef meals taste good, they're delivered quickly and there is minimal to no fuss, so I haven't felt any reason to try any others.

Expensive compared to what? To a succulent Chinese meal? No. In comparison to a home-cooked meal? Also no. In fact, My Muscle Chef meals can actually work out to be an incredibly cheap way to eat, since each meal costs around $10. The more you order the cheaper it gets too, so if you're bulking hard, then ordering 20+ meals in one go will work out to be a sound investment.

If you're like me, you'll order 10 at a time and pay around $130 including delivery.

Yes, you can get low calorie My Muscle Chef meals, but there isn't a huge selection in my honest opinion. The name should give it away that My Muscle Chef meals are all about building muscle and not losing weight, and calories are a gym junkie's best friend. They're particularly effective for those who keep an exceptionally close eye on their calorie count, as each meal reveals how many calories it contains.

On the company's website, you can choose your ideal carb count and go from there. The best low carb meals are chicken tikka or beef fajitas. Both happen to taste incredibly good too. Overall, however, it would be nice to see a few more high-protein/low carb options, especially when you consider most protein powders, protein bars and even protein shakes tend to just stuff in as much protein as they can while keeping carbs low.

In comparison to other meal prep services on the market, My Muscle Chef is certainly one of the better performers. There are plenty of flavours and perhaps surprisingly, I've not even felt sick of continually eating them (sick as in, bored, of course. I'm perfectly healthy). I recommend not freezing them but instead, leaving them in the fridge as they keep for 2 weeks.

You can't expect too much from a microwave meal but My Muscle Chef has done a pretty good job of making these taste good. Even my girlfriend has started eating them after hating on them for 12 months.

This is an easy one, no. While my very first few experiences of ordering with My Muscle Chef was a little trickier than perhaps they should have been, the process now is much smoother. The improved website makes it easy to design your own meal package and it shows you the discount you're receiving along the way. I tend to order the same thing again and again, which makes the 'your order' function handy, as in just a few clicks my usual meals will be on their way to me.

You can even set up regular weekly or monthly orders if you're eating a lot or low on time.

Yep, even vegans are catered to in the My Muscle Chef range, although I can't comment on what they're like. Who in their right mind would eat vegan food. Eew. Seriously though, most vegan food tastes like cardboard so I assume these meals will taste the same.

It's much faster than it used to be. My Muscle Chef seemed to get their self together during pandemic and now offer next day delivery in metro areas, which is really handy. Before you would have to wait a week which was a major burn. Gains can't wait.

Having tried pretty much the entire range of My Muscle Chef meals (except the vegan ones, of course) I've been able to come to the conclusion that these are the best-tasting options.

Head to the My Muscle Chef website, make an order and watch those gains pile on.

UPDATE:

As of the past 2 months, I've been eating roughly 2-3 My Muscle Chef meals per day to gain mass. I can confirm they're a much easier way to get the calories in however I'm not 100% sold on a fat/carb content. Recent body scans show my muscle going down and fat going up.

I would recommend choosing your meals carefully and tracking your calories with My Fitness Pal or something.

I can confirm their spaghetti bolognaise is the bomb. 5/5 mamma's would approve.

Also buying it from Woolworths is much better value than ordering online. The $30 delivery is a stitch-up.

Read the full article My Muscle Chef Review: Australia’s Most Popular Gym Meals Tested For 12 Months on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

One such product that promises to offer "the easiest and fastest way to lose weight" is the Man Shake. Claiming it can help you lose weight by acting as a meal replacement – and with a number of testimonials to support these claims – I decided to try it out for myself to see if it really could be the product to make weight loss a piece of cake.

Firstly, subjecting yourself to The Man Shake doesn't mean you need to give up eating anything else entirely. In fact, the company says you only need to have up to 2 shakes a day, in combination with a couple of snacks and a meal in order for you to see results on the scales. Secondly, however, it is worth remembering that 'weight loss' and 'fat loss' are two separate entities, and as we've discussed before, an effective route to fat loss is to put yourself on a strength training program to build muscle.

The Man Shake has been developed to replace one or two of your regular daily meals, and you take it alongside a couple of snacks and a regular meal each day.

Each sachet of the Man Shake powder contains a range of ingredients designed to replace the nutrients you'd consume in regular meals, but in the majority of cases, you'll be consuming these nutrients in greater quantities.

For example, the company's website claims each serving of Man Shake contains 30g of protein, 11.2g of carbohydrates and 4g of fat. It's also packed with essential vitamins and minerals including B12, A, C, D, E, magnesium, calcium and zinc.

For each serving, you need to combine 2 scoops of Man Shake powder with 350ml of water and shake well, in a similar vein to taking a more conventional protein shake. I did find that preparing it this way resulted in a pretty thick consistency, but it tasted creamy and without the naff pea protein flavour that many shakes have.

I also found that it's best to try and consume the Man Shake as quickly as possible, rather than sip on it, because if left to get warm, it can become really unpleasant to drink.

I soon noticed that the Man Shake did a good job of satiating me. I only consumed one Man Shake each day, and used it to replace my regular breakfast.

If you're not used to meal replacement shakes, it can take some getting used to. In the first few days I did find the temptation to snack was huge, but as a quick and easy way to get some food into you, especially if you have a busy day, it proved to be invaluable.

This is where the Man Shake shines, if you just want something to keep you feeling full until lunch, it's great. It's also incredibly easy to prepare and if you've ever had a protein shake after going to the gym, then there really isn't much of a learning process.

If you do feel the urge to snack, then I'd recommend trying out the company's Man Bars; they're decent-tasting protein bars that will also serve to fill you up. The choc peanut flavour in particular is very more-ish.

But ultimately, did it produce results?

I tried the Man Shake for a month, and after consuming one every morning (apart from the week or so I, unfortunately, contracted covid), at the end of the month I lost around 1.5kgs. It's a noticeable but fairly modest amount of weight loss, and certainly backs up the Man Shake's claims that it guarantees weight loss.

Anyone who knows protein powders will understand the natural flavoured ones taste pretty damn nasty. This is where flavoured powders come into their own.

Fortunately, Man Shake offers a range of flavours to make your weight loss journey that much more enjoyable. Flavours include chocolate, vanilla, coffee, choc mint, strawberry, banana and caramel.

I tried the Starter Kit, which comes with a selection of (but not all) the flavours listed above. The majority of the box I received did have mainly chocolate and vanilla, however, so be sure to check the website for flavour distribution so you know what you're going to get.

Unfortunately, you can't mix and match the smaller sachets. Instead, Man Shake pre-determines which flavours you're going to get

All of the flavours I tried were pretty sweet to taste. This may be a turn-off for some or a plus for those who have a sweet tooth. I personally didn't enjoy the vanilla flavour and found it to taste quite 'chalky.'

Strawberry was pretty average and chocolate was ok. The coffee flavour tastes a bit artificial, but not offensively so. It does contain 6.7% coffee (not just flavouring) according to the nutritional information, so will likely include a small dosage of caffeine which can help to speed up your metabolism. Not a bad thing by any means, but something to perhaps make note of.

For me and my tastebuds, the choc mint flavour was the best by far.

Meal replacement shakes can be a contentious subject. Ultimately, I did notice results from drinking the Man Shake over a course of a month.

However, would I continue to drink the Man Shake as a means to keep the number on the scales as low as possible? Probably.

While Man Shake says "studies have looked at the sustainability of long-term meal replacement shakes use and found no adverse effects," I'd argue that ultimately, it will be far healthier for you to consume a healthy diet of whole foods which are rich in protein, carbs and healthy fats.

If you feel you need an extra boost to get your weight down before switching to a healthy diet, however, then the Man Shake certainly has its uses, and could well be the catalyst you need to start living a healthier, happier lifestyle.

We purchased The Man Shake and spent a couple of weeks trying it.

Read the full article The Man Shake Review: An Easy Route To Weight Loss on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

In the increasingly crowded world of fitness trackers, where sleek screens and constant connectivity dominate, the Whoop 4.0 stands out as a device that takes a more minimalist, focused approach. After 12 months of wearing it day in and day out, I can confidently say it’s a unique fitness and well-being tracker, with both its standout features and areas for improvement.

Here’s my deep dive into everything you need to know about the Whoop 4.0, from its design and functionality to its impact on daily life and fitness routines.

One of the first things you’ll notice about the Whoop 4.0 is its screenless design. Unlike an Apple Watch or a Fitbit, the Whoop is unobtrusive, blending seamlessly into your day without demanding attention. This simplicity is what makes it particularly appealing. No glowing screens lighting up your wrist at night, no pings or notifications pulling you away from what you’re doing—just a sleek band doing its job in the background.

Initially, I found wearing the Whoop alongside a traditional watch a bit strange, but I quickly adapted. Its lightweight, minimalist design allows it to be comfortable enough for 24/7 wear. The device focuses entirely on tracking, leaving all interaction to its companion app, which I found to be an excellent balance. It’s a tracker that respects your time and attention, something many other devices fail to do.

The Whoop app is where the magic happens. Syncing hourly with the device, it provides a comprehensive overview of your fitness, recovery, sleep, and overall well-being. The app is regularly updated with new firmware and features, ensuring it remains a cutting-edge tool.

I particularly appreciated the journaling feature within the app, which allows you to track habits like alcohol consumption, screen time, and even stress management practices. Over time, this data paints a detailed picture of how your lifestyle impacts your recovery and performance.

The app doesn’t just present data; it helps you interpret it, making it easier to connect the dots between your actions and your health.

While I don't check it every day, I tend to keep an eye on it on 'lazy' or inactive days. I also recently discovered how many calories you burn during sexy time. Very nice. FYI - Was about 150.

Charging the Whoop 4.0 is a relatively stress-free experience, especially when compared to other devices. A single charge lasts about seven days, which is a significant improvement over the daily charging cycle of many fitness trackers. The device uses an external charger that clips onto the band, allowing you to charge it while still wearing it. This is especially useful for uninterrupted sleep tracking.

That said, the charging process can feel a bit awkward at first. The external charger takes about two hours to fully charge, and then it takes another two hours to charge the device once clipped on. While it’s not the most intuitive system, you get used to it. The convenience of charging only once a week far outweighs the initial learning curve.

For anyone serious about improving their sleep quality, the Whoop 4.0 excels. It breaks down your sleep into stages — awake, light, deep, and REM — and provides actionable insights. Personally, I use it primarily to monitor and improve my deep sleep, which has been a challenge for me.

The app’s ability to correlate sleep data with lifestyle habits is invaluable. For example, I’ve found that reducing screen time and avoiding alcohol in the evening significantly improves my sleep quality.

The device also provides recommendations for when to go to bed, although the suggestion of needing 10 hours of sleep can feel unrealistic for most people. Still, the sleep data is accurate and insightful, making it one of the Whoop’s standout features.

HOT TIP: Sleeping tablets won't improve your deep sleep. Just saying.

Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the Whoop’s ability to track a wide range of activities, from gym sessions to surfing and even dance parties. The device is surprisingly adept at recognising and logging different types of workouts, although it occasionally requires manual input for less obvious activities.

For me, the fitness tracking has been a game-changer. Whether I’m at a personal training session, doing a HIIT workout, or surfing, the Whoop accurately monitors my performance and calories burned. One particularly fun example was a dance party (Solomun in Sydney) where I burned 1800 calories in three and a half hours—something I wouldn’t have believed without the data to back it up.

The recent addition of step tracking, although still in beta, is a welcome improvement. While I haven’t compared its accuracy to other devices, it’s a valuable addition, given how many people still use step counts as a basic metric for daily activity.

Beyond fitness and sleep, the Whoop 4.0 shines in monitoring overall health and well-being. It tracks key metrics like resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and stress levels, giving you a comprehensive view of your body’s state.

The recovery feature is particularly useful. It combines data from sleep, activity, and other factors to give you a daily recovery score. This score helps you understand whether you’re ready to push yourself or if you need to prioritise rest.

For someone like me, who leads a busy and active lifestyle, these insights are invaluable. However, the stress monitor has been a constant reminder of how much I need to slow down and prioritise relaxation techniques like meditation and mindfulness.

The Whoop’s growing popularity among celebrities, including Cristiano Ronaldo, adds a layer of intrigue and credibility. Seeing high-profile athletes and public figures wearing the device speaks to its effectiveness and appeal. While celebrity endorsements don’t always guarantee quality, in this case, they reflect Whoop’s reputation as a premium fitness tracker.

The company’s heavy investment in technology and innovation is evident. Compared to devices like the Apple Watch, which often feel like they’re trying to do too much, the Whoop focuses entirely on fitness and well-being, excelling in these areas.

No device is perfect, and the Whoop 4.0 has its shortcomings. One area where it could improve is in tracking smaller, everyday activities. For example, it doesn’t always pick up casual walks or light exercise unless you manually log them. While not a deal-breaker, this can be an inconvenience for users who want a complete picture of their daily activity.

Another potential downside is the annual subscription model. While the subscription ensures regular updates and access to advanced features, it does add to the overall cost. In a cost-of-living crisis, this might be a barrier for some potential users.

The Whoops annual subscription fee costs $379 AUD. Which may seem steep, but it includes the device itself. And providing you use it every day $1 a day is cheap as chips. Whoop also offers family and monthly memberships for $44 AUD per month.

After a year of consistent use, I can confidently say that the Whoop 4.0 is one of the best fitness and well-being devices on the market. Its minimalist design, comprehensive app, and focus on actionable insights make it a standout choice for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. While the subscription cost and occasional tracking quirks might deter some, the device’s benefits far outweigh its drawbacks.

If you’re serious about your fitness, sleep, and overall health, the Whoop 4.0 is worth the investment. It’s a device that doesn’t demand constant attention but quietly and effectively enhances your understanding of your body and well-being. For me, it’s a solid four out of five stars — a highly recommended companion for anyone looking to take their fitness journey to the next level.

Read the full article Whoop Review: 365 Days With Cristiano Ronaldo’s Favourite Fitness Tracker on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We give the popular The Hairy Pill a 6-month trial, so you don’t have to. The results? Well, they’re plain to see. Read on, my follically challenged friends seeing help.

Losing one’s hair is perhaps one of the hardest things to accept as a man. There’s death and taxes, but baldness is just so damn unfair. That’s why there’s been a 100-year arms race to find a cure. Surprisingly, a silver bullet doesn’t exist; however, there’s hope for those losing their hair.

This is my journey trying The Hairy Pill, one of the more popular men’s hair loss treatments in Australia right now.

For transparency, I didn’t know the brand existed until a family member mentioned it to me in May 2024. Since then, now roughly nine months later, I’ve been taking it daily as a replacement for 1mg Finasteride and topical Minoxidil.

I paid for this myself, too. We have no commercial relationship with The Hairy Pill as they don't reply to our emails, ever.

Yes, it works—but patience is key. Hair regrowth typically takes three to six months to show visible progress and 12 months to see bigger results. I was fortunate that my hair loss was turbocharged by taking testosterone, so the regrowth process started quickly as I caught it very quickly thanks to a few friends who mentioned it. "Dude, your hair is getting thin, wtf."

As you can see from my before and after photos below (taken in May and December), the crown filled in impressively within nine months. It’s worth noting that I had been on finasteride for a decade before switching to dutasteride as part of my Hairy Pill prescription. Dutasteride, according to clinical trials, has been shown to be more effective at inhibiting DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss.

For those concerned about side effects, my advice is to stop overthinking. The potential side effects of these medications are overhyped online, especailly Reddit. In my experience, they’ve been nonexistant and I happily recommend taking a pill for hairloss to mates.

It’s incredibly simple—just one pill daily. Each prescription comes with a three-month supply in a small, compact blue container.

It contains 100 tablets (rather than 90), giving you a few spares in case you drop one or accidentally take two. And if you do double up, don’t worry—there’s a limit to how much dutasteride and finasteride can work in your system, so it won’t hurt you.

If you want to keep hairloss away forever, then you need to take the pills forever or until the pills wear off and nature runs its course. Either way you'll squeeze another decade or two in my case out of your precoous hair.

Let's get real here. It, like any other hair loss treatment, has been stumbled upon by dumb luck. It's what we call 'off label' treatments. If you're reading Reddit and getting your advice from there, then there's no hope for you. Will your dick fall off? No. Will you grow hair? Most probably. Will you die? Definitely not.

Before and after photos are critical when tracking your hair loss journey. The key is to take photos with wet hair, as this highlights the true effect of the medication. My photos, taken nine months apart (May-December 24), clearly show how quickly my crown filled in.

I also incorporated one PRP (platelet-rich plasma) therapy with Dr Adina Blaj Epios Clinic in Sydney during the process. I plan to do more sessions every six months for added benefit.

PRP and Exosomes are two of the most popular options for hair loss. Exosomes are one of the newest treatments to hit the Australian market, and are responsible for some incredible results. Exosomes are available for hair and for face. For most people, three sessions are required for the hair (4-6 weeks apart) followed by maintenance sessions. We are even seeing it improve some forms of alopecia.

Dr Adina Blaj

The Hairy Pill works best when combined with a healthy lifestyle. A balanced diet, regular exercise, and proper hair care go a long way. I also use Nizoral shampoo, which is proven to block DHT, as part of my shower routine (every 3 days).

Whilst not necessary, I had blood tests to check my DHT levels, which had skyrocketed due to my high-dose testosterone cycle.

This was a major contributor to my accelerated hair loss, so if you’re serious about keeping your hair, avoid injecting testosterone unless you’re one of the lucky few immune to the hair loss gene.

If you’re already bald, The Hairy Pill won’t magically restore your hairline that's been departed for 20 years.

It’s most effective for men who are in the early stages of thinning or want to prevent further loss. For the majority of users, it can stabilise shedding, thicken existing hair, and, in many cases, promote regrowth. But if you’ve been bald for decades, it’s not going to bring back what’s long gone.

The main ingredients, like Finasteride, will help stop or slow hair loss around the crown, and the minoxidil will help the hairline on the front.

My prescription for The Hairy Pill was customised to fit my needs, and it included an anti-androgen—dutasteride in my case—which is known for being highly effective at blocking DHT, the hormone responsible for hair loss.

Alongside that, it contains a combination of vitamins, including biotin, which is often associated with promoting stronger hair growth. There’s also oral minoxidil, a less common but highly effective alternative to the topical version, which works to increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair regrowth.

Because of Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Act 1989, the exact active ingredients in The Hairy Pill aren’t publicly listed. Since The Hairy Pill’s website is considered a medium for advertising, they can’t disclose the pharmaceutical details online. However, during my consultation with the prescribing doctor, everything was clearly explained to me, so I knew exactly what I was taking and why it was included in my treatment plan.

Having both oral minoxidil and dutasteride in a single daily pill has made managing my hair loss routine much easier than juggling multiple treatments every morning.

Pilot and Mosh also offer hair loss treatments, but The Hairy Pill sets itself apart by combining multiple active ingredients into a single daily pill. It’s tailored to your needs, eliminating the guesswork and hassle of managing separate treatments.

If you're in the US, then HIMS is probably the best alternative to the Hairy Pill.

The process is straightforward:

You pay upfront for the first three months (100 pills). After that, it’s $75 a month, with a three-month supply shipped at 3-month intervals. Monthly updates and doctor consultations are included in the subscription, so there are no hidden costs.

Their doctors will call you regularly and check in on your progress. That said, ensure you have someone to take photos to track your progress; otherwise, you'll have no idea. Ask a mate to take photos of your hair, if need be.

The Hairy Pill is an excellent option for men in the early stages of hair loss or those looking for a convenient, effective alternative to more complicated regimens.

While it won’t perform miracles for very bald men, it’s a reliable solution that delivers consistent results and a proactive approach to hair care and using other products to promote healthy hair growth.

If you’re serious about keeping your hair, this is one of the best options available in Australia right now.

Or have a look at the alternative options Mosh and Pilot and compare which is right for you.

Read the full article The Hairy Pill Review: The All-In-One Hair Loss Treatment With Surprising Results on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

For a brand whose own history positioned it exclusively within luxury leather goods, watches, and accessories, Montblanc’s bold foray into the luxury fragrance market was met with critical acclaim and widespread attention. 

It was a natural transition for one of the world’s premier luxury houses as Montblanc’s products were never just items of beautiful function but reflected a far-reaching legacy that combined both traditional craftsmanship and contemporary innovation.

Since this beginning, Montblanc has maintained an enviable reputation that extends beyond its line of luxury products and into men’s fragrances, reflecting a brand at the pinnacle of understated luxury. 

It was rather poignant, then, that its first offering to the luxury fragrance market was called Presence, establishing Montblanc as a perennial player in the men’s parfum space. Presence, with its spicy and oriental notes, encapsulated the elegance and sophistication synonymous with Montblanc, setting the stage for future successes in the fragrance industry. Now, in 2024, Montblanc gives birth to a Legend.

In today’s society, we live in and amongst the hustle and bustle of city life. Our minutes are scheduled; our time is precious. Professional men need a fragrance that can consistently meet our expectations and complement our dynamic lifestyles. 

Montblanc Legend Blue is a fragrance full of contrasts. From the azure allure of the Legend’s zesty topline notes to its warm and comforting woody heart, Montblanc Legend Blue is an evolution of an inherently masculine scent from the French perfumers and the perfect piece to cut through the urban haze of contemporary life. 

Available in 100ml and 50ml, Legend Blue is the perfect option for travelling and the essential new fragrance for ambitious men.

It opens with a vibrant burst of spearmint, offering an immediate air of freshness after a long flight or meeting. It’s an expressive top note that places this within the premium fragrance offering for a long-lasting scent that invigorates the senses.

The introduction of cedarwood reveals an earthy heart and a rich aroma to the fragrance; it’s warming, sweet and creamy with a masculine bouquet that compliments and grounds the scent with a rare complexity.

Great stuff. Fills a room fast. Minimum of 6 sprays.

Finlay Mead

Crisp. Fresh. Masculine.

Ben Esden

Loved by Dads everywhere.

Alex Mundy

It's the one I grab when I leave the office for a meeting.

Alex Culpin

Not good for mature cologne noses—however a good daily splash and dash.

Luc Wiesman

For the professional man whose day is filled with back-to-back meetings and social engagements, Legend Blue’s longevity ensures that the fragrance remains with you from the first application until the sun goes down. This is thanks to Ambroxan’s warm and musky character, which enhances the Legend Blue’s confident composition, a nuanced expression of modern masculinity that leaves a lasting impression of sophistication and sensuality for the wearer. 

This is a new side of the Legend man: elegant and timeless with sophisticated brilliance, offering a scent that is as multifaceted and dynamic as the men who wear it.

Read the full article Montblanc Legend Blue Review: An Easy, Breezy Everyday Scent For Men on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

A silver and blue streak whistles towards us down the long front straight at Sandown raceway. It’s low, sleek and coming fast, but it’s still indistinguishable. A Ferrari? A Lamborghini? Perhaps a McLaren? Suddenly it’s upon us and gone just as quickly, leaving a wash of churned air and the bull-roar bellow of a high-performance V8 in its wake.

Heads turn in unison in pit lane, like fans at the tennis, to catch the angry red glow of brake lights followed by the bap-bap-bap of rapid-fire downshifts as the land-bound Exocet washes off 230km/h-plus for the tip into turn one.

Minutes later the streak is back, ticking, pinging, radiating heat from every orifice and cloaking the pit lane in the pungent aroma of red-hot brake pads. In a moment, it’s our turn to head out on the track, but not before we take in every angle of the stunning Corvette E-Ray, the ultimate weapon in GMSV’s newly expanded MY25 sports car range.

The big news in the updated range is the arrival of the Corvette E-Ray, the first-ever all-wheel-drive Corvette and the first to combine traditional V8 power with modern electric assistance to deliver a blistering 0-100km/h time of 2.9 seconds.

That’s actually one-tenth of a second faster than the famously wondrous Z06, but a glance at the specs panel and the price list confirms there’s no debate within GM as to which of the two carries the biggest stick.

Priced from $336,000 AUD versus the E-Ray’s more modest $275,000 AUD, this variant holds a vaunted place in the 70-year history of this iconic American sports car brand, thanks to its competition success against some of the world’s great sports cars, including Porsche and Ferrari. Apparently, this thoroughbred racing pedigree and focus have informed practically every detail of the sleek coupe’s development decisions.

One of the most crucial calls that literally shaped the entire eighth-generation Corvette range is the location of the engine. The C8, as it’s known, is the first Corvette ever to mount its engine behind the driver - something that’s been a goal of Corvette engineers and designers for decades.

Changing from the brand’s stoically front-engined/rear-drive layout to the mid-mounted rear-drive location favoured by practically every supercar worth its salt since the Lamborghini Miura, has fundamentally altered the Corvette’s proportions, such that stylistically it does a very passable impression of a Ferrari 296 GTB.

The low and wide American supercar is not, however, a classically beautiful beast, thanks to pragmatic engineering decisions designed to make this thing as fast as mechanically possible.

We've been pleasantly surprised with the new Corvette E-Ray. A lot of car for the money.

Luc Wiesman - DMARGE

The Z06 and E-Ray include almost comically wide rear haunches that fan out from behind the cabin to house massive 345/25ZR21 Michelin Pilot Sport tyres. The tyres are staggered width, too, with smaller 275/30ZR20 doughnuts up front. 

Wander around the back and gaze through the rear screen and you’re treated to an eyeful of the Z06’s beating heart, Chevrolet’s all-new 5.5-litre LT6 V8, the most powerful naturally aspirated V8 ever fitted to a production car (a sentence that must really anger people at Ferrari).

Punching out a mighty 475kw/595Nm it’s no coincidence our GMSV minders have chosen Sandown Raceway to display the E-Ray’s wares. The 3.1km track is known as a power circuit, with front and back drag straights connecting its 13 turns.

You sit low and snug in the shapely GT2 seat, gripping a square-top-and-bottom steering wheel finished in gorgeous suede microfibre. Elsewhere, there’s real carbon fibre and aluminium trim, real leather on the instrument panel and doors, and suede microfibre on the A-pillars and headliner. It may be race-bred but the E-Ray doesn’t forgo creature comforts.

Ahead of the driver is a digital dash with prominent tacho and central speed display, offering selectable modes including Touring, Sport and Track. There’s also a full colour heads-up display which changes as you change the modes and a bunch of other information in the dash pod. 

To the left and angled towards the driver is an 8.0-inch colour touchscreen with Gran Turismo-style graphics and all the usual climate, infotainment, and navigation systems.

We didn’t have time to go deep into the menus but noticed a Teen Driver mode, which allows restrictions to be placed on how the car operates. Even so, the thought of throwing the key fob of your 475kW Ferrari-eater to some pimply-faced hormone factory is just a little terrifying.

A stern-faced professional driver accompanies us as we accelerate out of the pit lane for a sighting lap, noting that the unremarkable lumps and bumps towards the end of the main straight will feel very different as we turn up the wick.

A lap later, with the velocity set to warp, he’s proven right. It feels terrifying, the lumps threatening to kick us sideways into the scenery right at the point where we’re standing hard on the E-Ray’s vast Brembo Performance brakes to wash off speed for turn one.

Despite the buffeting, the E-Ray darts from apex to apex as if glued to the road, surgically sharp in a way its front-engine forebears never were, its phenomenal engine hurling it between bends with brutal intensity. 

The acceleration down the straights is insane, the wail behind our head from the flat-plane crank V8 rising to a crescendo as it strafes the 8600rpm redline. The soundtrack is at once deliciously intoxicating, and a bit terrifying – like a swarm of giant killer bees trapped in a jar strapped to the back of your head.

Drop the hammer from a standstill and the E-Ray will summon every one of its 475kW and 595Nm, pinning you relentlessly to the seat as it nails the benchmark 0-100km/h sprint in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it 3.0 seconds.

Yet despite the prodigious horsepower and eye-watering 313km/h top speed, the engine, gearbox, brakes, steering and chassis all feel incredibly well developed and integrated, ensuring the car feels balanced and forgiving rather than twitchy and unsettled. There’s no need for fancy heel-and-toe downshifts, either, thanks to the terrifically responsive eight-speed twin-clutch gearbox that fires home shifts with millisecond precision.

The Corvette is more than a repository for a great engine. It’s a track-honed supercar in the true sense, showing the benefits of decades of motorsport experience and thousands of hours of engineering development to arrive at a point where it incorporates every trick in the performance car book to deliver the ultimate in supercar thrills.

Read the full article Corvette Delivers Incredible Value For Money For Supercar Lovers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Seven years and an estimated $2 billion (AUD) later, Atlantis The Royal opens its doors to DMARGE and a few lucky guests for the weekend of a lifetime. This modern resort is the pinnacle of luxury accommodation in the ever-growing Dubai. 

After a short 15-hour flight from Sydney to Dubai with Emirates, we made haste to the newly finished Atlantis The Royal hotel for four days of pure luxury to experience every square inch of this new hotel. 

Designed by architects KPF, the 46-storey hotel has 795 rooms, suites, and 231 private residences. The hotel is located on Palm Jumeirah, just a few hundred meters from Atlantis The Palm, the original resort in Dubai. 

What’s immediately noticeable about Atlantis The Royal is its sheer size. As you look up into the sky, it's an enormous and incredibly imposing hotel. Rows of balconies look over the ocean and the Dubai skyline, there’s not a single room in the hotel with a bad view. What’s quite clever is one side of the building can enjoy sunrises and the other sunsets, which is why the towers are aptly named for each of the views guests can enjoy. 

Arriving at 6 am on a mild winter’s (22º is mild for Dubai) morning, I was greeted by not one but ten or twenty hotel staff. Each says hello with the signature hand on the heart gesture and a smile. Yes, every single person in the hotel greets you with a hand on the heart followed by a Good Morning, A Good Afternoon, a Good Evening and sometimes, if you’re really lucky a Good Night. 

Atlantis The Royal’s staff are probably the most helpful and friendly hotel staff we’ve encountered on our travels. As an introvert, being greeted 50 times per day can be challenging but a challenge I was willing to accept given the luxurious circumstances. No request is ever too big or small, with so many staff on hand you rarely wait for anything. They all make an effort to remember your name and your special requests, making the stay that much more special.

Some of you may be wondering if we were lucky enough to experience seeing Beyonce live for the grand opening; yes we were and it was amazing but enough of that, let’s get onto the fun stuff. 

Atlantis The Royal’s rooms are stylish and modern without being cold or uncomfortable. Atlantis The Royal has managed to combine elements of the ocean and landscape without being overly kitsch like their sister hotel. 

The bathrooms are spacious and offer double vanities with a separate shower and toilet. Toothbrushes and amenities are gold plastic which is a very Dubai touch. You even have a bath which faces the ocean so you’re able to open the double doors and watch the ships go by. 

The beds are incredibly comfortable and offer one-touch master light panels for easy access when going to sleep. The spacious room even has a small desk which is perfect for sending emails or dining on room service. 

The balcony is accessed by large double doors which are in sync with the room’s air conditioning. If you open the doors, the aircon automatically adjusts. A small but clever environmentally friendly touch which is often overlooked. 

The view from our 19th floor is spectacular. It's not just ocean as far as the eye can see. To the right, you can see the failed World Idland development which ground to half during the GFC back in 2008. Apart from that there’s not much to look at but just enjoy the serenity. If we were to book, I would opt for the view of the city to enjoy the Dubai sunrises. 

We found little touches like housekeeping’s cleaning and even wrapping our USB chord with little ties to be super helpful. They even provided USB-C adapters for the now extinct USB sockets around the room. 

The only thing that we felt was a bit of a letdown was the TV. A great selection of news and local channels was on offer, but sports and even on-demand services like HBO and Netflix were not available. Given how we all consume content these days, it would have been a nice addition. 

What didn't we like? The bottles of body cleaners, shampoo and conditioner from Graff are a massive fail. They're unable to be opened with wet hands, so good luck with those who try. We used our teeth or a towel from outside the shower on multiple occasions. Frustratingly, the hotel staff put the lids back on every day. Oh well, first world problems.

Arguably the most important meal of the day, Atlantis the Royals’ breakfast is some of the best we’ve ever had at a resort, ever.

Gastronomy and Sea Lounge offer breakfasts. Gastronomy is a large market-style space with various kitchens making delicious treats from all around the world, while Sea Lounge is quieter with a reduced selection but offers al la carte options like Pancakes and Waffles. 

We treated ourselves to egg white omelettes finished with truffle, as well as avo toast with caviar. Yes, caviar here grows on trees which explains its abundance. Have to say the avo toast here put Sydney’s overpriced stuff to shame. Ruined for life. 

The coffee is great and they’ll make you anything you want with any milk. We opted for the traditional Americano which was as good as anywhere else you would get it. So coffee snobs can rest easy knowing their caffeine hit will be taken care of. 

After Christmas, it was time for a break from the sugary treats but Atlantis The Royals’ pastries and sweets offering for breakfast is next level. Almond croissants, tarts, doughnuts, you name it, they have it. 

There’s an abundance of fine dining options here at Atlantis The Royal, which you would expect, given the group of chefs who have opened restaurants here. Heston, Nobu, Costas Spiliadis and Jose Andres each have their own restaurants to offer guests a wide range of cuisines and experiences. 

We hit up the Spanish restaurant Jaleo by famous chef Jose Andres on the first night. This dark and mysterious space offers Jose's taken on modern Spanish food with the family feel he's known for. Guests have the option of tables or a place at the paella bar where you can watch the chefs prepare the freshest paella.

Our recommendation: Get their spicey margarita cocktail; it comes with a green chilli on top. We also highly recommend the bread with tomato and the patatas bravas is next level good.

If you're looking for a Greek feast, then Milos is your place. 76-year-old chef Costas Spiliadis has been in the business for close to 45 years helping the world understand what real Greek food is all about. Fresh produce and not a souvlaki to be seen for miles.

Milos occupies arguably the best space in the rest, with sweeping views of the hotel and across the Dubai skyline.

His team of chefs will help you decide what to eat as you choose from a wide variety of fresh seafood. This is a Greek dining experience like no other.

We recommend the Octopus and the Garden cocktail. Absolute perfection.

Other restaurants to recommend are:

Beyond these’s marquee eateries, there’s you more basic menus at Malibu, in-room and by the pool, where more basic food like burgers and guacamole can be ordered. 

If you're not afraid of heights and love a view then Cloud 22 will be heaven. Located on level 22, this pool slash bar features an infinity pool and day beds. With sweeping views across Dubai's skyline and sea, you will catch both an incredible sunrise and spectacular sunset.

Cloud 22 has a full-service bar and snacks throughout the day and was even the location for Kendall Jenner's 818 tequila party on the hotel's opening weekend.

Book a day bed or cabana for the ultimate day's experience.

Holy mother of massiveness. Atlantis The Royal has gone all out and created one of the best hotel gyms we’ve ever used. It’s possibly even better than my local gym in Bondi Beach. Sorry Beach Fit. 

The large space features every Technogym piece of equipment you could possibly need, multiple treadmills, a smith machine, free weights up to 32kg and two benches. There are two trainers on staff to help you if you require a spot or just want someone to train with for an hour. 

There’s even a yoga room which is also used for guided meditation, which we highly recommend.  

All bottled water is complimentary, and there are sauna and steam rooms for post-workout. If you’re not done yet, there’s a 25-metre lap pool to ensure you’re really cooked. 

If you’re stressed out from the kids and need a little TLC, then Awaken is the place for you. The ultra-luxurious spa offers a wide range of treatments for both men and women, including the Awaken Massage which at nearly $290 is the Rolls Royce of massages. 

You’re greeted by different staff as each takes you through a labyrinth of rooms eventually arriving at one of their 16 treatment rooms. The therapist will get a gauge on how you are feeling and then recommend a variation of the Awaken massage to suit your mood on the day. All balms and oils are chosen to help you reach your goal for the treatment. 

We can say after a 60-minute treatment we’re very relaxed and a little more in touch with our emotional selves. 

Afterwards, guests can hang around and enjoy the sauna, steam room, plunge pool and Himalayan salt room. The only downside to the facilities is the absence of a cold plunge pool, perhaps they can add that one day.

Insider's Tip: Try the 'snow shower' after your sauna. It's weird but good weird.

If you’ve forgotten your togs or just feel like getting decked out in rest wear, then there are a few shops to sort you out. For men, there’s a brand new Orlebar Brown and for everyone else, there are multi-brand boutiques that stock Frescobol Carioca and other beach reach gear. If that’s all too hard, then Atlantis The Palm also offers shopping. 

There's even a barber shop if you need a quick trim.

Why trust us? DMARGE travelled to Dubai as a guest of Atlantis The Royal and experienced the property for ourselves. 

Roughly $1400 AUD / $900 USD per night.

Roughly 30-40 minutes by car. Emirates provide free transfer for Business Class passengers

Atlantis The Royal is more suited to adults and couples. Go next door to Atlantis The Palm with the kids.

Read the full article Atlantis The Royal Review: Four Days At Dubai’s Newest Luxury Resort on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We were lucky enough to fly business class from Sydney to New York City on one of Qantas' beautiful 787-9 Dreamliners. We've had pleasant enough travels in Qantas' economy seats and pleasantly-surprising travels in their premium economy seats, but this is a game changer. As the carrier gears up for its much-hyped non-stop flights to lift off in 2026, here's a flavour of the wonderful experience that's likely to be on offer.

While you'll likely be able to find fuller reviews of Qantas' shared business class lounge at Sydney Kingsford-Smith elsewhere, it's worth touching on since this is the point at which your tailor-made business class experience with the airline really begins.

On arrival, you're greeted and checked into the lounge by Qantas staff who — as this review will go on to explain — are lovely across the board. Once inside, a sprawling and very well-appointed space opens up. In the centre sits a long bar/kitchen island. You can choose to sit here, crank open the laptop, and get to work... or you can pluck a flute of sparkling wine from its sparkling surfaces and really get your day started.

To the left-hand side is a range of seating options — work booths for the hardcore business travellers, sofas for the more relaxed friends and family affairs — and to the right-hand side is a well-stocked breakfast buffet with heaps of cooked and continental options, breakfast juices... and a great line-up of harder liquor, should you be that way inclined.

As you can see from the above photo, I went light on the food and beverages, opting for a fairly wholesome start to the day overlooking the sunrise on tarmac and anticipating a good feed once in the air. The vibe, as they say, was immaculate.

Your ticket also grants you access to the Business Lounge in Auckland. While I must confess this wasn't the shiniest lounge I've ever been in, it was perfectly well-stocked for my brief 90-minute stay and — rumour has it — Qantas has plans for a massive overhaul as part of a $100 million lounge overhaul program, so we won't linger on this too much longer.

Not only does this new line-up of Qantas 787 Dreamliners offer 42 Business suites in a 1-2-1 configuration with fully-flat beds and direct aisle access, but the carrier claims that "the cabins onboard these aircraft have been designed with long-haul travel in mind.” Did that turn out to be true in my experience? Absolutely.

If you've ever considered making the step up from Qantas' premium economy to business class, the little add-ons that come with your seat will be a big consideration.

There's a long list of things that this seat does exceptionally well: a great little amenity kit awaits you on arrival, as does sparkling wine, a bottle of water and fancy over-ear headphones. However, cynics would point out that you can get many of these things when you make the leap from economy to premium economy, but the seat itself is a game changer.

The seat itself feels very spacious — as a 198cm man, you really can trust me when I say that — and every inch of that space feels put to good use; there are plenty of sneaky stow spots for your personal items, there are a slew of charging options, and there's even a mirror tucked away so you can see just how rough you look before touchdown.

However, it's the mechanics of the seat itself that really make Qantas' offer stand out from the pack, especially when it comes to bedtime. The Auckland—New York stretch of this flight is an overnight leg, and so your seat comes equipped with tailor-made beddings: a quilted fitted sheet gives the effect of a thin but effective mattress, while the blankets feel exceptionally premium and the PJs are, thankfully, not one-size-fits-all, instead coming in a range of sizes you can pick from before takeoff.

This means that when it is time to hit the hay, the Qantas team will happily make up your bed and lie it flat for you. When they "fully flat", they mean it; not only was I able to totally recline but, as a tall man, I was able to stretch out and even roll over when required fully. When I brought the supplied eye mask and ear plugs into rotation, I was able to get an almost uninterrupted 8-hours of sleep. For this insomniac, that's unheard of, at 30,000 feet or anywhere else.

If you don't manage to get any sleep, fear not: the seat also has a built-in massage mode that works into your back and shoulders, helping to keep the blood flowing and avoid that oh-so-irritating muscle soreness from sitting so long. All in all, the Qantas business class seat is a home run.

I like my food, and the level of detail I'm about to go into regarding Qantas' food and beverage in business class will likely reflect that. If you want the top-level takeaway: I've never enjoyed such a tasty, varied, almost-restaurant-quality feed on a flight, ever.

Here's the blow-by-blow of what I ate and drank...

On entering the plane, you're almost immediately offered sparkling wine, water, or juice. I opted for water... in the first instance. Around 20 minutes later, before takeoff, the cabin crew came around to introduce themselves and take your lunch order.

Once you're up in the air, approximately an hour after having your order taken, your lunch service begins. A drink of your choice alongside an aperitivo of salted nuts kicks things off. Shortly thereafter, I enjoyed a smoked salmon salad — light, fresh, delicious — followed by pasta with fresh lamb ragu which, much to the shock of this long-time economy flyer, came served with fresh herbs and delivered a rich, homely flavour. Sourdough was served on the side.

The airline allows for what my mother would call a "Pauline Pause" between main and dessert, which was comprised of a tasty pot of Maggie Beer ice cream and a surprisingly good cup of coffee.

If you thought that all sounded like a good time, just you wait for the Auckland—NYC leg... Taking place overnight, you get a whole dinner service, a breakfast service, and a heap of snacks in between. Things kick off, once again, with a welcome chat accompanied by sparkling wine. Your dinner order is taken before takeoff and your build-a-breakfast form is collected for future reference.

Within an hour or so of getting in the air, your drink and aperitivo arrive. On this leg, my starter was chicken skewers with spiced cauliflower followed by a roasted chicken breast with Roman gnocchi. While my chicken breast looked rather a lot like a chicken leg, these courses were in every other regard as advertised and absolutely delicious. Bread and salad are offered on the side, as per leg one.

As with all courses, you get a range of dessert options and, in an effort to shake things up from the first leg, I went for the cheese plate. This was great, but what followed — a surprise treat of dessert wine accompanied by two bite-sized slabs of Whittaker's chocolate — was even better.

During the middle of the night, customers who remained awake (I was not among them...) were offered more Whittaker's chocolate, and then a larger "midnight" snack should sleep continue to elude them. I thought this level of attention to sleepless customers, especially when this would be natural R&R time for cabin crew, was fantastic.

On waking, I was greeted by a Piccolo — which is the best coffee I've ever had at 30,000 feet, by quite some distance — and a shot of uber-healthy if somewhat anonymous juice, which was the perfect start to my day. With 90 minutes remaining, breakfast was served, and it's a good'un: pork sausages, scrambled eggs (surprisingly good), homestyle beans, kale, fruit with yoghurt, a croissant with butter and jam, plus more coffee... divine.

Qantas' in-flight entertainment options have always been good, but right now they're very good. While I slightly resented having to stare at Timothy Cahamlet's face whenever my lovely 16" screen was idling — a particularly intense close-up of his face was the Qantas 'screensaver' at the time of my flight' — once you click through, it's all upside.

I watched The Iron Claw, which was brilliant if heartbreaking. Having set my mood suitably low, I thought why not double down by binging the entire first season of True Detective? While these may not have been the most light-hearted choices, they highlight two of the best things about Qantas' entertainment offer: their lineup of new films is always really well curated, and their access to HBO sets means that no matter how long your flight, there's a bottomless selection of some of the best TV shows ever made for you to get lost in.

Another in-flight entertainment offer that many carriers have taken up in recent years is a wellness-oriented section. Ranging from guided mediations to blissed-out ambient tunes, this was a category I'd never really explored... until now. After my heavy film & TV choices, I found myself craving something to help me wind down for bed, and one of these guided meditations was exactly the thing I needed. Bravo, Qantas, for knowing what I needed long before I did.

Don't let the brevity of this section fool you into thinking that I don't have much to say. Rather, let my conciseness convey weight: the Qantas cabin crew were fantastic. They perfectly walk the line between being attentive — see the midnight Whittakers — making sure your every need is met instantly upon, if not way ahead, of your asking without being overbearing. At no point did I feel overwhelmed by check-ins or questions.

What really blew my mind was the level of personal interest the staff took: they ask your name and they remember it. In fact, they remember it so well that when I strolled up to the boarding gate for my return journey almost a week later, the head of cabin crew walked over and greeted me by name.

More than this, they ask what your plans for your time away are, engage in a lengthy and enthusiastic conversation about them, call back to this conversation before you depart and — should you happen to get the same crew on your return journey — even manage to remember those plans and conversations, asking you about how they bore out.

As someone who can barely remember my own girlfriend's name, I cannot tell you how impressed I was by this; it adds a whole level of personal comfort and intimacy to the business class experience that, speaking frankly, you just don't get in economy (with any carrier) or many other business class cabins, for that matter.

This was the best long-haul flight experience I have ever had, by a country mile. Cutting-edge seat technology combines with Qantas' characteristic eye for wellness, quality, and personalisation, all delivered by a world-beating cabin crew. This experience has, in many ways, ruined me, for it's created a bar so high I fear no other journey may ever touch it...

If I get the chance to fly Qantas business class again, I will leap at the opportunity. Whether I pay with hard-earned cash, flight rewards, or leverage Qantas' frequent flyer program, I'll be there, one way or another...

Read the full article Qantas 787 Business Class In-Depth Review: 24 Hours From Sydney to New York on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Since the launch of Qatar Airways Qsuite business class product, we had waited patiently for a chance to try it... finally, that dream came true. This also is why we named Qatar's Q Suite the best business class to escape Australia.

As first-class cabins become a thing of the past, business class is set to boom. That's why knowing what you're getting is more important than ever before. If Qatar's economy class cabin was anything to go by, we knew we were in for a treat...

Fully enclosed cabins in the 1-2-1 format was a formula never before seen in business class. Since Qatar pioneered the layout, a number of other carriers have followed suit, launching a similar product which is fast becoming the norm in business-class travel. On our way to the annual Swiss watch conference SIHH, we decided to book with Qatar and experience this great new product.

Here's our review of what's hot and what's not with the Qatar business class Qsuite.

Read the full article Qatar Airways Business Class Review: Is ‘Qsuite’ The Best Seat In The Sky? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

With the world-beating 'Project Sunrise' in the pipeline and some exciting changes to their first-class cabin, you're going to be hearing a lot more about the spirit of Australia. On a recent trip home from Europe, I flew home on a Qantas Dreamliner in economy class. Here is a breakdown of my flight, and a review of my seat.

Checking in isn't so bad. There's a bit of a line in security, but this is to be expected. I get through to the gate with plenty of time. I go to the kiosk near the boarding gate and get a cold Peroni. Life is good. There's a (muted) TV. I watch an interview between some news outlet and one of Russia's leaders trying to justify their invasion of Ukraine. It's surprisingly gripping. I almost want to wait in line longer so I can keep watching. Eventually, we are ushered onto the flight.

If you want a slightly more luxe check-in experience, then get savvy with Qantas Flight Rewards and the Frequent Flyer Program writ large. If you know what you're doing, there are some big deals to be won.

The usual – one big one for the hold, one small one for the cabin. Check Qantas' website if you want exact weights.

I sit down, glad to be in an aisle seat (on my journey to Europe I was in a middle seat, trapped next to a guy with little regard for personal space, and who snored). On this flight I'm next to a mum and her son. He seems well behaved and she seems like the sort of person who has good armrest etiquette. Awesome. I start listening to a podcast, studiously ignoring the safety demonstration and downloading a good supply of music before putting my phone on airplane mode.

Half an hour later, almost halfway through my podcast, I look up, puzzled as to why we are yet to move. I shrug, switch over to '2PAC - THE 5 BEST SONGS EVER', and continue pretending I don't exist (how good are noise-cancelling headphones). I get through about three of the songs, and then curiously lift one of the headphones off my ears. Apparently, something went wrong with the engine check so now we have to return to the terminal to check it again. Great. Another reasonably long wait later and we are told the engine is fine, but we have now missed our time slot to fly out.

Great.

We wait another half an hour or so, before being shuttled back to the terminal, going through security (with a passport check and everything) and then recollecting our luggage. By this time it's gone midnight. We return to the check-in desk to await further instructions. We are told to get a taxi to a hotel in Brentford, which Qantas is putting us up in, and come back the next day at 11am (for a 2pm flight).

I do as I'm bid, wait another half an hour or so in line to get a cab, sleep in the hotel, and come back the next morning. I enjoy a free meal voucher courtesy of Qantas and eat some weird vegetarian chicken/tomato pastry things from Caffe Nero. I buy a couple of books and kill time.

Finally, it's boarding time once again. Take two. This time everything goes smoothly and we take off (more or less) as scheduled. Having said that, due to the airport's busy schedule, there is still a half an hour or so delay.

I enjoy the headrest feature which negates the need for a neck pillow, although unfortunately (probably due to my stupid refusal to ever listen to flight attendant's takeoff spiels) I don't realise it's there until well into the flight. I listen to a bunch of podcasts and a bunch of movies before checking out the in flight entertainment system.

I watch Notting Hill, and then start to watch Euphoria (I don't have Binge at home so I figure this is my chance). I end up turning Euphoria off after the first episode because I feel bad the kid a couple of seats down might see it and become corrupted by all the drug and sex scenes. I switch to Succession. I manage to lose my in-flight headphones at some point and can't be bothered to ask the flight attendants for a new pair. I continue to watch Succession with subtitles.

Despite my best efforts to dirty them (joking), they get kept reasonably clean during the flight. I'm not a fan of stuffing my fingers into the bins to make sure all the paper goes down, so I'm one of those selfish bastards who pokes most of it in, but leaves a bit sticking out for the next person. Despite this, the toilets are always pretty clean when I visit.

I go to the bathroom, only to realise I have forgotten my bottle of water (and I don't fancy rinsing my teeth in the sink). I then traipse back to my seat and then back to the bathroom, fielding off (as I imagine them) suspicious stares of other passengers who must be imagining I have explosive diarrhea or a restless leg.

The Qantas Dreamliner cabin feels less crowded than my Qatar Airways flight a few weeks prior (it is a 3-3-3 configuration in economy as opposed to Qatar's 3-4-3 which I flew out on). In terms of seat comfort: it feels more or less the same (though I am very impressed with the built-in head rest neck pillow as I am someone who always forgets my neck pillow).

I try really hard to sleep for a time, to no avail. This is pretty standard for me. I eventually get an hour or two's kip in, but it's not exactly REM sleep (more like a knockoff H&M).

You know how marathon runners hit a point in the race where they feel they can't continue? I have a theory that most people hit this point in a flight. For me it tends to come after I wake up from what I think is a decent sleep, only to realise that there is half the flight (or more) still to go. This happens to me on this flight. But again: pretty standard, and I get the same thing on 14 hour flights to Dubai. So it's not the end of the world. Back to the podcasts and music I go...

I always eat the food I'm given on a plane because I've paid for it (and because it helps break up the boredom). I have a suspicion microwave meals don't agree with my stomach though because it almost always gives me cramps (on basically all airlines). Other than that, the food was very nice; very Qantas.

I can't remember exactly what I ate, but I think the London to Darwin flight was either chicken or beef with rice, and some lovely snacks. There was also some kind of meal with sausages (and another with polenta) in there too. There is also a handy button on the touch screen so you can remind yourself what the menu options are.

Everyone has to wear a mask.

The flight attendants are all very nice, and very friendly. They also coped very well with the cancelled flight, and put passenger's minds at ease to the best they could.

I'm still very jetlagged, but I don't consider that an airline's responsibility, really. If I wanted to be jetlag free, I'd stump up for 8 hours of kip in business.

Deciding whether to upgrade from Qantas economy to premium economy — or, if you're really balling, to upgrade from premium economy to business — is a tough question and largely depends on your means. Ultimately, we were pretty impressed with this economy service... but we can't deny that we're big believers in premium-economy as the perfect middle ground.

Pretty good. Shame about the cancellation though. I guess that can happen on any flight, on any carrier. And at least with Qantas they look after you when things go wrong (it's not quite so easy when this situation unfolds on you with a budget carrier).

Read the full article Qantas 787 Economy Review: A Very Smooth Ride For A Low Price on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We flew Qatar Airways economy to Europe and this is our first hand review. With the news that Qatar is scrapping first-class because their CEO thinks it's pointless, we all need to get better acquainted with their business class and economy offers... Here's what we thought.

Hot tarmac. Clear skies. Trundling suitcases. A bright Sydney afternoon and a prompt 4:30pm takeoff called more for sunglasses than the eye mask and blanket we were provided with on Qatar Airways’ Boeing 777-300ER flight to Doha.

Don’t get me wrong: they were appreciated. But once I dug them out from underneath the seat in front of me, several hours later, they didn’t hold the same appeal. But we'll get to that. First, let's set the scene.

Flying economy to Europe, you used to have two options. You either got a cheap red-eye stopping off in Bangkok, Helsinki, Beijing and the Polar North, or you booked a legacy airline that would transport you across the globe in two (relatively) swift bounds.

These days, however, British Airways, Emirates and Qantas are facing some serious competition from the likes of Cathay Pacific, Etihad, Singapore Airlines and Qatar Airways. For this trip, I chose Qatar, flying from Sydney to Doha (on the 777), stopping over for 2 hours, then Doha to Madrid (on the A350-900).

While my expectations were admittedly lower than normal after a series of disastrous domestic Jetstar flights, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience with Qatar's flagship airline.

That said: not everything was perfect. From meal mix-ups (and the garlic-infused feet of the woman who ‘stole’ my exit row seat) to the generous legroom and intuitive entertainment system, this is everything I loved and loathed about Qatar Airways' economy experience.

Although I foolishly spent most of the flight with my bag under the seat in front of me (the struggle of having a laptop and wanting to use it), the first thing I noticed was the ample legroom.

While this may have something to do with my recent RyanAir and Jetstar experiences, the fact remains: compared to a budget airline, Qatar Airways’ 777 Economy feels like Business.

Side note: for the Doha to Madrid journey, I was on an Airbus A350-900, which had noticeably less legroom.

I bypassed the long check-in queue by checking in online, and strolled up to the “online check-in” baggage drop-off area. So far so good.

I then waited for my check-in attendant to finish her conversation with her supervisor. Just before I got annoyed (alright, I’ll be honest, it was a couple of seconds later) I realised she was a trainee.

I was then offered the chance to change my seat to an exit row. My mildly bruised ego restored itself, and I started stretching my hamstrings and wiggling my toes.

I then got onto the plane only to find she had booked me into the wrong side of the aisle; the woman across from me had lucked into the coveted 25D.

Not content with crushing my 'extra legroom' hopes, she then whacked her feet up, sans shoes, for the entirety of the flight.

Side note: I later discovered I had actually been booked into the exit row from Doha to Madrid, not Sydney to Doha, and all (except the garlic feet) was forgiven…

Having recently experienced cancellations, delays and general mayhem from Jetstar, I was so surprised when the fight announcement board switched from “relax” to “boarding now” on time that I barely had time to finish my chicken and avocado toasted sandwich, before rushing to the gate.

Although Qatar's economy is mostly set up in a 3-3-3 configuration, this turned to 3-4-3 for the front two rows of each section, meaning you hit the jackpot with seats 25D and G (or each partition's equivalent). For some reason, this bothered me more than the entirety of row 24 (an exit row) having extra legroom (although this might have had something to do with the woman opposite me’s feet).

The handy little amenity kit handed out on take-off enhanced the first impression given by Qatar’s trademark blue and orange hues (and legroom). The kit had toothpaste, a toothbrush, an eye mask, earplugs and- differentiating it from the other airlines I have previously flown with - a colourful tube of lip balm.

I’m no vegan, but as a cheese-averse carb-lover I thought I’d be extra clever by logging into my Qatar Airways account the night before this trip and selecting the vegan option. Unfortunately, as dinner rolled around, I discovered any dietary preferences must be made more than 24 hours in advance.

Fortunately, I’m not a real vegan and the “creamy chicken and mushroom” with penne pasta and green peas was pretty good. Sure: it looked like something you’d get out of a school canteen, but it (almost) tasted like something you’d eat in your local Italian. Almost. Just close your eyes, child.

Oh, and to be fair: had I been vegan, I would have been able to order the Udon Noodles (it would have been a 20-minute longer wait though, so I went with the chicken).

Fortunately for the man in front of me, this is the first airline I’ve ever flown on where I didn’t need to aggressively jab the screen in front of me to get it to respond; a light tap sufficed.

Oh, how times have changed. Just a few years ago, getting any kind of Wi-Fi was a blessing. Now it’s expected, and although you get a complimentary hour, if you want more the only option is to pay $10 US dollars, which entitles you to Wi-Fi for the whole trip (one way to get around this is by having a secondary device, which gets you a second hour for free).

Although we were grateful for the Wi-Fi we got, to stay ahead of their competitors (and so I don’t have to get Instagram withdrawals again) Qatar would do well to introduce a smaller payment option on their 777’s for those who want a second or third hour of Wi-Fi, rather than the current “all or nothing” scheme.

Having said that, by giving a complimentary hour they are still doing better than (or at least; keeping up with) most of the competition. It’s also more than you get on their A350-900 from Doha to Madrid, which gives you just half an hour, and which (in my case) stopped working after 10 minutes.

I loved eavesdropping on the flight attendants' dating gossip, as they talked about having a port in each call and breaking up with the clingy ones on Valentine's Day.

On a serious note: they were very friendly, professional, spoke more languages than a multi-tongued Oxford dictionary, and switched between them with ease. I didn't ask them about their next hookup though.

Considering the inflight experience was on par with Emirates, I landed in Doha half expecting the same exotic "bright and breezy” feel you get in Dubai. However the airport experience was a little flat, and we had to take both a train and a bus to get to our next flight.

From surfing documentaries to Hollywood blockbusters, Ted Talks and dry BBC comedies, Qatar Airways' Economy had a wide variety of entertainment on offer. The only feature they lacked (which their competitor Emirates has access to) is live Premiere League football...

They were not automatic like some other airlines have. And definitely not for the germaphobe.

Although it dried my mouth out, that comes with the territory of flying. Apart from that, the air-conditioning gets 5 stars from me - not lacklustre, but not freezing us in our sleep.

I’m pretty much always down for a meat pie, but when you’re desperately trying to get some sleep, after having only had dinner a few hours ago, this moment is not one of them.

I’ve been on a few double pronged journeys where the second leg has clearly only been given a cursory clean. However, both legs of this trip started in immaculately clean planes: spotless chair pockets, sparkling bathroom (that was evidently cleaned multiple times throughout the journey). Two thumbs up.

Although my partner's Bose headphones seemed to work fine by inserting their single prong into one of the two holes provided (designed for the double-pronged, cheap, complimentary headphones), my personal in-ear headphones only worked in one ear, and if the jack was nudged, it gave me a lot of static.

Although most airports sell 'single to double' prong adaptors, I look forward to the day when an airline designs its headphone jacks so that travellers can easily use their own products.

No one wants a dead phone. Or you can use it to charge your wireless headphones. Enough said.

Who owns the armrest, really? Whoever can subtly wheedle the other one’s arm off it, right? These guys are right up there with those who change the direction of the reading light and those that change the airflow of your air-con nozzle.

Seasonal fruit is nice, but have you ever sunk your gleaming whites into a sweet hunk of chocolate? We did and found love at 10,000 feet. Also, the vegetarian pastries weren’t too shabby.

Forget the Koran: after flying to Europe a couple of times I can now recite the generic “Airline Safety Spiel” in Arabic, French, Spanish, English and Mandarin, word for word. Although this is not exclusive to Qatar (every airline is legally obliged to do this), just when I thought I’d got away with one, on the Doha-Madrid leg, where I had scored the exit row, the flight attendants pulled the TV out of my armrest for me and plonked it in front of my face, 1984 style.

Read the full article Qatar Airways Economy Class Review: The Good, Bad & Ugly on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We touched down in Hong Kong on a recent European trip to sample all the delights. One was the Island Shangri-La, and the other was Cathay Pacific's Business Class and Lounge offering. One standout was The Wing, the airline's most exclusive lounge.

For most of us, schlepping through airports on long-haul flights feels like being herded like cattle. We contort into small seats, endure long waits for connecting flights, and arrive at our destinations with sore bones and long faces. But then, some get to experience the comfort of the very best airline lounges—little oases amidst a sea of tired travellers where you can relax and recharge.

However, not all lounges are created equal. Consider the contrast between the Aspire lounge in Amsterdam, known for its warm Heineken, dirty toilets, and pay-per-use showers, and Cathay Pacific’s incredible ‘The Wing’ lounge in Hong Kong Airport.

The Wing takes the lounge experience beyond champagne and caviar with the introduction of the Cabana, possibly the most self-indulgent 90-minute lounge experience ever.

Cathay Pacific's The Wing is one of Asia's—and perhaps the world's—most luxurious and well-appointed lounges.

We landed at 6:00 am, just in time for The Wing to open. The lounge was deathly quiet compared to a few hours later. It is adorned with Chesterfield sofas and soft leather recliners and offers supreme luxury for business travellers.

Whilst slightly dated in some parts, the Wing still provides one of Asia's best and most luxurious lounge experiences. I've been here three times now, and I love it more every time.

The good news is it's due for an upgrade this year, which means it will be even better.

By 7:00 am, the lounge was buzzing, not with First Class passengers, but businessmen and women scooting throughout Asia on daily hops.

The Haven was quickly full of diners eager to make the most of the superb offering.

The Haven offers an à la carte menu more suited to evening flights, and a simple breakfast buffet is available in the main lounge area. The self-serve Piper and Drappier champagne is a nice touch too. At 7 am, you ask? Why not.

The Cabanas are very well hidden and only available to Oneworld Emerald and First Class passengers. Usual curiosity and question-asking opened this oasis's doors—your self-contained space to relax and recharge. Due to our very early arrival, we booked a Cabana for the full 90 minutes allowed. Note: bookings are essential.

In the Cabana, you can get changed and relax while they take care of everything. Get your clothing pressed and returned promptly while you shower and freshen up in a fluffy white robe.

Sadly, I did not need anything pressed this time, but I'll bring all my laundry next time.

The Cabanas are stocked with premium amenities: body wash, shampoo, and conditioner provided by Jurlique, plus more toothbrushes and shower caps than you have teeth or heads. One thing missing was hair products for men with wild post-flight hair.

What to do when you have a 3-hour layover? That's right, you try the bath. Good thing you have 90 minutes because the bath takes a while to fill. I'm not one for selfies, but this one was too good to pass up.

I used the remaining 60 minutes to soak like a big fat crocodile. Though I'm not typically a bath guy and find them incredibly boring, even on a 3-hour layover, I was very clean and relaxed.

What a difference 90 minutes can make. In one of the world's best airports before jumping on my next flight to Sydney.

Read the full article Cathay Pacific ‘The Wing’ Review 2024: The Most Self-Indulgent First-Class Lounge Experience Ever on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We spent two unforgettable nights in a Harbour View Suite on the 52nd floor at the Island Shangri-La, basking in Hong Kong's best luxury. Here's why the Island Shangri-La is the hottest property in this underrated stopover city. 

Thanks to the pandemic, Hong Kong is often overlooked as a stopover destination. But it's now making a triumphant return as China awakens from its four-year slumber, and the Island Shangri-La is the perfect place to experience this resurgence.

The hotel is conveniently located within the newly completed Pacific Place shopping centre, which means luxury brands like Celine, Loewe, and Gucci are just an elevator ride away. It's also conveniently close to the Admiralty MTR station, making it a handy base for business travellers and families alike.

The upper floor rooms offer breathtaking views of the Peak and Hong Kong harbour. The rooms themselves are testament to the hotel’s commitment to luxury, with a mix of traditional and newly renovated spaces, enhanced by the quiet elegance of the ongoing renovations.

There are even floors dedicated to children’s themes to ensure that younger guests are entertained all day while adults can indulge in high-end amenities, while the staff at the Island Shangri-La are exemplary, attending to every need with warmth and professionalism. Being addressed by our surname added a personal touch that elevated our stay. 

Whether arranging a pre-wedding shoe shine or fulfilling a business request, their attention to detail was impeccable. The scents that waft through the hotel evoke a sense of home and tranquillity, making even the most anxious traveller (like myself) feel at ease. Honestly, I didn’t want to leave.

Art enthusiasts will find the hotel's extensive collection a delight. Among the many pieces is "The Great Motherland of China," a 167-foot-high silk painting, one of the largest paintings in the world, which spans multiple floors and adds to the hotel's artistic charm. 

For those who prefer a grand entrance, the hotel offers a fleet of courtesy cars, including a Rolls Royce Phantom and Mercedes-Benz S-Class, ready to chauffeur guests in style. I dared not ask for a transfer to the airport, but in hindsight, I should have. 

Most importantly, the Island Shangri-La is all about sustainability and minimising impact on the environment. Everywhere you turn, there are little touches to help improve the hotel’s use of plastic and electricity. Who knew luxury could be so good for the environment?

Regarding opulence, the Island Shangri-La never disappointed. During my recent stay, I enjoyed experiencing one of their finest accommodations: the newly renovated Harbour View Suite. This room is one of the best in the hotel, if not in all of Hong Kong.

The sheer size of the suite is astounding, especially considering the compact nature of most Hong Kong apartments. This suite felt more like a grand residence than a hotel room. Every conceivable luxury was at our fingertips: a fully stocked mini-bar and kitchenette, a selection of fine teas and coffees, and two massive 65-inch LCD televisions loaded with an array of news and entertainment channels.

The suite even has everything needed to mix your cocktails. Beer, wine, and a mini bottle of vintage Krug were available. There’s a water vessel included, perfect for gym-goers who might forget their own. Not to mention Asahi is for the beer-loving traveller like me.

One of the highlights of the Harbour View Suite is its stunning, sweeping views of the harbour and the city. Being a corner room, we were treated to a panoramic vista impossible not to stare at, out into the distance of mainland China. Whether day or night, the view never failed to impress.

The suite also features two bathrooms and a living room with a dining table fit for four. We were greeted with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot upon our arrival, a welcome touch that set the tone for our luxurious stay. The living room boasts a 180-degree sofa, perfect for enjoying the spectacular view or the equally spectacular television.

Storage is never an issue here, with a spacious walk-in wardrobe accommodating the attire and accessories of two very well-dressed individuals. The suite also offers Bluetooth connectivity in the bathroom, allowing guests to enjoy their favourite music while preparing for a special event or business meeting.

Security is always paramount, and the large wall safe ensures that valuables, including high-end items like Rolex and Patek watches, are kept secure. The second bathroom offers an additional layer of comfort for those who value privacy.

Situated on the 51st floor, the suite provides a mesmerising perspective of Hong Kong. The high vantage point means you never tire of gazing out at the bustling city below, whether you're relaxing in the suite or entertaining guests.

This incredible suite costs around $12,000 HKD per night, approximately $2,300 AUD. Considering the luxury and the exceptional experience, it represents great value for money. Living like royalty for a weekend or a week in Hong Kong is an experience that is well worth the price.

Renowned as one of the best hotel gyms, second only to Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal, Yun Wellness offers a blend of amenities and modern equipment.

The changing rooms feature marble floors and electronic lockers. Complimentary bathrobes and deodorant are provided, ensuring a smooth transition from workout to work. The facilities include both an infrared sauna and a traditional sauna, offering options for post-exercise relaxation.

The gym has the latest Technogym equipment, ensuring you never have to wait for a bench. The hotel has even replaced bottled water with refill stations that track how many bottles have been saved from landfills, promoting environmental consciousness.

Then there’s the spa—wow. Just wow. We experienced the Million-Dollar Men’s Facial by Dr. Burgener of Switzerland. Specifically designed for men's skin, this facial is cleansing, healing, and oil-controlling. 

White and grey clays are applied to deeply cleanse, absorb oils and sebum, and provide nourishing minerals. This deep cleansing allows the skin to absorb hyaluronic-acid-rich serums, restoring hydration and soothing irritation fully.

It was one hour of pure bliss in their spa sanctuary. We were greeted with complimentary ginger tea upon arrival and relaxed in the lounge area after our treatment. No joke — my skin has never looked better. 

At around $500 AUD for the hour, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better way to spend your downtime at the hotel. Go on. Treat yo’self.

Under the watchful eye of Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky, the Island Shangri-La has some pretty big shoes to fill in the culinary stakes. What better way than to 'eat the ass out of a low-flying duck' than to try every restaurant over 36 hours.

To start this culinary journey, I visited Petrus on the 56th floor for my one and only breakfast at the hotel. In true fashion, I chose something that wasn't on the menu.

6 egg whites, spinach, tomatoes. This recent health kick has made for boring eating, but the staff couldn't be happier to oblige. 

As a business traveller, it’s easy to get swept up in eating crap, and especially after the gym workout and infrared sauna, I had grand ambitions of eating well that morning. That was until I spotted the Portugese tarts and croissants…. Goodbye, calorie control for the day. 

Later that day, whilst planning my shopping trip at the Pacific Plaza, I opted to go off schedule and treat myself to Cafe Too. This restaurant within the hotel wouldn't be my first choice as I’m not a buffet guy.

That said... it was awesome. Everything you can possibly think of was available, and the place was buzzing with families and friends all coming together for a five-star buffet experience. Seafood, traditional Cantonese dishes and the desserts, yes, the desserts were fire. It cost me around $600 HKD for the buffet, and whilst I didn't overindulge, it would be awesome to come again and really get my eat on. 

The food-a-thon didn't stop there: Chef Carey treated me to one hell of a last supper at Lobster Bar & Grill. The LBG is an upmarket steak and seafood restaurant that’s perfect for surf and turf lovers like myself. 

Chef Carey welcomed us with a series of unique dishes like a full artichoke, something I’d never experienced before, lobster bisque and finally, a full lobster and a perfectly cooked sirloin steak with a side of asparagus and mash potato. Pure bliss. 

The meal was finished with chocolate lobster claws and washed with more Veuve Cliquot. 

Make no mistake, the Island Shangri-La is not for the faint-hearted. It’s a luxurious hotel perfect for your next Hong Kong stopover. It’s best enjoyed with your partner or family because there’s so many cool little things I kept discovering even after 36 hours at the property. 

My biggest regret was having to leave at 2 a.m. to catch a flight to Europe and not getting to enjoy my final breakfast of egg whites and Portuguese tarts; a modern tragedy. 

Rest assured, there are a number of wonderful rooms available to suit most budgets. In our case, we scored the suite, and I will be back to sample it again. 

Head over to their website to check out more of the hotel and what it has to offer.

Read the full article Island Shangri-La Might Be Hong Kong’s Best Hotel, As We Discovered On A 36-hour Stopover on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

After years of waiting, we finally took off from Sydney to Hong Kong to experience Cathay Pacific’s Business Class on their latest A350 aircraft. With a layover in the airline's immaculate first-class lounge and a stay in Hong Kong's best hotel, the stage was set for a 10/10 trip... but did the cabin itself meet the mark?

Cathay Pacific has always held a special place in my heart. It was the first airline I flew Business Class with when I was 14 years old. My parents and I scored an upgrade from Amsterdam to Hong Kong back when ‘dressing nice’ could get you an upgrade.

Back then, the 747-400 had an old 3-3 layout in the upper deck, which was awesome for the time. It even had a leg rest and ice cream.

Fast-forward to 2024, and Cathay Pacific has just emerged from a long pandemic period, during which the airline (and most of Hong Kong) faced stringent health restrictions.

These restrictions severely impacted tourism and, of course, Cathay’s revenue. Just last week, the airline’s last plane was taken out of desert storage and reinstated into service. It’s crazy to think we’ve lived our best lives while Hong Kong still struggled to restart.

We took the opportunity to test-drive the airline’s Business Class offering and revisit Hong Kong as a stopover destination. For years, Singapore and Dubai have dominated Australians' European holiday transits, but is it time for Hong Kong to reclaim the crown of the most fun stopover destination? Maybe.

Check-in was a breeze at Counter G in Sydney. Dedicated Business Class lines moved swiftly, and my 26kg Rimowa Trunk was checked into Hong Kong. As it disappeared, I quietly held my breath, hoping it would return on the other end. Rimowa luggage, while cool, always makes you nervous.

Note: Hong Kong has a check-in concierge service for First and Oneworld Emerald. Staff greet you, take your bags, and hand you tickets. This is one of the most seamless check-in processes I’ve experienced, and I highly recommend it for pointy-end flyers. Sadly, Cathay is about to discontinue First Class, so who knows what will happen with this service. The baggage allowance is generous, two times the 35kg allowance.

As a Qantas Platinum Frequent Flyer, I treated myself to breakfast at The First Lounge at Sydney Airport. As a Cathay Pacific Business Class customer, you can use the Qantas Business Lounge, which still offers a great selection.

The Qantas receptionist oddly gave me grief for not having a ‘voucher.’ As a partner airline, they provide a voucher to use a specific lounge at the airport. In this case, a Oneworld lounge was the most logical choice.

AMEX Platinum members can use those lounges; however, we recommend the Qantas option for better food and beverage options.

If transiting through Hong Kong, Cathay offers The Pier and The Wing lounges. Both are best in class and often overlooked as some of the world’s best airline lounges. Oneworld Emerald Flyers will have exclusive access to special dining and spa services.

The new Airbus A350 aircraft is an absolute dream to fly on. Like most Airbuses, it’s whisper quiet, has large windows, and a small business class cabin of only 38 seats. This gives a very intimate feel unlike the larger A380 aircraft operated by Qantas and Emirates.

Business Class is split into two main cabins, the other smaller and closer to Economy. I chose 16G, right in the middle of the main cabin.

My neighbour was a lovely Lebanese fellow who claimed to be part of 'Brothers In Arms', a well-known Sydney Middle Eastern gang. He was off with his 11 brothers to visit an orphanage to donate toys and help for a week. True story.

While Cathay is in the process of updating its aircraft with the new Aria business class, the existing product still stands the modern-day test and is much better than other airlines that charge more. The 1-2-1 configuration means that everyone has aisle access, and the fit-out is fresh and feels premium. The seats are not closed suites; however, they offer superior privacy compared to Emirates.

The best seats are the window options, but these were all taken when my flight was ticketed, so taking the middle was the only option. I would recommend having a window seat if flying into Hong Kong. While it’s not the old airport which was sketchy, it’s still pretty to look out the window.

A massive pop-out entertainment screen awaits you, with more than enough movies and shows to keep you occupied on a 9-hour flight from Sydney to Hong Kong. The Cathay Pacific 777 alternative will have a slightly older entertainment system with a smaller screen, so you want to score the A350 when booking. That said, there’s a small cabin of just 8 seats on the 777, which is quiet and private. We managed to score this in our second leg against Milan. 12K, baby.

The bathroom was a personal favourite of mine. It had a window, so you could stare into the blue sky while relieving yourself at 35,000 feet. Incredible. The smaller cabins on the A350 mean fewer people using the bathroom, so it’s a touch cleaner. Yes, I wore shoes to the bathroom, too.

Inflight internet is available for $19.95 USD ($30.00 AUD) for the entire flight. Ensure you have your physical credit card as Google Pay didn’t work for me. It’s quick enough to read email and browse Instagram, but it’s not lightning-fast.

One thing Cathay Pacific does remarkably well is its selection of food. We had a light Wellness breakfast that consisted of Chia porridge, fruit salad, and, surprisingly, a chocolate croissant. Who knew that a croissant could be part of a wellness diet? Count me in! Cathay also offers Western, Chinese, and lighter breakfast options that cater to almost every taste and morning need.

After breakfast, we were served lunch, which I decided to pre-book a week before to test the service. There’s nothing worse than missing out or getting what you don’t want after paying $10,000 for a flight. Cathay Pacific’s pre-flight menu is extensive, with both Western and Eastern options.

It’s more skewed toward Eastern, but you’ll find many treats there. I would recommend sticking with the Eastern menu as it’s their specialty and great.

If you’re flying out of Hong Kong, you can select from top Michelin-starred restaurants like Louise and Duddell’s, which have designed specific meals for some routes. Louise is a nostalgic look at traditional French food, whereas Duddell’s is high-end Chinese food made with premium ingredients. Sadly, I slept through dinner service on my return leg and missed my pre-booked Louise-prepared dinner. Pas mal.

If cocktails are your thing, you’ll have various popular options like Negroni, Martini, and Manhattan. Signature drinks like Cloud Nine and the non-alcoholic Cathay Delight are sure to… delight.

The wine selection is extensive, with wines from Italy, France, and Adelaide. There’s even wine from China, which I tried and was great. I recommend the Silver Heights Jiayuan Marselan red from the Ningxia region. There’s no need to be afraid of Made in China regarding red wine.

Cathay has ground to make up in the luxury travel space, but this current product and the new Aria business class will help them return to the top of the airline rankings. The cabin staff were lovely, efficient, and always happy to help. I actually hit the call button for the first time in years because they were so friendly and helpful. Unlike Emirates, it didn’t feel like a bother.

The biggest kicker in this review is the price. Cathay Pacific is the most competitively priced business class from a top-tier airline. In February, a Sydney to London ticket was around $7,200 compared to $14,000 with Singapore Airlines. Dare I say the product is only marginally different? Emirates and Qantas are just as expensive as Singapore, too.

It makes sense that Cathay is reducing prices to get people flying again, especially as Hong Kong has dropped off as a stopover destination. While it’s a slightly longer flight to Europe by a couple of hours, Hong Kong is a fantastic stopover destination that is almost unparalleled for good restaurants and hotels. The train from the airport to Kowloon/Central is quick, and the shopping is incredible, especially luxury shopping. And it remains a foodie haven for Cantonese delights.

Generally, Business Class airfares are tipped to come down, so it’s safe to assume Cathay will be many people’s first choice when looking to save a few thousand on their next European holiday or business trip. Lock in a few nights at the Island Shangri-La, our recommended luxury hotel on Hong Kong Island.

Lastly, you can earn Qantas Points, but they are only half of the normal rate. Booo! So don’t expect a full haul of status credits if you plan a status credit run.

Until next time, keep your seatbelt fasted, keep your dumplings warm and champagne glass full...

Read the full article Cathay Pacific’s Business Class A350 Review: Exceptional Value For Travellers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

If you’re a podcast obsessive like myself, finding yourself hooked on the musings of Dr Andrew Huberman or Rich Roll, then you’ve most likely heard of Athletic Greens (or AG1, as they’re now called). After much deliberation, we caved in and decided that if everyone's raving about AG1, then maybe it’s worth a shot. 

What is AG1? The concept is simple: it’s a daily supplement drink that covers everything you need to maintain good gut health, immune support, recovery and energy levels. It contains 75 vitamins, minerals, and whole-food-sourced nutrients which are all neatly combined into a daily scoop that you mix with water.

What we really liked about AG1 is the fact it creates a daily habit that is easily maintained. Like a morning coffee or a pill, you take AG1 first thing in the morning on an empty stomach before you hit the gym or go to work.

WATCH: Here's why AG1 has attracted so much hype in recent months...

AG1 is a subscription-based service that delivers a sachet of supplements right to your door every 30 days. The initial cost to start the subscription is $79 USD plus shipping. Being located in Sydney, it cost us an additional $9.00 plus tax. In total, it’s $96.80 USD, or roughly $150 AUD at today’s exchange rate. Yes, $150.00 each month. 

AG1 do offer travel sachets and a one-off order for $99 USD which will see your order tipping the scales at $170 Australian dollars. 

Your first order will have everything you need to get started. AG1 comes in really cool packaging so it's not only good for you but looks damn good in your kitchen too. 

Your package will contain:

Pro Tip: We leave the canister on the window edge so it’s right in front of us when we get up in the morning. This makes it nigh-on impossible not to take it first thing in the morning. 

AG1 is smart with your following orders: to keep shipping costs down you get your follow-up supplements delivered in a small satchel which you tip into the canister that came with your first order. Refilling is easy, just open the sachet and pour it into the cool green canister. 

AG1 hit you with notifications when your order is about to be charged to your credit card, giving you the option to postpone or change the date on which you want the subscription to renew. Not only is this super helpful but it's also very easy to use — a rarity in the subscription-based world.

In fact, this was what we were most impressed with when trying AG1. 

Taking AG1 is simple: You mix one scoop of the powder with 250ml of water and shake it up using the bottle provided. What I like about AG1 is the quality of the packaging, tub and shaker. It feels very premium, which is a massive bonus when compared with so many other fitness products (think of your cheap, smelly, plastic protein shaker...)

The AG1 powder mixes really easily with water and after a few quick shakes, it’s ready to drink. There are no lumpy bits, so no need to use the Nutribullet — just shake and drink. This was also a big win for us: lumpy bits in any supplement are gross (think, yet again, of your cheap, smelly, plastic protein shaker...)

In short: AG1 tastes surprisingly good. Don’t let the green put you off: the team at AG1 have been working on this formula for a number of years (52 iterations and counting). It’s an easy drink first thing in the morning. 

It has a slightly sweet taste, followed by a slightly sour taste when you get to the final bits in the bottle. We can only assume this is the good stuff, so don’t chicken out and pour it into the sink. 

To be perfectly clear, AG1 doesn't work like a pre-workout powder; you don’t get a charge, a bolt or a buzz from it. It’s something you take over the long term to maintain good health and optimise your body's internal processes. Like going to the gym or doing yoga, it’s part of a longer process that needs daily upkeep.

It’s now very much part of our daily routine. Would we stop taking it? When we need to travel we’ll pause the subscription and not take it on the road with us, but we'll definitely be resuming the subscription on our return.

According to Healthline, one serving (1 scoop, or 12 g) of AG1 provides:

After taking AG1, we didn't notice any side effects.

However, some people may experience stomach discomfort or bloating. To reduce the likelihood of this, we recommend starting off with a smaller dose and gradually raising it over several days until you hit the full scoop.

There are quite a few ‘daily green’ companies out there all claiming to offer the same benefits, but we think AG1 might be the frontrunner.

What we like: The convenience, the taste, and the feeling that comes with knowing you’re doing something good for your body every day. 

What we don't like: The pretty high price point makes the product inaccessible for some.

No sold on AG1? or perhaps you're looking for a cheaper alternative. Try one of these daily green supplements.

We’ve been using AG1 for over 90 days now and love it. We've paused our subscription whilst we're away travelling, but plan to resume it as soon as we're home.

If you’re short on time and want to ensure you’re getting the right nutrients into your body, then we recommend giving it a try. 

Read the full article AG1 Review: I Tried Athletic Greens For 90 Days, Here’s His Honest Opinion on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

We felt it was high time to review our favourite non-alcoholic beers on the Australian market. We picked 10 of the most popular brands and put them through their paces.

Non-alcoholic or zero-alcohol beers used to be a bit of a punchline in Australia. No Aussie bloke would dare be caught drinking a beer without the alcohol — "What's the point?" was the common refrain — and truthfully, many of the non-alcoholic beers on the market were pretty nasty.

But we've come a long way. These days, not only is it far more acceptable to drink a non-alcoholic beer as attitudes towards fitness, mental health, and all-round moderation have progressed but non-alcoholic beers themselves have got a damn sight better.

Still, there's a lot of scepticism around non-alcoholic beers and with so many on the market, it's hard to figure out which ones are worth drinking. Never fear: here at DMARGE we've wrapped our laughing gear around some of the most popular non-alcoholic beers in the country to find out which are worth your hard-earned dollars.

Some of the beers — like James Squire and Nort — were sent to us by the brands themselves or their designated PR teams. The remainder were purchased from Dan Murphy's in Alexandria, Sydney.

We did our best to select as wide a range of non-alcoholic beers as we could find, giving equal weight to the non-alcoholic variants of well-established (and sometimes iconic) Aussie brands — XXXX, we're looking at you — as well as newcomer challenger brands hoping to make their mark in the industry.

Jamie, Luc, Fin and Ben tasted the beers and gave each brand a score out of 5, taking into account the price, branding, look & feel of the bottle or can and, most importantly, the flavour profile of each. These individual scores were then added up to create a final score out of a maximum possible 20 points.

As an example: if a beer's final score was 8 out of 20, then it averaged 2 out of a possible 5 points from each of our tasters and is decidedly not a drop we recommend.

Jamie went above and beyond the call of duty by deciding to give half points to a few of the beers. The others did not feel the beers warranted such granular scoring, but this should explain any decimal points you may run into.

Read the full article 10 Best Zero Alcohol Beers For 2024 on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

In the years preceding its recent grand opening, W Sydney — the latest addition to Marriott Bonvoy's ever-expanding fleet of 'W' Hotels — occupied something of an ambivalent spot in the hearts and minds of the city's residents due to the long build time and less than appealing visage of the construction site, perched on the edge of Darling Harbour.

However, last month we were invited to spend a night in the newly unveiled location and, suffice to say, it blew our expectations out of the water to such an extent that we swiftly awarded it our Best New Australian Hotel gong in our 2023 Brand And Product Awards.

Tasteful and well-appointed rooms are complemented by a cutting-edge spa and wellness centre along with a wonderfully friendly staff. And yet, it is W’s food and drink offer that really sets it apart from competitors in the city and far beyond.

The W Sydney building is a large, lopsided glass-and-steel behemoth that overlooks Darling Harbour from its northern end, sharing the space with a vast, semi-underground IMAX cinema that is set to play host to some of the biggest movies of the summer. The shamelessly contemporary, striking aesthetic embraced by the outside of the building extends seamlessly to its interior...

Marked by vast, concrete-lined spaces, the W Hotel interior had every opportunity to be nothing more than a back-in-time brutalist mess with all the associated hard edges and discomfort. However, thanks to intelligent and tasteful interior design, the building is softened with colourful furniture and a seemingly endless supply of glittering lights perched in evermore elegant fittings, bringing a 1960s shell screaming into the 2020s.

The staff, who greeted me at a busy reception filled with tourists from America, had the same effect as the light fittings, bringing a brightness, lightness, and sparkle to the hotel. From check-in and all the way through to my departure, they were attentive, polite, and keen to accommodate my every need.

They were, in all honesty, flawless, and I wanted to call that out before we get into the nitty-gritty of the rooms and amenities because, quite frankly, none of that matters if the staff aren't willing or able to make you feel at home...

After check-in, I ventured up to my room — a 'Spectacular' King Room with a view of Darling Harbour. The room definitely lived up to its name; not only was I greeted by a bottle of chilled Rose, a delicious lamington, and a large plushy shark adorning the bed, all of which made my entrance that little bit sweeter, but the room itself was perfectly provisioned and proportioned.

Though it may not have the largest footprint of all the hotel rooms I've stayed in, the way W Sydney uses that space is flawless. An entrance corridor is made to feel larger through the careful use of mirrors before it opens up into the room's main atrium. Made incredibly bright through low-level and ceiling lighting options, the space feels soft and airy thanks to the clever placement of the 'desk' and chaise lounge by the window rather than at the foot of the bed.

As well as cutting-edge tech integrations — electric curtains people, you know we love them — a walk-in wardrobe and well-stocked, art-deco cocktail bar do a lot to elevate this room above the unmovable coathangers and mini-fridges that many travellers have reluctantly become accustomed to over the years. A large TV has all your entertainment needs sorted and the bathroom... deserves its own paragraph.

The bathroom in my suite was a thing of beauty. Set apart from the rest with a navy blue colour scheme, it radiates relaxation or — should you be suitably in the mood — the sexy edge that so many surgically-lit hotel rooms lack. With ample floor space, a beautiful mirror and basin space, and powerful showers, the main event in this room is the circular bath. While I may have looked a little unsightly as I squeezed my 6'6 limbs into its circumference, it undoubtedly added a level of luxury to the space.

As I mentioned at the very outset, even though my room at W Sydney was a delight, it was actually the hotel's food and drink options that formally positioned it as being in a league of its own compared to many local competitors. Here's what I ate and drank during my stay...

Situated at the very top of the building and supplying appropriately stunning views of Darling Harbour and the city skyline, '29/30' is a cocktail bar that also offers light bites in addition to carefully curated drinks and makes for the perfect pre-dinner pause or — perhaps if you're travelling in a larger group and looking to keep things lively — could play host to a whole evening of its own accord.

Though I can't speak for the food at this venue as I was saving myself for the dinner that followed, the cocktails were divine. First, I enjoyed a smokey and fruity 'Abso Bloody Lutely', featuring La Gritona Reposado, Marionette Groseille Lique, Lime, Blood Orange Soda, and Smoked Chilli Salt. Served in an adorable and very green Tiki-style cup, this was the perfect start to proceedings.

I followed this with a warm and 'spirit-forward' 'New Fashioned', featuring Sandra's New-World Rum Blend, Mango, Pumpkin Spice (bear with me..), and Xocolatl Mole Bitters. I generally advise bars, especially brand-spanking new bars, from meddling with classic cocktails like the Old Fashioned... but this one survives its transfiguration in excellent shape. By the time I'd sipped this one down, my pallet was warmed and my inhibitions suitably allayed.

All the meanwhile, my partner enjoyed an adorably feminine 'The B Of Bondi Beach', a Samphire-Infused Blanco Tequila cocktail complete with edible unicorn tattoo before moving on to a mezcal and kombucha creation known as 'Power & Passion'. She reported that both of these were delicious too and, though I didn't try any myself, we heard anecdotal reports from visitors on either side of us that the food was excellent too.

Immediately after our priming beverages, we took the elevator back down to the bottom of the hotel to sample the wares at BTWN, W Sydney's main restaurant. To cut a long and very pleasurable story short, this was the standout event during my stay. The wait staff were friendly and knowledgable while our sommelier — who had been flown in specially from Melbourne to help get things up and running in Sydney — was a well of knowledge with a winning attitude to boot.

After much deliberation, we settled on a delightful bottle of Portuguese white wine before ordering our food. To start, we shared the Duck Neck Sausage with Davidson Plum Ketchup and Macadamias as well as the Vannella Straciatella with Candied Fennel and Romesco. The duck was... out of this world, while the stracciatella provided a welcome cool and creaminess to cut through the richness of the sausage.

For mains, my partner ordered the Poached Murray Cod with Jarvis Bay Mussels, Sauteed Cavolo Nero, and Smoked Dashi Butter while I opted for the Harissa-Rubbed Arcadian Spatchcock with Bunya Nut Tarator, Labne, and Golden Raisins with a side of fries. Doing justice to good food through wards is hard but doing justice to great food with words is nigh on impossible...

As such, I will say little more on the mains other than that I cannot recommend strongly enough that you visit BTWN and try them for yourselves. The spatchcock and cod were revelations while the ambience of the venue and attentiveness of the staff rounded out an altogether flawless dining experience. Even if you have no plans to stay at the hotel, come for BTWN.

It's also worth noting that this is the same venue that hosts the breakfast buffet each morning. While it naturally serves up a very different menu and vibe at this time, it still makes for a great space to start your day surrounded with a plethora of food and drink options — from freshly squeezed and bottled juices through to pastries, cooked foods, cheeses and a whole lot more — you'll likely be rolling your way home.

After dinner, even though I was already fit to burst, I couldn't resist taking a short stroll over to the hotel's flagship dessert bar '2AM', founded and curated by Singaporean sweets legend Janice Wong. While they do offer a full degustation menu — which, due to the volume of food consumed thus far, I reluctantly turned down — we opted for two desserts.

All inspired or influenced in some way by Australia's rich Aboriginal history, the first we tried is simply known as 'Water' and comprised of a Chocolate H2O, Salted Caramel, Chocolate Soil and Yuzu Sorbet. The second was 'Bubbles', a Berry Oat Panacotta with Rosella Bubbles and Nitro-Rose Ice Cream. As a parting gesture, we were also given some one-bite lemon delight whose name I have forgotten but that quite literally exploded with flavour on first bite.

I may not have needed to eat anything further after my immaculate dinner but, my lord, I'm glad I did. Each dessert from 2AM was perfectly presented and tasted even better than it looked. The whole experience was elevated by the seating perched around an open bar/kitchen space so that not only could you watch your chef assembling the desserts but, with unbridled passion, they were also willing and able to discuss their creations at length.

Whether you're a so-called sweet tooth or not, I strongly recommend giving 2AM a try. I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be something on that menu that even the most committed dessertphobe can enjoy and, even if I'm wrong, these puds are works of art that must, at the very least be seen.

I rounded out my stay at W Hotel with a session in their state-of-the-art Away spa. On arriving, I was handed a potent little drink that apparently contained all the various micronutrients I would need to kickstart a long overdue cleanse of my insides. Then, after filling out a short but detailed self-assessment of what I wanted from my treatment, I was led away for a quick tour of the spa and onto the changing areas. 

The space itself is almost space-age in design; built around the elevator’s main escalator and in the same brutal-come-futurist style that defines much of the hotel, the changing areas were some of the most polished and well-provisioned I’ve ever seen, including those at hotels with a far higher price tag than W. From there, I moved through to the spa itself… 

With a steam room, sauna, power showers, relaxation pods, and a whole host of healthy snacks and drinks at your disposal, you could easily spend hours here without actually indulging in a 1-on-1 treatment. However, I was lucky enough to be whisked away for a one-hour Performance Massage by one of the in-house team. 

Not only did my masseuse make me feel comfortable and relaxed as you may expect, but I felt that she really went above and beyond to understand any specific issues I was having with my body before spending additional time working through those. Overall, this was a brilliant experience from end to end, and I left feeling significantly better than on arrival, which is the ultimate benchmark for any spa worth its salt. 

Attached to the spa is also a very well-appointed gym. While I didn’t have time for a workout during my stay (too busy actually enjoying myself…), I did make sure to poke my head in and see what the space offered. Suffice to say, if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t let a family holiday get in the way of your workout, you’ll be good to go.

While I didn't try the pool myself, a quick look at a few photos will speak for themselves: situated directly next to the 29/30 bar on the hotel's uppermost floor, the pool is absolutely stunning. Offering panoramic views over the harbour and plenty of poolside beds in which to enjoy them, this is a perfect spot for bobbing around or for getting some laps in, whichever is your tipple of choice.

While I would suggest double checking, I believe the pool is open quite late into the evening, so I'd suggest adding a nighttime swim into your routine for an unrivalled chance to see the city skyline at night. This definitely suits my sleep schedule well, but I can also imagine that a sunrise from this spot would be quite awesome too, so early birds need not fear.

I had an amazing time at W Sydney, with the experience far exceeding my admittedly middling expectations. From friendly staff to immaculate rooms and, perhaps most exceptionally, to the unparalleled food and drinks on offer, this is one staycation spot that is not to be missed.

If you have friends and family visiting the city, recommend W Sydney to them. If you don’t, come along yourself — a night’s stay did wonders and even if you’d rather sleep in your own bed I cannot recommend 29/30, BTWN and 2AM enough; they would make for a perfect evening out in their own right. 

Whatever you do, don’t let the long build time of this beautifully lopsided site put you off; it was more than worth the wait, and Darling Harbour can now consider itself to be in possession of one of Sydney’s greatest spots.

Read the full article W Hotel Sydney Review: The Brand New Gem In Darling Harbour’s Crown on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Since entering the fray in 2018, Australian luggage brand July has sought to give the luggage sector — long dominated by legacy behemoths like Samsonite and Rimowa — a much-needed design-centric overhaul.

A classic 'challenger brand' if there ever was one, the team at July boasts of reading over 4,000 reviews of their competitor's products to identify every flaw and less-than-perfect element they could find in order to bring to life a line of suitcases that foresee, forestall, and surpass their predecessors, raising the bar across the industry.

It's no small task, especially when a central part of their mission was to offer all of this at a more affordable price point than their aforementioned peers, whose products often cost thousands of dollars a piece and, so far as July is concerned, peddle "over-price goods with a short product lifespan".

Claiming to have quite literally re-invented the wheel alongside handles, housings, and polycarbonate bodies, July claims to have "democratised unbreakable and lifelong design". We wanted to put these undeniably bold claims to the test and see whether this industry disruptor is all it's cracked up to be. And where better place to start than their flagship range of carry-ons?

To understand our reviews and rankings you need to understand the criteria against which we're rating these carry-ons. Here are the main things we're looking out for when reviewing any suitcase worth its salt:

Put simply, we've been reviewing airlines, luggage, and every aspect of the travel industry we can find for over a decade...

Our founder Luc Wiesman has been a committed world traveller for as long as he can remember and our resident Travel Editor Finlay Mead is quickly racking up a long list of business class and economy cabins, hotels, and destinations that he's experienced and dissected for your pleasure and information.

Most important, however, is that we actually bought all of these bags ourselves and gave them a hands-on test, taking them with us on our various travels to see how they measure up against the rest.

Firm believers in trying before we buy so that consumers can make quick, easy, and savvy purchases, these are our honest, unbiased, and unfiltered views on how July's carry-ons perform. See images below of Luc modelling the bags like a pro...

Working from their most affordable to their most expensive carry-on, our first port of call is the Carry On Light. Marketed as "the lightest double-wheel suitcase in the world", the 1.8kg 32-litre bag deploys July's 'SilentMove' technology and a twin-bar handle to provide an affordable point of entry to a premium brand.

Unfortunately, his affordability is both the best and worst thing about this bag. While the pricepoint makes it a good starter option for anyone who's going away on an overnight stay — or maybe a two-night stay, at a push – this bag would be ideal for jumping on a Jetstar flight given their ungenerous luggage allowance and the bag's lighter-than-air design.

However, this is really where the benefits end. Overall, this bag certainly isn't the prettiest we tried out — the textured finish and lightweight design verged on feeling flimsy and cheap rather than utilitarian, while the handle was the least sturdy of the range, wobbling quite a bit as we moved around — and offers a very basic inside space too.

It also lacks the battery pack you'll see the others boast and the tiny wheels are a little too shaky to make the abg feel like a durable, heavy-duty option. All in all, this is not one for travel snobs used to the luxury look and feel of legacy brands. However, it could be a perfect entry point for the budget-savvy, short-term traveller.

July's signature case, the Carry-On is designed to carry the absolute maximum that your airline will allow. Designed with aerospace-grade German polycarbonate, the curved eggshell design is shored up with anodised aluminium bumpers to ensure your possessions are safe and sound no matter how far you fly.

Not only does this also boast four SilentMove wheels and a twin-bar handle, but it's also the cheapest in July's range to offer the much-coveted battery pack. With USB and USB-C docks as standard, this feature — which clicks in and out from a bay beneath the handle with surprising ease — has fast become a USP for July that many have flocked to.

Inside, the case boasts a significantly more complex and well-thought-out interior featuring a heavy-duty Y-strap compression system for keeping your stuff firmly in place during your journey and making sure you can compartmentalize your stuff for easy access and unpacking. In this instance, the battery pack doesn't impinge on the inside space either, maximising capacity.

While the aluminium panels may get scuffed up easily, they offer a level of protection that the Light model does not and, with the help of a secure zip system, will keep your stuff safer for longer. If you're looking for a premium case but don't have the money to hand for a full-blown luxury upgrade, this is a stellar choice.

Perhaps the most exciting model in July's range if you're travelling for business is the Carry-On Pro. In July's own words, this is "where style meets function". It comes in a typically wide range of beautiful colours, allowing you to flex your personality as much as you're comfortable with and includes a range of helpful features.

Including but not limited to Y-strap compression, stain-resistant lining, a hidden laundry bag and the aforementioned power bank that comes as standard on most of July's cases, it's actually the external laptop pocket that marks this one out from the rest and makes it a no-brainer for the business traveller.

Crafted from apparently 'crush-proof' German polycarbonate, the external pocket is protected from both the outside and within, where two padded inner pockets provide ample space for a laptop with up to a 15" inch screen and perhaps a hard drive, sleeve, or notebook alongside it. Effectively, this allows a business traveller to do away with their backpack or satchel, streamlining everything into their carry-on. Big win.

The main drawback of this is that you lose a fair chunk of internal packing space to accommodate both the laptop pocket and the battery pack. Bear in mind this is in a case that's already a smidge slimmer than the Classic case... However, you do gain a single-combination lock for that added level of security on top of your zip system and the whole package feels pretty premium all-round.

Inspired by the 70s but remodelled for the future, July's Carry-On Trunk takes an absolutely classic design and imbues it with all the mod-cons you could ever want in a carry-on. Sure, it's significantly pricier and heavier than any of its cheaper counterparts, but we reckon it might just be worth it.

This very good-looking case has enough room for around three days of clothes — Our founder Luc flew with it for a business trip from Sydney to Melbourne, so can attest to this himself — and couples the flare that comes alongside colourful detailing with the security and durability provided by two attache style locks that are both very easy to use and hugely secure.

Feeling much more heavy-duty than the other models — other than the handle which still had a little more give and wobble than we'd like — the trunk is as well equipped for big things on the inside as it is on its smooth, stylish exterior: as well as the Y-strap compression system there are several internal zips for compartmentalizing and easy containment and you only lose a little space to the battery pack.

The wheels on this one are absolutely seamless and the SilentMove tech lives up to its name for the first time. Given the weight of the case, this easy movement is absolutely essential and ensures that the trunk is still our favourite case from the range, capable of giving through the airport for your next business trip or holiday with speed, style, efficiency, and as much heavy-duty flare as you want.

Before we give you our final verdict on July's range of carry-on cases, we just wanted to flag a couple of points that apply to the whole range rather than individual cases...

Personalisation: Increasingly trendy in the travel industry and far beyond, personalisation is a core part of July's offer. Available on all the cases we've covered, you can choose from a massive range of fonts, styles, and colours for your personalisation as well as where on the case it appears (top or side). This is well worth doing as another way of making your baggage identifiable and secure. However, it doesn't come cheap...

Warranty: Evert July product comes with "unmatched" warranty commitments. If you experience any manufacturing fault whatsoever, July will repair or replace your product free of charge. This warranty is lifetime-long.

Batteries: While all of July's battery packs have been fully tested and safety-proved by the necessary regulatory bodies and we've no reason to doubt their integrity, we always feel obliged to mention that batteries and electric devices can sometimes react strangely, sometimes violently, when taken aboard a plane. You've been warned.

If you have the budget, the Carry-On Trunk is the far-and-away winner out of all the cases we tried. Sexy, sturdy, and secure it ticks all the boxes when it comes to finding a case that's perfect for a few days away, whatever your plans or passions.

However, the Carry-On Pro offers some nifty features that business travellers will love and the Carry-On Classic is a perfect baseline option for casual travellers. The only one we'd recommend avoiding is the Carry-On Light as it feels a little flimsy. Compared to competitor products in the same price range though, it still holds up well.

Do they provide a worthy challenge to the likes of Rimowa or Samsonite? Luc said this is "a bit like comparing an apple with a bus". Ultimately, a brand like Rimowa is in a league of its own, offering a shamelessly luxury item and a suitably eye-watering price point.

July can't compete with them in terms of luxury, but they undoubtedly offer a very high-quality product at a much more accessible price point, and that's a big win for travellers everywhere.

Read the full article July Luggage Review: Are These The Best Carry-On Bags? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

UPDATE: Since writing this, I've done over 300 F45 classes. Not because I wanted a six-pack but because it's the key to maintaining good mental health and fitness. The best part is, it's still 45 minutes where I don't need to think about life, just sweat.

I've always thought group fitness is a cop-out. Pre-planned intensity and structure may be great for those with no motivation (or the army), but it's not for me. Furthermore, my opinion of F45 was somewhere between 'meh' and 'whatever' but after trying F45 for seven days straight, I've come to realise being part of this cult community can transform – even if you consider yourself a ~motivated~ individual. Consider this my F45 review.

Having trained in Biggest Loser coach Libby Babet’s former studio AGOGA for close to five years, I’m well versed in running, jumping and burpee-ing. F45, on the other hand, always seemed a little extreme – not to mention a sure way to injure myself and ensure my chiropractor is driving a new Porsche 911 before me.

That was until I caught my friend Olivier on his daily morning pilgrimage to F45 Bondi Beach. Olivier is about my age (let’s say late 30’s) and in similar shape. After 12 months of F45, his results are nothing short of impressive, even if his underpants are questionable in the 'after' photos.

With that inspiration, I decided to stop pooh-poohing F45 as the mecca of sports injuries and over-enthusiasm and experience this Bondi born - and Mark Wahlberg ‘endorsed’ - fitness franchise that's quickly taking over the world.

This F45 trial would be taking part at their #1 studio in Bondi Beach – the same place Olivier became the underpants-wearing-god he is today. It's also home to the F45 World Champions of 2019.

For the small cost of $55 for a 7-day trial pass (yes: I paid – this is not a sponsored piece or a PR stunt), I was allowed to take part in the early (7:30am) sessions each weekday and later sessions (9:30am) on the weekend.

I subsequently realised F45 Bondi offers a ‘locals-only’ pass for even less – something which I missed the memo on... but I digress.

In any case: I began the 7-day trial with tennis elbow and a niggling facet joint issue in my back, so I plan to work at 80%- 90% capacity and with a strict list of no go exercises from my Chiropractor to ensure I don't make matters worse. Here's how it went.

Class: Varsity (Cardio)Length: 45 MinutesCalories Burnt: 454

After a brief tour of F45’s massive blue, white and red studio I get the feeling the stars and stripes colour combo is a clever marketing appeal to an American audience. Regardless, the spacious Bondi studio is soon full with 30 something bodies of all ages, shapes and sizes. Props to Sally, who classifies herself as seventy-plus, and who gets in there every day and gives 100%.

Our instructor, Bill Cunningham, aka Wild Bill Cunningham is a man who needs no microphone. Bill's loud, fish market loud, but has plenty of encouragement and high fives should you need one.

Wild Bill and his enthusiastic Instagram-ready assistant Nicole take the class through each of the exercises at a frightening pace. You can be sure not a single person asks a question, instead, we work it out when the bell goes. Like the workout demonstration, the warm-up is also at breakneck speed: 90 seconds, 10 quick 'jumpy jumpy' exercises and you’re done.

A gentle jog to the studio may have been more beneficial at this point, regardless I push on, getting luke-warmed up and begin 40 minutes of cardio.

As it’s my first session, I find watching the screens (and the 10-second breaks) confusing. It’s also irritating keeping pace with everyone else. But then, as the class pushes on I’m glad of the 10 seconds here and there. As for watching screens, I stare at them like a moron for the first round, then my short term memory kicks in.

My form has always been an issue for me – and with only two instructors on the floor for 30 plus people in a room I’m not exactly feeling the love. My gut feeling is they tend to focus on those who desperately need help. Maybe it’s my fancy Nike sneakers; maybe it’s my matching shorts; maybe even – by some miracle – my form is good; whatever the case, the trainers leave me alone, which makes the experience a little ‘loveless’ in comparison to my old studio AGOGA.

Whilst it may sound like I need a hug, it’s not (just) that, it was more about being part of something which on the outside has a reputation for lacking soul. I was determined to find out if this was true.

The Varsity session is simple and cardio-based. No running machines. Plenty of bodyweight squats and sprints spread across nine stations. We rinse and repeat three times for 20 seconds, 30 seconds and then (somehow) for one minute per exercise. I even get a little vommy on the battle ropes toward the end.

The class ends, my life doesn’t, and there are a few high fives with those poor souls I was paired up with. Like the luke-warm warm-up, there’s a non-existent warm down. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship the class dashes off to make their 9am appointments in Bondi.

Remarkably, the instructors remember most of the class’ names on their way out.

Class: MKATZ (Resistance)Length: 45 MinutesCalories Burnt: 511

I wake to find my hamstrings tighter than a snare drum, nothing unusual as I’m remarkably bad at stretching my legs. A quick one-two on the foam roller and we’re out the door on the way for our 7:30am MKATZ session. MKATZ may sound like a Jewish deli which makes great pastrami sandwiches, but according to F45 it’s “the new Drop Set workout on the block… for those looking to build quality lean muscle mass.”

“Building quality muscle is not only about compound lifting. We want to challenge muscles on different angles, with different timing, and various tempos.”

Wild Bill isn’t on today, rather the friendly Lucy Francis takes the class. We’re warmed up and on our way in a flash for this resistance training session. More weights, slower tempo, much more intensity. As someone who enjoys working out in the gym – more so than cardio – this class is a turning point. I see how people still get weights workout feels mixed with that all-important cardio blast.

Yesterday’s soreness is only felt during squats and leg work – and there’s a lot – however, it is mixed with a healthy amount of bench work, kettlebells, dumbells and TRX suspension training. It’s a really solid mix of toning and conditioning exercises that you can go heavy on.

Speaking of heavy, my back is so far holding up well, as is my tennis elbow. The trick here is not to lift beyond your limit. Overhead exercises and deadlifts are my danger zones, so moving carefully with lighter weights is a must.

I move onto the next day feeling the love and beginning to see what all the fuss is about.

Class: Miami Nights (Hybrid)Length: 45 MinutesCalories Burnt: 530

I wake up on Friday morning surprisingly sore. This is due to the various exercises you do in a class. These muscles feel like they’ve not been used in my entire life. Increased core work and functional movements will have something to do with this. Regardless, I punch down a pre-workout drink (and some creatine) and push on to the morning’s class.

F45’s various workouts mean you’re never bored. There seems to be no shortage of different names and exercises in each session, so the variety is spot on. Plus: there are no treadmills or running in the classes, which will suit a lot of people. Personally, running tends to drop too much weight off me and I soon have terminal illness vibes about my physique, so I’m hoping the resistance classes combined with increased-but-lean eating will get me to a goal weight of 88kg with <10% body fat.

Miami Night is one of their ‘hybrid’ training sessions. Lots of resistance work and body weights with enough iron-pumping to keep the beefcakes (or aspiring beefcakes like myself) happy. Miami Nights quickly becomes my favourite class so far. The perfect mix of everything. Which may be why they call it hybrid.

At this point in the week, I’m learning how hard to push myself without gassing out mid-class. I’m also beginning to see the same faces each morning and the trainers are almost remembering my name. It’s addictive. The soul that I thought was never there is actually there. I’m even high fiving strangers. Who have I become in 48 hours.

Class: Hollywood (Circuit)Length: 60 MinutesCalories Burnt: 629

Saturday has arrived and it’s time to test myself for an hour at F45’s infamous Hollywood class. My body is getting more tired each day, and this is compounded by the lack of sleep thanks to a sick girlfriend. She wouldn’t sleep on the balcony as requested (rude), so we endured a night of restless coughing and mediocre sleep (my Fitbit Charge 3 can confirm).

Hollywood involves 60 minutes of flat out training over 27 stations twice over. Burpies, pull-ups, rowing, box jumps, squats, military presses. This is the F45 pizza with the lot. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into a class. Strangely enough, it works. Not once do I bump into someone. There’s a method to the madness that appears to have been well thought out by some clever sod.

I leave Hollywood a dripping mess. My class endurance continues to improve so the 60 minutes isn’t as bad as you think. Muscle soreness quickly fades once you get moving and that glistening six-pack is just a workout away. Maybe two… Twenty-seven stations breeze by as quickly as the time. Calories burnt? A respectable 629.

I quickly learn a singlet and shorts are definitely the recommended attire for F45 in Summer. T-shirts are pointless. Give the people two tickets to the gun show because you’re going to schvitz your schvantz off.

Class: Wingman (Hybrid)Duration: 45 MinutesCalories Burnt: 501

Three nights on the fold-out Ikea sofa bed are beginning to take their toll on me. My back muscles continue to ache and my shoulders are sore in places I didn’t know I had. If there was ever a time to stay in bed it is this morning.

Alas, I get up.

The numbers in the class swell again. Still amazed the system works. Wild Bill is back on the floor with lots of encouragement even for the fittest (starting to feel the love, now).

Wingman's workout description that you 'buddy up', which sends additional human contact chills down my spine. Rather, you're broken up into groups of three. Quick introductions and handshakes and you're off. 'Hybrid' combines resistance and strength training, all body, lots of push-ups and squats. Mixing functional movement and ab work.

I finish the class with some rehab on my tennis elbow, which one of the trainers has recently experienced. The solution is the flex resistance bar, which you twist and turn to strengthen the muscles around the forearm.

Even more people this morning than the day before. The machine continues to run smoothly, and I’m starting to see why: if you’re looking for a fit date, F45 could be the perfect wingman...

Class: Athletica (Cardio)Duration: 45 MinutesCalories Burnt: 464

With this intense training every day your body needs good sleep and better food. I’ve been eating My Muscle Chef meals all week, so my carbohydrate and protein intake is easy to track (and spot-on according to My Fitness Pal). Sleep, on the other hand, continues to be an issue. Five hours seems to be running total. According to most studies, eight hours is optimal for building muscle. For now, five will have to do.

The weather’s warm so I use the opportunity to warm up with a brisk 2km walk on the way to the studio. It’s enough to get better range in the legs before training. Athletica is nothing new. More cardio, 45 mins of 'go go go,' followed by a token one minute warm down and we’re out the door.

By now I’m doing the classes in autopilot. I’m still enjoying them, still looking forward to the session the night before and still making the effort to take care of my injuries through stretching each night or as I wake up. With a specific goal in mind, doing this every day is a definite possibility – but let’s see how day seven goes first.

Class: None (Rest... there's a good reason)Duration: All-day

Or doesn't go...

The combination of the annual car service and good waves at Bondi mean day seven of my experiment is put on ice. Why? I workout often and with enough intensity that there was no revelation to be had by doing it (and: did I mention? There were decent waves. At Bondi).

The point of the trial was to get over the initial hump of hating on F45 for no good reason, my worries about injuries have almost been alleviated and I’ll no doubt be there again at 7:30am tomorrow.

Ricky the local F45 trainer also agrees "some people just go too hard and don't listen to their body. Taking a break is a good idea, otherwise, you'll get injured."

The big take out here is rest, moderation and variety. Some mornings a surf will be more important than training, other mornings, I will surf for an hour followed by an F45 session.

Training six days out of seven is no big deal, F45 does allow you to move at your own pace without fear of being bullied to lift heavier or faster. You’re there to do the work, it’s up to you how many calories you can burn and level of intensity with which you move.

That said, the feeling of being cattle, getting shoved in and pushed out of classes never went away. F45 is a money-machine and every minute counts. It’s up to you to make warming up or down a priority as you arrive and leave the classes. Perhaps that’s why F45 does have the unfounded injury stigma. It’s not rocket science, look after your body in these classes so you can train harder, more often and ultimately look better... maybe even look like old mate Olivier one day.

With F45 Training you get out of it what you put in. Do one class a week and you’ll see one class a week results. Give 50% in the classes then you’re only going to burn half the calories and that body fat percentage will not drop. Other HIIT studios may help you burn more calories, but that often involves running, which is not for everyone. Personally I tend to drop too much weight running so this could be the best solution for me. Lastly, with whatever F45 lacks it more than makes up for in variety and getting the job done.

Next stop is the F45 eight-week challenge, starting February 3rd.

Read the full article F45 Review: Over 300 Classes And Counting… on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Gone are the days for blokes to rely on an old bar of soap for an all-inclusive 360 approach to their skin and body care regime. With more and more affordable and effective products available that are specifically catered for Australian men, it's no longer an excuse to not have a go-to brand for all your extensive skincare needs.

I should preface this article by saying I've always struggled with my skin; as a teenager, I had bad skin and tried every breakout-preventing myth under the sun to treat the problem. It got to the point where I had to take a series of prescribed treatments to fix the problem.

As an adult, my skin's a lot better but I still have to be careful to keep my skin clean and hydrated to ensure I don't break out... it certainly doesn't help with the amount of alcohol events I attend but that's another issue for another article.

I was excited to try out Horace's extensive range for their unique and compelling story. Founded in 2015 by three mates in Paris, Horace set out to produce a series of skincare products specifically catered for the everyday man, delivering a product for every need and occasion throughout their extensive range.

Their original premise was simple: to create natural products that are reliable, easy to use and good for all skin, complexions and hair types.

Here I'll go through each and every one of Horace's most popular products and give an honest review of my experience with them. To be honest, I've found myself using some more than others, and I'll admit for a couple I had to google what they do (and why I needed it), but overall, I'm pleased to say Horace has delivered on everything they promised.

We get a lot of skin care products sent to the DMARGE office; like a lot. So when I say we've tried our fair share over the last decade, you can believe it.

The bottom line is we're all everyday guys who have the same everyday needs; with a range of different skin types, we're each looking for something different from the products we try. This is reflected in our first-hand accounts of each of the products we use and review.

When a brand claims to be no frills but can still pack a punch under the minimalist design, while maintaining an all-natural list of ingredients and being a fraction of the cost of some of the bigger brands, we knew we had to give them a try.

So we selected seven picks from the Horace lineup from MECCA and got them sent to the office so that we can check to see if they actually deliver on all their promises.

So let's take a look, shall we?

In all honesty, it's hard to go wrong with a shower gel. At first, I didn't love the smell of Horace's Cedar and Sage shower gel; it was herbal - botanical, almost. Like I was seasoning myself before I started the day. But it's certainly one from Horace's range that's slowly grown on me throughout the testing.

It comes in an easy-to-use pump action spout so it can happily sit in your shower rack at home without any fuss. It's a good, reliable product for everyday use and leaves me looking clean and fresh - even when I'm not feeling it. But at $31, it's certainly reaching the higher price point for a shower gel, and I'm not entirely convinced I'd spend that money again.

Every bloke needs a go-to daily face wash; it's no good using a one-size-fits-all bar of soap for every job in the morning. Horace's Purifying Face Cleanser quickly became a staple part of the morning routine after its first use.

I'm always trying to keep my skin from breaking out and this is one of Horace's products that I feel is the most effective in keeping my skin clean and free of impurities. Active charcoal gets deep in to purify the skin, whilst aloe vera and plant-derived glycerin keep you soft and hydrated. It's paraben, sulphate and oil-free giving you a natural feel that doesn't dry your skin out.

At $25, it's certainly a good price point for a daily face wash, and comes in a handy 200ml bottle so it'll keep you going for a while.

After you've washed your face of all its impurities, it's essential to grab a moisturiser to protect your skin - and you can't go wrong with Horace's Mattifying Face Moisturiser.

Less is certainly more with this product; just a small dab will cover your skin and keep it hydrated and fresh without it feeling wet or oily.

Apart from leaving my skin feeling good, the best feature is this product is fragrance-free. I hate when I'm chucking on a moisturiser and it's left me stinking like mint or citrus; the Horace Mattifying Face Moisturiser is a simple, but effective solution for everyday care without the unwanted extras.

At $29, it's a good investment to protect your skin and will certainly last.

With my skin history, this was the product I was most looking forward to using. It claims to reduce the appearance of blemishes, ultimately keeping your skin from flaring up at the worst times and keeping the spots at bay. To be honest, this was the one that disappointed me the most.

BHAs such as Salicylic acid are used to help unclog pores and tackle blackheads, whilst Niacinamide helps to repair the skin and reduce melanin, specifically designed to prevent blemishes.

Horace's Serum is certainly not a cure-all product and throughout this test, I've consistently broken out, even though I've followed the regime.

At $37 it's not a cheap product either and felt more like a luxury item amongst the rest of the range that had so far proven simple and effective.

At first, I wasn't entirely sure why I wanted my skin to glow. As far as I was concerned, people actively used products to try and reduce the chance of a shiny face and forehead so this product was a new one for me.

Horace's Healthy Glow Fluid claims to reduce sebum found in skin; an oily and slightly waxy substance that is less than desirable for those looking for a sheer finish. Relatively, Horace's Healthy Glow Fluid did give my skin a glow, it felt and looked even and moisturised, so I was happy to keep using it.

Completely free of parabens, silicones and mineral oil, this is another one of Horace's products that's both kind to your skin and the environment, but I wasn't sure I could justify the $37 price tag... maybe it's just wasted on me.

Gentle by name but not by nature, the Horace Gentle Face Scrub does a remarkable job at exfoliating your skin for that extra sparkly clean.

I ended up using this one every time I got back from the gym, due to the all-natural murumuru butter and seeds that tackle impurities across your face, getting deep into your pores to unclog and refresh your skin. Again, this one's free of any silicones, parabens and mineral oils, making it the perfect product after a sweaty workout.

At $25, it sits at an affordable price point for intermittent use and a small amount definitely goes a long way.

As a spritely young lad whose skin hasn't been tested by the inevitability of time, Horace's Face Firming Gel might be more of a preventative product for me, rather than a treatment. But I can certainly still feel the benefits of getting ahead of the curve and finding a good anti-wrinkle cream before I hit 30 - and Horace's Face Firming Gel certainly ticks a lot of the boxes.

Horace uses hyaluronic acid here to reduce the natural deterioration of the skin's lipid barrier, which, when not functioning properly, can leave your skin more susceptible to dehydration which can ultimately cause wrinkles. This is paired with the Kakadu plum, a natural fruit that contains the active nutrient ellagic acid, which is effective at fighting free radical damage and protecting the skin from signs of aging.

So actually, this product is the perfect preventative product, after all.

It's pricey at $37, but compared to some of the other anti-wrinkle products on the market, I'd say it's around what you should be paying for an effective product.

Ultimately, I enjoyed experimenting with Horace's extensive range of dedicated skincare products for men and will certainly continue to use at least three of these going forward: Horace Gentle Face Scrub, Horace Mattifying Face Moisturiser and Horace Purifying Face Cleanser.

These days it's not enough for companies to simply make products; consumers are looking brands - and in particular skincare and cosmetics brands - to make certain promises that they're otherwise unable to affect or change, such as the quality of the ingredients they use and the impact it has on the environment.

Horace's commitment to using 95% to 100% all-natural products not only benefits your skin but also plays a crucial role in reducing chemical pollution on the planet. This commitment is instrumental in driving positive change, so when you use their products, do so with a clear conscience, as well as clearer skin.

Read the full article Horace Skincare Review: The Climate-Conscious Cosmetics Living Up To The Hype on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

The luxury watch category is one of the most hotly contested in all of watchmaking – and in 2023, there's no shortage of stylish watches from a diverse range of brands, all very keen to see their watches on our wrists. The Bulgari Octo Roma, however, is a cut above the rest...

It used to be the case that watches produced by luxury fashion brands weren't much chop. To be extremely cynical, they existed to give blokes who were accompanying their partners shopping for handbags or jewellery something so they didn't feel left out during a big blow-out shopping spree.

That's not really the case any more, though. Many of the world's top luxury houses have invested big-time in their watchmaking capabilities, building factories in Switzerland and experimenting with unique materials, forms and designs. Indeed, because they're not stuffy Swiss watch brands, they're not constrained by traditional design codes or concepts – as outsiders, they can be more creative; more innovative.

When it comes to fine timepieces, Bulgari has more credibility than most luxury maisons. The famous Italian jeweller has actually been making timepieces for almost a century but started really taking watchmaking seriously in the 80s, when they opened their own manufacture in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Then, in the 00s, they acquired Daniel Roth and Gérald Genta, Swiss leaders in high-end watchmaking, bringing the knowledge and capabilities of those brands in-house. They've been steadily acquiring more watchmakers and building more facilities ever since.

That is all to say that Bulgari got in early when it comes to proper watchmaking and that they know what they're doing. They're no horological dilettantes.

Indeed, Bulgari stands out as one of the most accomplished watch producers on the planet, responsible for breaking and holding a number of watchmaking records, such as the world’s thinnest minute repeater, perpetual calendar and mechanical chronograph.

They’ve also consistently pushed the envelope when it comes to using novel materials in luxury watches: they were one of the first watchmakers to use aluminium and rubber for luxury watches, and have also innovated with materials like tantalum, forged carbon and marble for watch cases.

Okay, Jamie, but what's the point of all this? Well, it's to demonstrate how Bulgari isn't making fashion watches out here: they're a proper watchmaker that can more than hold its own against the dedicated watch brands of Switzerland and beyond.

This leads us to the Octo Roma: their flagship most versatile men's luxury watch, which received a major update at the start of this year that's really improved its value proposition. Not only is it sportier than ever before, but it's also better looking and more practical – and a very strong candidate in the sub-$15,000 luxury watch space.

I had the chance to test-drive the new Octo Roma for a week, both on a rubber strap and on a metal bracelet, and I was thoroughly impressed by this new take on the Octo formula.

RELATED: Bulgari’s New Ambassador Lorenzo Viotti Is Almost As Handsome As Their Octo Roma Collection

REFERENCE(S): 103739 (blue, as tested) + 103738 (white) and 103740 (anthracite)MATERIAL: Stainless SteelMOVEMENT: Manufacture Calibre BVL 191 'Solotempo'SIZE: 41mm diameter, 9.15mm thick, 42.5mm lug-to-lug distancePRICE: $11,400 AUD

The Octo Roma, which was first launched in 2004, has become Bulgari's most iconic watch collection and has undergone many subtle updates and tweaks over the last two decades. 2023's update is one of the most substantive in the Octo Roma's history and brings a new sporty dimension to the timepiece.

The first obvious change is that now the Octo Roma features a Clous de Paris dial. Also called a hobnail dial, this texture is a hallmark of Swiss haute horlogerie that perfectly matches the octagonal case of the Octo Roma, which was inspired by the architecture of Bulgari's home city of Rome.

Another big update is that it's now water-resistant to 100m, making it more practical than ever before. Despite this, it's only 9.15mm thick, largely thanks to the slim form factor of its in-house BVL 191 'Solotempo' movement.

That sporty character is reinforced by another new feature of the Octo Roma: it now comes with a complementary rubber strap as well as a steel bracelet. A new quick-change strap system makes it a cinch for the wearer to swap out the steel for the rubber without the use of tools (and the fact you get two straps for the price of one is nice). The texture of the strap, too, matches the Octo Roma’s beautiful new Clous de Paris dial.

The standard Octo Roma Automatic is available in blue, white or anthracite dials (we’re particular fans of the latter) with the blue coming with a matching blue rubber strap and the other two with a black strap. It was the blue model I ended up wearing for the week, as I reckon it's the one most Aussies will gravitate towards.

It's really nice! Not only is the Bulgari Octo Roma an exceptionally comfortable watch, it's also really eye-catching. Pictures don't really do it justice: the combination of brushed and polished surfaces on both its case and bracelet are really appealing. The bracelet absolutely pops in the sunshine, and the sunray brushing on the bezel is particularly well-executed.

That said, the Octo Roma spent more time on its rubber strap than on its bracelet while I had it for the week, as it really adds to its sporting character. It's a cracking rubber strap – not all rubber straps are made equal – and it's also much lighter than the steel bracelet.

At 41mm it's not exactly a small watch (and I have pretty big wrists anyway) but it wears smaller than it might appear. That's partly to do with the fact that both the bracelet and strap extend at a 45-degree angle from the Octo Roma's case, reducing its overall form factor somewhat. The bracelet also has very small links, which really hug the wrist.

My only real criticism of the Octo Roma is that the date window is fairly deeply recessed, making it slightly less legible at certain angles. Not that the Octo Roma isn't legible; far from it: I was impressed by how bright its lume shone, as well as how clearly the applied minute track stands out against the hobnail dial. Its seconds hand is also delightfully smooth, really adding to its luxurious feel.

Overall, the impression I got from the Bulgari Octo Roma was one of rock-solid quality. It feels and looks robust, while also giving off an unmistakable air of luxury. It's sumptious but not ostentatious.

The obvious comparison to make with the Bulgari Octo Roma is with the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, as it too has an octagonal design as well as a hobnail dial. However, they're quite different watches: the Octo Roma features a much more angular case design, and the Royal Oak has an integrated bracelet, for example. Perhaps more pertinently, a stainless steel Royal Oak costs three times as much as an Octo Roma...

The Piaget Polo also springs to mind as a natural competitor to the Octo Roma, as it features a similar mix of square and circle design elements, as well as a pretty nice rubber strap option. The Piaget has a more beautiful movement and a slightly longer power reserve, but doesn't have a quick-change strap system like the Bulgari does, isn't as thin and again, is also significantly more expensive.

Really, the Bulgari Octo Roma eludes easy comparison. It's sporty yet refined, dramatic yet dressy, understated but undeniably luxurious... More to the point, it's got all the features and refinement that real watch fans demand, as well as a unique air of Italian confidence.

It's the perfect watch for the man who's looking for an alternative to more mainstream luxury sports watches but also wants something with a bit of style and brand cache.

The hardest choice to make is whether you'd want a time-only model or if you want to go sportier still and get the chronograph version of this watch...

Read the full article Bulgari’s Incredibly Unique Octo Roma Is Winning The Hearts Of Watch Lovers on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Modern life is a constant tug of war between increasingly competing demands on your time, and figuring out how to hone in on your most pressing tasks — whether they be work, play, or even sleep — can sometimes prove more challenging than we'd like to admit.

That's where Loop earplugs comes into the picture: they offer meticulously designed earplugs that can be used in a number of different settings — their 'Experience' earplugs are better for nights out or gigs, while the 'Quiet' earplugs I tried are far more suited for focused work or sleep — and experienced a massive boom during the pandemic.

Why? Because people found themselves needing to share enclosed spaces with different people performing a number of different activities— we all had that unemployed roommate who made a racket during your Zoom calls, didn't we? Or the kids who needed entertainment while you wrote up that EOY report?

Point is: Loop is here in a big way and here to stay, so we thought someone should put them to the test.

Investing in any purchase — especially one that could have serious ramifications for your productivity, performance, and ability to rest — requires a great deal of consideration and brings a wide range of factors into play including the purchasing process, cost, and effectiveness.

Figuring all of these out for yourself can be hard going, but that's what we're here to help with...

In short: you can trust us because we've tried them. One of our editors (who's writing up these very words) purchased a pair of Loop's Quiet earplugs and tried them out every day for twelve weeks.

Whether I was at home and trying to get some work done or tune into a book, whether I was in the office and trying to block out the noise of a video call going on two rows over, or whether I was just trying to get a good night's sleep, it's safe to say that I've tried these things out in every day-to-day situation you could imagine.

What you're reading now are my honest, unbiased, and unabashed thoughts.

First and foremost, I work and I work hard. This wonderful content you're reading now requires focus and attention to detail, which means not only do I need to be able to hone in on my work whilst I'm in the office but also that I cherish a good night's sleep. This gave me two important spaces in which to test the Loop earplugs right away.

In addition to this, I also share a small flat with my partner and — as so many of us came to realise during the pandemic — hybrid working means that we're all spending a lot more time working from home, either working alongside our family members and roomies or, often worse, working in spite of your cohabitants doing very little and somehow being very distracting.

A final point that makes me a little more unique is that, well, I've got a strangely shaped ear. Don't ask me why because I don't know; it's been that way since birth. What that means is that I've always had a tricky time with in-ear headphones or earplugs. Ones that fit are a very special rarity.

One of Loop's biggest selling points is its website. Clean, simple to navigate, and dangerously easy to make a purchase, it answers all your questions in — at most — a single click. Their FAQs section is particularly impressive and one of the best we've seen.

When you compare this to a number of its legacy competitors who are stocked through places like Chemist Warehouse whose site is incredibly well-populated and incredibly poorly designed, you really come to appreciate the Loop experience.

My Loop earplugs were delivered less than 72 hours after my order was placed, which fell at the faster end of Loop's promise that "most" customers in Australia will receive their earplugs in 3 to 8 business days. This appears to be standard across all their major shipping zones (USA, EU, AU).

In terms of packaging, there's very little to say about Loop earplugs in the best possible way. The package is small, sustainable, and very easy to navigate. They arrived in a small envelope, inside of which was a small box containing the earplugs, carry case, and a number of different-sized tips.

As I said, unremarkable in the best possible way.

These are the five claims that Loop makes about their Quiet earplugs. I thought these were worth sharing so that I could directly measure my experience against their claims...

Additionally, I also wanted to share this diagrammatic drawing of the earplugs that Loop posts on their site, so you can understand which parts of the product I'm referring to and how they all fit together...

As mentioned earlier, I've got a funny-shaped ear, so the Loop earplugs were really put to the test in terms of comfort, given that most in-ear headphones and earplugs either fall out of my ear almost immediately (very annoying) or become sore relatively quickly (also very annoying).

And yet, I didn't have any of these issues here. In fact, I can genuinely say that my Loop earplugs are the most comfortable bit of kit I've ever had in my ears, especially over an extended period of time. While it might take a couple of tries to determine which of the tips is most suited to your ears, once you've picked it out, you're away.

Not only did I work with these earplugs in for hours at a time, but I even managed to sleep an entire night through with them in as well. I thought this latter achievement was particularly impressive, given the discomfort that other earplugs or headphones can begin to 'dig in' to your ear canal whenever you lie on your side.

I think this is down to their very slim profile — pictured above. Bravo Loop.

Where Loop really stands out is in its design. The earplugs are modern, sleek, and something you'd be happy showing off to friends or co-workers but can equally hide away if you'd prefer thanks to their minimal look.

When you compare this to basically every other product out there — especially the plug-and-play foam variants out there or, even worse, the mould-it-yourself silicon variants that look like something out of a NASA test tube — you realise just how hard Loop has worked to revolutionise how earplugs should look and feel.

All of Loop's earplugs come in a wide range of colours with limited edition and seasonal variations rolling on and off the site; no matter your look, your vibe, or your 'core', you can make Loop work for you.

They're also very easy to clean, should you notice any waxy build-up from continued use; just use a wet wipe or soap and water.

Loop claims that the earplugs can reduce noise levels by up to 27dB and provide long-term hearing protection. While I can't speak to the specific decibel levels, I can definitely attest to their noise-blocking abilities.

I used these for hours at a time in the office when I just wanted to get my head down and focus on some deep work while my coworkers chatted around me or played music. The beauty of what Loop can do is that they somehow block out all the annoying ambient noise that gets in your way but keep you just tuned in enough that if anyone calls your name there's no awkward ghosting...

For sleeping, they were similarly perfect. We have a lot of animal life around my apartment block, especially birds that make ungodly amounts of noise at all hours of the day and night. The Loop earplugs gave me some of the first and only uninterrupted nights of sleep I've had since moving to Australia. This was a huge win.

Loop also offers other earplugs specifically designed for nights out and gigs. While I didn't try these ones and can't speak to their power, my experience with my Loop 'Quiet' earplugs gives me every reason to believe they'd live up to their claims.

Another interesting claim made by some users is that Loop earplugs can help those with ADHD, sensory overload issues, or autism by filtering out distractions or intrusive noise. I don't suffer with any of these so cannot accurately report on their effectiveness.

However, I thought this was an interesting dimension to the product regardless, and wanted to share Loop's own claims:

Loop earplugs have been highly praised by millions of noise-sensitive and neurodivergent users around the world. From helping them tune out triggering sounds in social settings without feeling so distant to helping them focus at work, Loop earplugs help people with ADHD, autism, misophonia and more get through their day at their volume.

Loop

Yes, absolutely. At this price point, no other brand comes close to what Loop earplugs can do.

Every aspect of the process is made simple and straightforward; from their website design, their packaging, their use and even their maintenance.

I managed to work with considerably greater focus and sleep with considerably increased ease, and I'm grateful to Loop for both of these.

In short, you won't regret buying these; give Loop a go.

Read the full article Loop Earplugs Review: An Honest, Hands-On Review Without The Noise on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

I used Fortero's viral Carbonic Acid Shampoo and Revitalising Conditioner every day for 6 weeks to see if they really provide the deep-clean and hair growth benefits, about which the brand has made some pretty bold claims.

There's no denying that when it comes to grooming, a lot of men choose to keep things dangerously simple. Yes, we're thinking of that 4-in-1 shower gel that supposedly cleans every inch of your body with equal precision or — even worse — those that still rely on a single trusty bar of soap for their neck, back, balls, and all the rest...

That's why we're strong advocates for investing in grooming gear that's built for purpose and gives you the clean and care you deserve. That's where Fortero comes into play: bursting onto the scene in recent months after a viral launch — powered mainly by the shampoo's bold claims to be able to thicken your hair and promote fuller growth — it's piqued the hopes and interests of balding men everywhere.

That's why we wanted to get hold of some and put it to the test, using it day in and day out for six weeks to see if the product could live up to its bold claims and what men should actually expect when they invest their hard-earned dollars— and quite a few of them at that — into this apparent wonder product.

We purchased the Carbonic Acid Shampoo and Revitalising Conditioner combo pack, and here's what we thought...

There's a lot to consider when buying men's grooming products of any kind. From price point, delivery times, effectiveness, side effects, as well as the product's look and feel. Luckily for you, we've got over a decade of experience working alongside the men's grooming market, trying out the newest products and seeing if they're up to scratch.

More importantly, we actually own these Fortero products and one of our editors used them every day for six weeks to see if they live up to their claims. You can't beat hands-on experience and that's exactly what we pride ourselves on. Having shelled out the not-inconsiderable sum for this shampoo ourselves, you know we're going to give you a full, honest, and authentic rundown of what it's actually like.

Plus, while this particular writer may not be balding at a terrifying rate of knots, he is — like so many men — feeling the slow dread that comes with watching your hairline creep back. Suffice to say, we are the target demographic, so we'll let you know if it really works, man to man.

I'll keep this short and to the point, given that you're here to read about the product, not me. More importantly, every bloke is different. However, knowing some core stats does help add some context to this review...

I'm a 26-year-old man with a decent head of hair... but a long history of balding in my family. While my father would prefer to describe it as "significant thinning", I'm becoming acutely aware as the years pass that my hairline threatens to creep back and that my auburn locks may not be far behind.

As such, while I'm very much the key demographic in the sense that I'm a man who doesn't want to lose his hair, I'm happy to admit that there will be blokes out there whose hair situation is a little more desperate than mine and, as a result, may have different experiences and results with the hair growth aspects of Fortero.

Where I'm all too similar to most other guys, however, is that I rarely consider what kind of shampoo I use and, mistakenly, believed that they were all pretty much the same. Fortero proved me wrong on this, and I can now attest to its deep-cleaning dimensions without reserve.

In short, Fortero is a brand and manufacturer that claims to have created a shampoo which:

"Actively cleanses the scalp and pores, and a matching conditioner that strengthens the hair to encourage growth."

Fortero

In addition to their product's cleanliness and hair-growth claims — designed to restore confidence in men who may feel that their hair and/or age lets them down – the product also boasts some impressive features regarding its composition:

"[Fortero is made] entirely of safe, natural ingredients you can trust. Unlike many medicines and healthcare products, it’s free from hormone-disrupting parabens. Everything that goes into a bottle of Fortero is ecologically friendly and sustainable and hasn’t been tested or used on animals at any time."

Fortero

The brand also claims to have the support of dermatologists and doctors in claiming that the product is healthy and free from side effects. While we didn't have any experiences to the contrary, be sure to read the labels and check with your doctor wherever necessary.

While this stuff doesn't come cheap, the premium packaging and rapid delivery time go some way for compensating the hole in your wallet... My Fortero products arrived less than 48 hours after we placed our order and were delivered on a weekday morning.

The box itself felt appropriately expensive and premium for the price, as did the actual bottles of product inside and the accompanying documentation. Another big win from my point of view is that Fortero hasn't made the classic mistake of trying way too hard to brand their products as overtly "masculine".

While the mid-blue and metal shampoo bottle definitely give it a utilitarian, blokey feel, they haven't gone overboard in making it feel so manly and grey that it becomes farcical, as other brands are seemingly very keen to do.

Marketing grooming products to men is hard, I get that, but Fortero has found a nice middle point between making me feel manly but appealing to my softer, cosmopolitan side...

Handily, Fortero includes a set of instructions in every pack of their products. I think this is a very classy, very helpful move, and I rate them highly for it. The diagrams almost beat IKEA's too...

Rather than repeating what they told me, I've included the instructions below so you can enjoy it straight from the horse's mouth. These are the steps I followed for all six weeks of my using Fortero:

I'm going to approach this in reverse order for reasons that will become clear:

The conditioner looks and feels like pretty much any other normal conditioner, save for its light blue hue. It comes in a plastic, squeezy bottle with a flip-open lid; you drop a small puddle into your hand, work it through your hair, leave it to marinate as per the instructions above and then rinse it out. Simple as.

The Fortero shampoo is a little more... unique. It comes in a metal, pressurised bottle — a little like a spray-on deodorant — with a push-down mechanism. The shampoo then emerges in a pile of aerated foam as pictured below, much like shaving foam.

Though this took me off guard at first, I actually came to quite like the look and feel of this. It feels light in your hair and you can feel it bubble up as it gets to work.

I do, however, have a couple of criticisms here: First, because it's a foam rather than a liquid, I found myself requiring a massive volume to cover my head. This meant that I ran out of shampoo much faster than I ran out of conditioner...

Additionally, the bottle's metal design — though necessary, I understand — makes it very slippy when used in the shower; I definitely dropped it a couple of times. On top of this, it had a pop-off lid rather than a hinged lid; this too got dropped many a time and quickly became frustrating.

For a deep clean: Absolutely. For hair growth: I'm not convinced.

I'm not exaggerating when I say that Fortero gave me the deepest clean I've ever experienced. My hair felt clean, lightweight, and there wasn't any dandruff or residual hair product in sight. I'm still not entirely sure what Carbonic Acid actually is, but it definitely does the job.

In fact, the clean was so good that it almost entirely made up for my slight annoyances regarding the bottle's design...

When it comes to Fortero's claims regarding increased hair growth and thickness, however, I remain sceptical. I didn't notice any of these effects. While my hair felt better for the clean, it definitely didn't feel fuller or thicker.

However, as I mentioned at the very beginning, given my relatively full head of hair I may not represent the perfect target audience for this aspect of the product. Other men with different amounts of hair and at different stages of their life may have a drastically different experience, and I'd be keen to hear their thoughts.

Importantly, I didn't notice any adverse side effects whatsoever.

If you're not convinced that Fortero is the thing for you, here are a few alternatives to consider:

Also check out our recent review of The Hairy Pill.

Read the full article Fortero Shampoo Review: Does Carbonic Acid Really Work For Hair Loss? on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

This brings us on nicely to the Manscaped body hair trimmer. Taking the very definition of cutting body hair and using it as the brand name is a stroke of genius in my opinion. It clearly defines what the product has been made for and, in theory, should live up to that name by offering one of the best, most hassle-free experiences.

Manscaped is a men's brand of various grooming products. Most notably, the company has a body hair trimmer called The Lawn Mower, alongside others such as The Weed Whacker nose and ear hair trimmer, The Plow face razor and The Crop Shaver groin razor.

The Lawn Mower is now in its fourth generation and is marketed as not only the best attack against groin hair but as a tool to use for all your body hair removal needs. It's available to buy on its own or as part of various bundle sets, which can include other grooming products such as the Crop Reviver ball toner and Crop Preserver ball deodorant. I do like the use of humour in Manscaped's marketing, but even I'll admit a toner specifically developed for your balls sounds a little farfetched.

The Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0 is a relatively small hair trimmer, finished in a smart-looking matte black colour and one that can be used wirelessly. Some body hair groomers may only work when plugged into the mains, but the wireless functionality of the Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0, coupled with its small size, makes it easy to manoeuvre around those hard to reach, and delicate, places.

I'm someone who does like to regularly maintain hair length, and would most commonly use a safety razor in the shower. I've come away unscathed 99 percent of the time, and have always had reservations about taking an electric trimmer to my nether regions. Fast-moving teeth and delicate areas don't mix, in my opinion.

I was also aware of some pretty negative reviews of the Manscaped trimmers, with many claiming they had cut themselves when attempting to manscape. Safe to say, I went in with some caution. Manscaped claims the Lawn Mower 4.0 is outfitted with SkinSafe technology on the ceramic blades, which provides "precision-engineered for maximum confidence while trimming below-the-waist."

After charging the trimmer using the supplied charging base (you do need to have your own USB-A plug) which lets you know by way of three lights how charged your trimmer is, I set it to work. I decided against using the Lawn Mower 4.0 on my balls but felt confident using it everywhere else. Manscaped says you can use the trimmer on the boys if you want, but just make sure you keep the skin taut during the process.

The Lawn Mower 4.0 is waterproof, so you can use it in the shower if you wish. Adding water into the mix can help to keep the skin taut.

I immediately noticed just how quiet it is in use. This may not be an important factor for everyone, but being able to trim away without the potential of my housemates hearing loud buzzing coming from my bathroom, did put my mind at ease.

The Manscaped trimmer is also incredibly lightweight, so holding it for extended periods of time is no issue at all. I used it without any guard on at all (go hard or go home, right?) and found the blades sliced through the hair like a knife through butter. It was effortless and effective.

My only niggle is that it does, as should be expected, cut the hair incredibly short. At least, shorter than I would have normally liked. I'm not exactly a professional swimmer who needs to rid their body of all hair. I found, for my hair length at least, using the smaller of the two supplied plastic guards to not be effective; my hair was already too short for the guard to pick up.

A quick note on those plastic guards. Each can actually be set to two different lengths, depending on how you set them over the main ceramic blade.

However, when I've previously used the body groomer I already own, I'm able to cut to a short length using a guard and be happy with the results. That's not to say I wasn't happy with the result of using the Manscaped without a guard, it just resulted in incredibly short hair that I wasn't used to. I was seriously impressed with how easy the experience was, though.

For the sake of public decency, I'm not going to be posting before and after pictures. You'll just have to trust what I'm saying.

Yes, absolutely you can. While I'm not super hairy, I do possess a rather generous amount of body hair, which I like to maintain on a regular basis using a body groomer. Figuring this was a perfect opportunity to really put the Manscaped to the test, I attached one of the guards (the smaller one) and began to move the trimmer up and down my body.

Again, the cutting experience was smooth, easy, quick and effective. Any hair that was cut fell to the floor, which I was impressed with since my current body groomer would get hair caught up in the guard, requiring me to empty it on a regular basis. Manscaped has also fitted a small LED light near the blade to help with visibility. This LED light automatically comes on when you turn the unit on, but can be turned off by pressing and holding down on the power button for a few seconds.

Manscaped offers various bundles on top of being able to buy the Manscaped Lawn Mower 4.0 as a standalone unit. The company also offers a Peak Hygiene Plan, which is a subscription-based plan that sees you being sent a fresh blade to replace the one on your trimmer every 3 months, alongside a refill of one of the formulations, such as the Crop Reviver ball toner. This is charged at $24.99 every 3 months.

The pricing is as follows:

Lawn Mower 4.0 standalone unit: $149.99 or $139.99 with the Peak Hygiene PlanPerfect Package 4.0: Lawn Mower 4.0; Crop Preserver ball deodorant; Crop Reviver ball toner; Magic Mat shaving mats (to collect hair); The Shed travel bag and a pair of Manscaped boxer briefs - $169.99 or $159.99 with Peak Hygiene Plan.Performance Package 4.0: Lawn Mower 4.0; Weed Whacker ear & nose hair trimmer; Crop Preserver ball deodorant; Crop Reviver ball toner; Magic Mat shaving mats (to collect hair); The Shed travel bag and a pair of Manscaped boxer briefs - $169.99 or $159.99 with Peak Hygiene Plan - $189.99 or $179.99 with Peak Hygiene Plan.

Yes, you can. It's only really worthwhile using Manscaped on your face if you have a long beard, as the guards can be used to cut through the excess hair. I didn't use it on my face personally, as I only rock a little bit of stubble and have a dedicated beard trimmer to take care of it.

Or if you're travelling, try this one.

Ultimately, yes I do think Manscaped is worth it if you take your manscaping habits seriously. The Lawn Mower 4.0 trimmer is a lightweight, premium-looking device and does an excellent job at cutting through hair. As I mentioned earlier, I was a little apprehensive about using Manscaped for the first time, based purely on some negative reviews I'd seen.

However, after using it several times not just for hair 'down there' but for other body hair grooming too, I'm happy for it to replace my previous body groomer.

Read the full article Manscaped Review 2023: Trim Your Nuts Like A Boss on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Singapore Airlines' new business class emulates refined sophistication. From ergonomic flatbed seats to improved privacy measures, the in-flight experience remains unrivalled by leading airlines.

Business class is booming as first class becomes a thing of the past, so it's more important than ever to know what you're getting before you book. While Singapore Airlines' rep may have taken a knock after the horrendous turbulence incident last month, their business class is one of the best out there.

If you’ve flown Singapore Airlines Business Class, you’re aware of the exclusive comforts their flight experience offers. With oversized if outdated seats, flawless customer service and 5-star “Book the Cook” dining options, flying SQ is a privilege for business and first-class travellers alike.

While the traditional business class is offered amongst their original fleet, the “new” class can be found on the 777-300ER, A500 and new A380’s. Anyone who has experienced the former may agree... We’re due for an upgrade.

For comfort optimisation and tips on improving your overall flight experience, explore our Singapore Airlines Business Class review before you book.

Here are the details of the last Singapore Airlines Business Class flight we enjoyed...

For the sake of confusion, we’ll be focusing solely on the flight plan for SQ’s Boeing model 777-300ER. Expect to see a rise in use for these medium-haul planes since SQ decided to not re-sign their Airbus 380 lease this upcoming year. You’ll find airlines beginning to follow suit because of the difficulty in reaching full occupancy with these 600 person planes.

Anyway, as you board this single level plane you’ll notice 4 First Class suites and the first section of Business class. Business class is divided at rows 14 and 15 by restrooms, galley and economy boarding. Bassinet seats are at all 4 seats in row 15.

The entire Business class is set up in 1-2-1 rows, meaning your A and K seats have windows (besides in rows 19 & 21, but we’ll get to that later). The atmosphere is soft, comforting and unique, accentuating refined luxury.

The 1-2-1 seat arrangement used by Singapore Airlines welcomes every type of airline traveller. For those solo travellers who prefer adequate privacy and minimal talking, opt for a window seat.

Travelling as a duet? The D and F seats make conversation seamless while providing enough space for personal comfort. When you’re ready for downtime, a simple recline into your wingback headrest provides more than enough privacy.

You’ll notice in our Cathay Pacific Business Class guide, the A & K seats are angled toward the window for added privacy. SQ’s window seats face straight ahead, while not a game changer, there’s more exposure to the cabin when flying in these A & K seats.

While the traditional business class seats were best of class, they were in need of a luxury tuning. The new seats are handsomely designed with quilt and Scottish leather encased by polished copper for a refined, elegant look. They showcase two new reclining positions “Lazy Z” and “Sundeck” for maximum in-flight comfort.

A bold, yet effective move, SQ designers took down the width of the seat in order to provide more storage space for personal items. Guests who fly in the new business class have two large storage units on the side of the seat, a small compartment near the screen. This added storage is ideal for those working on flight and maintaining an organised space.

Fortunately, the added storage did not take away from the feel of a sizeable seat. SQ’s renovated seating remains one of the largest seats in competing business class cabins. When it’s time for some rest, all seats recline into a cozy, 78-inch sleeping pod with padded duvets designed by Givenchy.

Installed into each seat is height-adjustable table which can be utilised in flatbed mode accompanied by subjective directional lights during dim lighting. During your descent, one can check their appearance in-seat by a personal vanity mirror, no more do you have to go to the bathroom to freshen up.

No one wants to sit in a loud, congested seat. Light sleepers, window enthusiasts and privacy seekers can all benefits by not selecting a few seats in Singapore Airlines Business Class.

A given, but worthy of mention, any seats near the galley and restrooms can be unpleasant for demanding travellers. On Boeing 777-300ER planes, steer clear of rows 14 and 15 if you seek quieter travel. While the FA’s are incredible and do their best to keep quiet, you can stop the sound of foot traffic amongst an intimate setting.

As mentioned, these rows are divided by the galley and restrooms which can be vexatious. While row 15 is attractive for bulkhead seating, the space benefits are found in all seats in business class.

Say you enjoy the visual stimulation of flying. A view of the world below, endless clouds and infinite spaces. You check the seating chart and find 4 window seats open in business, you’re excited. You’ve selected set 19A and look forward to the expansive views of Tokyo on your way home.

But you’re met with disappointment because seat 19A doesn’t actually have a window. Which is why we are here to heed warning. For those who enjoy the views, avoid seats 19A, 19K, 21A and 21K.

Outside of the stated 4 seats to avoid, there aren’t many negative aspects about the leftover new business class seats. However, due to our selective personalities, we’d chose to opt for row 11 window seats. Simple really, the partition between you and first class offers a secluded feel as well as not being located near a restroom.

With the updated cabin came...you guessed it, an updated entertainment interface. Flying new business class means higher screen clarity, a modern touch-screen inset controller and enough film content to keep your inner Hollywood occupied. Add the 18” adjustable screen and I’d say Singapore Airlines Business Class outdid themselves for medium haul flights.

Compared to the original business class, the new system feels as if we’re not stuck in the early 2000s anymore. All the seats were equipped not only with world-class entertainment, but well-adjusted technological features like USB ports, power sockets and electronic seat numbers so you can find your seat at night.

A unique feature to all Singapore Airlines Business Class flights, the Book The Cook feature lets you choose what you want to eat in advance. The options are extensive yet selective to your flight.

When flying out of Melbourne, the main course we chose was a pan-fried barramundi with sautéed vegetables and fettuccine.

Between featured chefs such as Georges Blanc (France) and wine industry influencers like Jeannie Cho Lee, you can rest assured your culinary experience will be noteworthy during flight. They also have an impressive cocktail list for those who aren’t feeling wine.

Breakfast for long haul flights is equally as impressive as the main courses. With the choice of healthy omelettes, authentic cultural dishes and hand-squeezed OJ, the option for a healthy meal is plentiful. Add a cup of Illy coffee or fresh squeezed mimosa and you’re good to go!

Singapore Airlines Business Class is known as one of the best business class cabins amongst competing airlines. Reputable for its oversized luxury seats and world-class inflight service, SQ continues to provide one of the most comfortable experiences to date.

After undergoing an interior renovation, the New Business Class provides all the same comforts with a contemporary touch. With its contemporary reverse herringbone seats, technologically advanced entertainment systems and fine dining meals, Singapore Airlines continues to uphold its reputation as an industry leader even after the drastic changes.

Enjoy unparalleled hospitality and luxury comforts by booking the New Singapore Business Class next time you fly out of one of their select cities around the world.

RELATED: Flying Cathay Pacific Business Class? Read Our comprehensive review on how to get the most out of it.

Read the full article Singapore Airlines Business Class Review: Luxury, Comfort, and Great Service on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Big, bold, capable and very luxurious: Lexus' new flagship SUV, the LX, is more than just a tarted-up Toyota LandCruiser LC300... Yet those 4x4 underpinnings make it an exceptionally capable off-roader that doesn't compromise on luxury.

Few vehicles were as hotly anticipated in Australia as the new Toyota LandCruiser LC300. Toyota's first new comfort-oriented LandCruiser in a whopping 15 years, it's charted a new course for the venerable SUV, ditching the V8 for good while adding adaptive variable suspension, modern infotainment tech and a GR Sport variant for the first time. Read our review of the Toyota LandCruiser LC300 here.

But while the LC300 officially went on sale in Australia in October 2021, demand for the capable 4x4 has been so immense that only a fraction of the Aussies who've put an order down for one have actually received their LC300 yet – and with the base GX model now priced over $100,000, second-hand prices for the LC300 are well into the six figures.

Yet the new Lexus LX, which is based on the LC300, doesn't have the same waiting list woes... And considering how much more luxurious it is compared to its Toyota sibling (for not an insane price premium), we really don't understand why more Australians aren't jumping in LXs instead.

WATCH our 60-second review of the new Lexus LX below.

The first thing that strikes you with the Lexus LX is, well, how striking it is. The LC300 is already a pretty imposing car, but the LX's more angular front end gives it even more presence.

Jump inside and you'll be very impressed by the quality of its interior. The LX 600 Sports Luxury I tested had very tasteful real wood trim, truly sumptuous leather seats and the most solid switchgear I've felt in a car. The steering wheel is similarly robust and confidence-inspiring.

I really can't overstate how nice the interior of the LX is. Not only is it properly bougie, but the fit and finish is unparalleled. It feels bulletproof in the same way that early Lexus models like the first-gen LS were; in that old-school, bulletproof Japanese car way – except with a great deal more sophistication.

Those familiar with the LC300's interior will also be pleased to know that the LX's infotainment system is significantly better, with a cool dual touch screen setup where the lower screen is dedicated to climate control as well as information about the car's braking, acceleration, weight distribution, suspension height and off-road modes.

The coolest thing about the LX? The huge centre console doubles as a cooler. (See what we did there?) But that's not the only fun gimmick this big Japanese luxury car boasts. Passengers in the back benefit from two headrest-mounted screens – long gone are the days of stringing up a DVD player between the front seats! The top-spec LX 600 Ultra Luxury even goes full Bentley or Rolls-Royce mode and ditches the middle seat in the back in favour of 'first class'-style rear seating.

RELATED: Bentley Brings First Class Airline Luxury To Cars

The Lexus LX also benefits from active sound control, which is effectively like noise-cancelling headphones just for a car cabin. A big box of a car like the LX would normally generate a lot of wind noise barrelling down the highway at 110km/h, but thanks to its active sound control, it's very quiet – except for the roar of the engine up front. More on that later.

Also, more on the LX's suspension: unlike the LC300, the LX has adjustable air suspension, which you can easily raise or lower at the push of a button. This means you can lower the car to help passengers get in or out (or to have a more conventional driving experience around town), or you can raise the car when you go off-road... Or you just want to show off.

Actually, off-road is where the LX really shines, because – in case I hadn't made it clear enough – it's just a LandCruiser underneath, which is to say that it's one of the best 4x4s ever made and more than capable of conquering anything the Aussie bush and beyond can throw at it. Cleverly tuned off-road modes, its gem of a 10-speed auto transmission and its over 'see through' view camera system make it easy for even the most inexperienced off-roader to tackle challenging conditions.

On the tarmac, it's also very impressive. Put it in Sports+ mode and it is downright dynamic, despite its enormous proportions and high-riding stance. I'm pleased to report that on a long road trip, I scared my passengers more than a few times with the Lexus LX's overtaking ability.

The only thing that really lets the Lexus down (much like the similarly large and luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee L I reviewed last year) is its powertrain options. Let's be clear: the engines available in the LX are both great. The diesel option is the same 3.3L twin-turbo V6 that's the only option for the LandCruiser, while the LX additionally offers a 3.4L petrol twin-turbo V6, which is what was in the LX 600 Sports Luxury I drove. The diesel is good for 227kW/700Nm while the petrol does 305kW/650Nm.

Both engines are responsive, torquey and powerful – but they're also both pretty agricultural. When you put your foot down, they really sound truck-like, which you might expect from the diesel powertrain but it was surprisingly coarse to hear the petrol engine sound so similar. I even had to get out and check what engine was under the bonnet the first time I drove the LX, to make sure it wasn't a diesel! It's not the sort of engine note you'd expect from a luxury car.

It's really the only major weak point of the LX, alongside the Dunlop Grandtrek types the car was shod in, which felt a little underwhelming – especially considering the LX gets more premium Yokohama Geolandar tyres fitted in other markets. But these are really nitpicking on what's otherwise a pretty faultless luxury 4x4.

As we mentioned above, it's not that easy to get your hands on an LC300 right now, and LC300s are increasingly rather expensive. As of publishing, a LandCruiser Sahara ZX has an MSRP of $143,101 while the base model Lexus LX 500d has an MSRP of $153,091 – a less than $10,000 difference.

However, the Lexus has a lot more features, including a better infotainment system, a much more refined interior, a more handsome exterior, the option of a third row and is even better off-road out of the box. Yet it's just as well-built and reliable; it can tow and ford just as much, and it's just as fast... You get the picture.

The real question is, why not buy the Lexus? Reverse badge snobbery? The Lexus LX is simply a better LandCruiser, with levels of luxury that rival brands that cost double or triple the price. It's an utterly compelling package and we're still scratching our heads as to why more Aussies aren't jumping in LXs.

Find out more about the Lexus LX range at Lexus' online showroom here.

Read the full article Lexus LX Review: A Rolls-Royce Mixed With A Toyota LandCruiser on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

When I was offered the chance to whiten my teeth I didn't exactly jump at the chance. Not because I had heard the rumours it was dangerous or vain, but because I was worried it would ruin my credibility as a black coffee drinker.

It was with great trepidation, then, that I rocked up at, FY Smile in Sydney's Double Bay, fearing that it would either not work, or that it would work and that I would be mocked as an American the next time I visited Paris.

My (close-minded) thinking was basically: the kind of person who whitens their teeth is either very vain or very insecure. That was before I experienced the delights of the futuristic setup FY Smile has at Double Bay, however, which has convinced me teeth whitening isn't the crime against humanity I thought it was.

In fact, it dispelled for me some of the common stereotypes around teeth whitening, which I'm going to share with you below.

Here's everything I learned in the process of getting my teeth whitened, and what it was like to do as a self-confessed sceptic.

It all starts out with a nice cup of green tea (and the signing of some waivers on an iPad), which had my spidey senses tingling, and all sorts of Hansel and Gretel metaphors running through my brain. This may also be because I have a bit of a phobia about dentists in general (hence the very yellow teeth).

However, the treatment didn't eventuate in me being kidnapped and dissected in some horrible laboratory experiment (the same can't be said for some of the characters in Narcos, which I watched on the ceiling-TV the bulk of my time in the chair).

The entire session was quite comfortable and I was looked after incredibly well. As a mildly neurotic soul worried everything from the 'light technology' to the toothpaste could give me cancer, this was quite a relief.

After answering the preliminary questions, you take a few 'before' pictures, and then the treatment starts. First up is a standard cleaning (the kind you normally get every time you go to the dentist for a check-up) which involves the removal of any build up between your teeth (with that scratchy metal thing all dentists use) as well as with a high-pressure water blasting implement (which my normal dentist doesn't use).

Then you get your teeth rubbed with HiSmile's updated brand patented PAP+ formula, a mouthguard gently put between your teeth, sunglasses put on your eyes, and then you settle in for your first round of VIO405 light technology which is directed at your teeth for about 20 minutes or so. All the while you look up at the ceiling and watch Netflix.

I'm not exactly an expert on the topic (if you're thinking of whitening your teeth you can read up on all this yourself), but from what I had heard, teeth whitening can weaken your teeth, and make them sensitive. And it can – if you get it done the traditional way (with peroxide). HiSmile's big claim is that it causes no sensitivity, and actually strengthens your teeth rather than weakening them because it doesn't use peroxide.

I'm no dentist so I have no way of proving the latter but I can attest – for me – the former proved true. My teeth felt quite warm during the 'light technology' stints, but afterwards (so far) I have experienced zero sensitivity or pain.

This is consistent with HiSmile's claim that their technology results in "improved enamel structure and reduction of pre-existing tooth sensitivity."

Depending on how yellow your teeth are, you go through three to four rounds of the light technology process, having more PAP+ formula applied between each one, with the light technology directed at a different part of your teeth.

As HiSmile founder Nik Mirkovic explains: "This revolutionary treatment sets the tone for the brand's direction for new product development plans for next year and beyond, all underpinned by expert collaboration and clinical trials with proven results."

The team doing my teeth didn't mind at all, but it made me paranoid Narcos fight scenes might make them jump (they didn't).

After getting my 'after' photos taken, I walked out of the clinic, despite my former suspicion of the whole thing, finding myself shamelessly smiling at every opportunity, and loving the look. Oh and my long black coffees now have a brand new challenge to work on, so everyone's a winner.

How long does HiSmile last?

Providing you don't go drinking coffee as soon as you leave the dentist's chair, HiSmile will last 3-6 months. The best way to maintain your white glow is to avoid drinking black coffee (like me) and red wine, which doesn't sound like fun. So HiSmile have a range of products to maintain the white glow long after the treatment.

To find out more, read the PAP+ Clinical Trial. This clinical trial was a double-blinded study, conducted by a third-party dentist. Each participant completed a single ten-minute teeth whitening treatment. The results show that patients did not experience any additional sensitivity from using HiSmile.

You can buy the full range of HiSmile products from HiSmile, Coles, Myer, Chemist Warehouse and Sephora.

Read the full article HiSmile Review: Does It Work? We Are Proof It Does! on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Last month, I was lucky enough to take a trip from Sydney to Los Angeles, specifically to the wonderful city of Beverly Hills.

Never turning down an opportunity to travel in style, when the Waldorf Astoria offered me the chance to stay in and review their brand spanking new Beverly Hills location, I simply couldn’t say no. Here’s how their rooms, restaurants, gyms, spas, staff, and so much more stacked up.

Welcome to the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Hotel, where luxury and elegance meet in the heart of one of California's most iconic cities.

Built in 2017, this recently opened hotel offers a fresh and polished look, distinguishing itself from other Beverly Hills establishments that may have illustrious histories but are starting to show signs of wear and tear. From the moment you step into the lobby, with its triple-height ceilings, artfully designed furniture, and immaculately curated ambience, you're transported into a five-star world of relaxation and indulgence.

In this comprehensive review, we explore the features and services that make the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills a standout destination. From the spacious and beautifully designed rooms to the delectable dining options and exceptional amenities, you'll discover why this hotel has become an instant hotspot in a city with a pretty high benchmark for glamour.

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As you enter the lobby, you're immediately captivated by its Art Deco-inspired design, a hallmark of Beverly Hills writ large. The triple-height ceilings, polished floors, and exquisite furnishings create an elegant atmosphere from the off. The fresh scent permeating the air adds another touch of tranquillity, instantly sliding you into holiday mode.

On entry, I was also struck by the buzzing lobby, alive with a mix of well-heeled out-of-towners — including the occasional pasty Englishman such as myself — and locals, creating a vibrant and cosmopolitan ambience. From young couples sporting artfully ripped jeans to hotshot businessmen draped across the lobby sofas, it's clear that the hotel attracts a pretty fashionable, high-income crowd, confirmed by the telling presence of a Bijan boutique just off to the side of the lobby.

One notable feature is the hotel's forecourt, which is both wide and spacious. The area is not only filled with friendly staff but also hosts an impressive collection of incredibly expensive cars, adding yet another element of luxury to the initial experience.

Step into your room at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, and you'll find yourself immersed in (yet more) spacious luxury. Even the smallest rooms span an impressive 630 square feet, providing ample space for relaxation.

Designed by the renowned firm Pierre-Yves Rochon — known for their work on prestigious hotels such as the Four Seasons George V in Paris and the Savoy in London — the interiors showcase an exquisite blend of classic elegance and modern aesthetics.

During my four-night stay, I was fortunate enough to experience one of the hotel's rooms first-hand. The moment I entered, I was greeted by an abundance of space, bright natural light, and contemporary furnishings that seamlessly intertwined with the hotel's rich if brief history and all-around opulent vibe. The colour palette of muted celadon, taupe, and white exuded a soothing and sophisticated atmosphere.

The bathroom was a sight to behold, offering indulgence on a grand scale. With two wash basins, a walk-in shower, and what could possibly be the largest bathtub I have ever seen in a hotel room, it catered to both practicality and indulgence. For a solo traveller like myself, it felt almost excessively lavish.

The bed, generously sized and inexplicably comfy, was a haven for a restful night's sleep. To add a touch of elegance, a handwritten voucher for the hotel's restaurant was placed on the bed, showcasing the attention to detail that permeates every aspect of the Waldorf Astoria experience. The room also featured thoughtful amenities, including books about the local area and a well-appointed desk for reading and writing.

However, the highlight was undoubtedly the full-height sliding glass doors that opened onto a vast balcony, allowing the Californian sunshine to flood the room and providing a breathtaking view of the Hollywood Hills.

Additionally, the seamless integration of an Amazon Alexa system into the room was a pleasant surprise. Despite my initial scepticism, it proved to be both functional and convenient, allowing for (amongst many other things) voice-controlled curtain operation which, I can't deny, really made me feel like the cat who got the cream when I could wake up, roll over, and command the daylight to enter at will...

It is worth noting that my room was one of the more modest offerings at the Waldorf Astoria. I was fortunate enough to be given a tour of some of their more luxurious suites, and they truly exceeded all expectations, leaving me somewhat in awe of their size and plush interior design.

When it comes to dining, the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills offers an incredible culinary experience from morning to night. Allow me to take you on a gastronomic journey through the hotel's delectable offerings...

During my stay, I had the pleasure of experiencing two distinct breakfast services at the hotel. The first was at the ground-floor restaurant, Espelette. As I entered the restaurant, I was immediately captivated by — you guessed it — its impressive grandeur, with its double-height ceilings, marble accents, abundant natural light, and elegantly set tables. The impeccable service matched the splendid surroundings, with a dedicated team attending to my every need. While their attentiveness occasionally bordered on being overbearing, their friendliness and impeccable manners diffused any concerns.

The food at Espelette was nothing short of brilliant. Although the à la carte menu leaned towards the higher end in terms of pricing, the quality and speed of the service more than justified the price tag. On my first visit, I indulged in avocado toast with poached eggs, complemented by a generous drizzle of hot sauce. This dish provided the perfect kickstart to my day, dispelling any lingering jet lag. On my final visit, I treated myself to French toast with fresh berries, which proved to be a revelation. The slices of bread were soft, sweet, and thicker than any I had encountered before, topped with delectable syrup and juicy berries. A true showstopper.

On the intervening day, I treated myself to the height of luxury: room service breakfast. Opting for the buttermilk pancakes with a pot of black coffee, not only did this feel quintessentially American, but the silver service that came alongside it — with the staff member setting me up to enjoy my breakfast on the balcony — created an altogether inimitable experience.

For a truly extraordinary lunch experience, look no further than the Rooftop By JG restaurant at the Waldorf Astoria. As the name suggests, this restaurant sits atop the hotel, offering panoramic views that will genuinely leave you breathless, however cliche that might sound. Even on a grey day, the vista of Beverly Hills is a sight to behold.

I settled into a table and started my meal with a glass of white wine. The sashimi I ordered as an appetiser exceeded all expectations, showcasing some of the best flavours I've ever enjoyed from the dish. In a delightful Californian twist — combining surf and turf elements with reckless abandon — I decided to try their truffle burger for my main. So vast and rich as to require a short nap to be taken immediately after consumption, it was absolutely delicious.

The rooftop restaurant also boasts a well-stocked bar, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely lunch, a romantic dinner, or simply enjoying drinks with friends and colleagues. Undoubtedly, the Rooftop By JG is a highlight of the entire hotel, beloved by both guests and locals alike.

While I regrettably did not have the opportunity to experience dinner at Espelette personally, I have received glowing reports from reliable sources. As night falls, the restaurant undergoes a transformation, exuding sophistication, class, and vivacity. These images shared by the hotel showcase some of the dishes on offer, and for those seeking a memorable dining experience, an evening at Espelette is not to be missed.

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills boasts a wide array of amenities, catering to both the health-conscious as well as those seeking relaxation and rejuvenation.

The hotel features a well-equipped gym that goes above and beyond the standard offerings. I was informed that the equipment is regularly updated every eighteen months, ensuring the availability of state-of-the-art machines. Although the gym's floor space was more adequate than ample, it was the pristine condition of the equipment that truly impressed me. From heavy weights gear like squat racks and benches to weights machines, cardio equipment, and stretching facilities, everything felt brand new. Unlike many hotel gyms where equipment gradually deteriorates, the Waldorf Astoria's commitment to maintaining a top-notch fitness facility was evident.

One of the standout features of the hotel is its beautiful rooftop pool, discreetly nestled around the corner from the bar and restaurant. Surrounded by comfortable deck chairs and offering panoramic views of the city, the pool area is a haven of relaxation. Adjacent to the pool, you'll find small treatment tents for those seeking a spa-like experience without straying too far from the water. I was particularly intrigued to learn that two of these tents house an infrared sauna and a cold plunge pool. Individually, these treatments are wonderful, but combining them offers a sure remedy for any lingering jet lag.

As someone who doesn't typically indulge in spa treatments, I was pleasantly surprised by the experience at the Waldorf Astoria. Upon my arrival, the hotel treated me to a full body massage, which proved to be sheer bliss. After being escorted to the well-appointed changing rooms, I was directed to a dimly lit, tranquil room furnished with plush, low armchairs, light snacks, and refreshing ice-cold water. After a brief wait, my masseuse arrived and escorted me to a treatment room. She inquired about my preferences, tailoring the experience to my needs, before commencing the massage.

The ensuing sixty minutes were a heavenly blur, leaving me feeling rejuvenated and somewhat transformed. Following the treatment, I was guided to the shower and sauna area, where I was encouraged to take my time to continue the relaxation, freshen up, and change. I spent at least another hour in this serene space, prolonging the afterglow of the massage. Without a doubt, this spa experience was precisely what I needed after a long journey, and it has turned me into a diehard spa enthusiast.

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills not only boasts an impressive forecourt adorned with eye-wateringly expensive cars but also provides ample on-site private parking. Whether you have your own vehicle or choose to rely on other means of transportation, the hotel offers convenient options for getting around Beverly Hills. For those who prefer to drive, the private parking facilities eliminate the hassle of finding a parking spot, providing peace of mind and easy access to explore the city.

However, as a non-driver, I found the hotel's town cars to be an impressive and practical alternative. These town cars can be booked in advance or on the fly and are available to transport guests within a three-mile radius of the hotel. Keeping your driver's card allows you to summon a town car to pick you up once you've completed your dinner or drinks, adding an extra layer of convenience to your stay. Best of all, these transportation services are included at no extra cost, making your time in Beverly Hills more convenient, calm, and cost-effective.

In summary, my experience at the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills was nothing short of revelatory. It epitomises the essence of a modern luxury hotel, offering guests an impeccable experience from the moment they step through the doors. The rooms are spacious, exquisitely designed, and equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. The dining options are exceptional, catering to a wide range of tastes and preferences. The gym, pools, and spa provide ample opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. Lastly, the hotel's convenient transportation services ensure that guests can explore the city with ease.

While the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills certainly comes with a higher price tag, the level of service, attention to detail, and overall experience are commensurate with the cost. If you have the opportunity and means to stay at this remarkable hotel, I highly recommend doing so.

A resounding 9/10.

Read the full article Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills Review: Art Deco, Alexa & Avocado Toast on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Never turning down an opportunity to travel in style, when United Airlines offered me the chance to review their Polaris Business Class cabin as part of my trip, I simply couldn't say no. Here's how their lounge, seats, food, entertainment, and customer service — epitomised by one particular guardian angel — stacked up.

Business Class: there are few better feelings in life than boarding a plane and hearing those inimitable words "turn left...", as you prepare for a blissful few hours filled with luxuries and attentive care, in stark contrast to the often uncomfortable and seemingly never-ending experience that many of us have come accustomed to in the aptly named cattle class.

At least, this is precisely what I had imagined the Business class experience to be as a veritable turn-left virgin. Having the immense privilege to fly from Sydney to Los Angeles and back again on United's recently overhauled 'Polaris' cabin — the latter portion of which I'll be writing about below — I can safely say that all my dreams came true...

WATCH: United's new livery means the outside of the plane looks almost as good as the inside feels.

Premium Atmosphere and Amenities.

LAX's United Airlines lounge exudes a premium feel, immersing passengers in luxury from the moment they step inside. The exquisite stone floors and marble walls contribute to an expensive ambience, enhanced further by soft lighting that envelops the space. The walls are adorned with abstract modern art, adding a not unwelcome touch of sophistication without veering into pretence...

On entering, passengers are greeted by a fully stocked and well-staffed bar alongside a custom-built and well-stocked wine cooler, stuffed to the gills with a selection of fine wines. The centrepiece of the lounge is a spacious dining area, dotted with comfortable seating. On one side, a well-appointed selection of hot and cold food awaits, ranging from fresh salads to sandwiches, lamingtons, curries, as well as meat and cheese platters.

However, the true highlight of the lounge experience lies in the a la carte restaurant. Here, the friendly United staff serve signature dishes, such as the delicious and very American cheeseburger, which I paired with an impeccably mixed whisky cocktail. The attentive service provided by the staff completes the overall experience.

The lounge also offers shower facilities, which are a welcome respite after a long day of sightseeing, especially before a late-night flight. In terms of seating options, passengers can choose between tables and chairs or cozy sofas for groups, as well as private workstations equipped with chargers and desks for those who need to bash out some work during their time in the lounge.

Modern Design and Unprecedented Comfort

The seats in United Airlines 'Polaris' Business Class are truly impressive, combining contemporary design with exceptional comfort. The dark grey colour scheme, complemented by white and blue accents, creates a modern, even futuristic atmosphere. As soon as you settle into the seat, you can sense the elevated experience you're about to embark on.

Practicality is a key feature of the seat design. It provides ample storage space, including storage under the seat in front, a convenient small shelf on the right-hand side, and a small locker. The locker is perfect for stowing away complimentary items like a bottle of water or the amenity kit, which is thoughtfully provided in a reusable hardshell case to promote reuse and sustainability, something all too often lacking in amenity kits...

Once seated, guests are welcomed with a refreshing glass of champagne; a crisp and cool indulgence to get things started. The seat itself is piled-high with memory foam pillows, blankets, United's own pyjamas, and premium bedding courtesy of Saks Fifth Avenue. These luxurious touches create a cocoon of comfort that makes bedtime during the flight a genuinely and surprisingly relaxing experience. When the cabin lights are dimmed, the seat can be fully reclined, transforming into a flat bed...

To enhance the sleep experience even further, the United team provides a small but incredibly soft "mattress" that is delicately rolled out across the seat. When combined with premium bedding and pyjamas, this additional layer of comfort ensures a restful sleep. As someone who has struggled to sleep on flights in the past, I was amazed to find myself enjoying a full eight hours of relatively uninterrupted sleep on this journey. This remarkable improvement — given that I've never been able to get more than three hours of kip on any other flight — is a testament to United's commitment to good design.

It is worth noting, however, that there was a slight inconsistency in the shape of the cubby hole where the bottom half of the seat — and your body — is placed when fully reclined. On my return flight, the space allowed me to lie flat and sleep without any issues. However, on my outbound flight to LA, I encountered some discomfort due to a different, pointier shape that made it challenging to comfortably fit my limbs. This discrepancy may be more noticeable for individuals with significant stature such as myself, standing at 6'6"/198cm. For most, I doubt this will be a problem if noticed at all.

Culinary Delights and Attentive Service

United ensures that the dining experience onboard is nothing short of exceptional (at least to the extent that food prepared hundreds of miles away from point of consumption can ever actually be). Shortly after take-off, passengers are treated to a selection of wine, water, and warm nuts — a delightful touch that sets the tone for the culinary journey ahead. The main evening meal is a highlight in itself, featuring, in my case, an Asian-style short rib with rice, an Asian salad, prawns, and a bread roll. The flavours were strong and well-balanced, while the presentation was commendable.

What truly stands out is the dessert service, which exemplifies quintessential American indulgence. An ice cream sundae is served from a trolley adorned with at least ten delectable toppings. Passengers have the freedom to choose as many toppings as they desire, as the attentive cabin crew assembles the sundae right in front of them. Personally, I couldn't resist opting for all the toppings, and the result was absolutely delicious. Following the main meal, an additional cheese plate with crackers is served — a delightful if somewhat excessive treat. The experience is complemented by a great selection of wines including my personal favourite, a Whispering Angel Rosé.

For breakfast, just before landing in Sydney, I enjoyed chicken sausages, an egg-white and cheese omelette, roasted tomatoes, tea, fruit salad, yogurt, and a brioche bun. This well-rounded breakfast provided the perfect start to a long day ahead, considering the early arrival at 6am local time. Throughout the flight, passengers can also request snacks, such as a cheese toastie with tomato soup which I couldn't resist going for at the halfway mark.

Immersive Entertainment System

United provides Polaris passengers with an exceptional entertainment system, guaranteeing an immersive inflight experience. The generously sized, high-definition screen ensures optimal viewing pleasure, while the screen's brightness can be easily adjusted to your preferred settings, preventing any discomfort or disturbance to fellow passengers.

The entertainment options available are extensive and cater to a wide range of interests. While I unintentionally limited myself to two drawn-out binging sessions — starting with the entire first season of Game of Thrones and then watching a few episodes of The Last of Us — I had a good browse of all the entertainment on offer and can confidently say that United offers an incredible array of movies, encompassing both new releases and timeless classics across a wide range of genres.

In addition to movies, the entertainment system offers TV shows, music, podcasts, guided meditations, and ambient sounds — everything you need to relax and unwind during the flight. United Airlines has truly excelled in this area, providing a faultless entertainment experience.

Exceptional Service and Going Above and Beyond

I want to express my utmost appreciation for the exceptional level of customer service provided by the staff of United. Throughout the journey, they demonstrated a dedication to customer satisfaction that surpassed any previous experiences I've had. The baseline of customer service is clearly excellent, as evidenced by the cabin manager personally greeting each passenger upon arrival and bidding farewell at the end of the flight. The availability of hot towels, drinks, snacks, and any additional assistance required further adds to the overall experience.

However, it was a specific incident that truly showcased the above-and-beyond mentality of United's staff. As someone who was relatively new to the business class experience, I may have indulged a tad excessively in the luxuries on offer, especially those alcoholic and caffeinated... This resulted in my experiencing a full-blown but thoroughly deserved migraine a few hours into the flight. Initially reluctant to inconvenience the cabin crew, I tried to tough it out with little success.

Eventually, I reached out to a member of the crew, inquiring about the availability of painkillers. To my surprise, they promptly provided me with two doses and a large bottle of water. I took the painkillers, drank the water, and drifted into a much-needed sleep.

When I woke up, I discovered two more large bottles of water and two additional doses of painkillers by my seat without even requesting them. Later, the team member in question told me that she had seen supplies running low and wanted to ensure I was well-stocked on waking. It was a small gesture, but it meant a lot. This exceptional level of attentiveness to my individual needs ensured that I disembarked the plane feeling healthy, rested, and ready to embark on my journey, despite my earlier indulgences.

It may be cliche, but my journey in Polaris was something of a dream come true. From the premium atmosphere of the lounge to the modern and comfortable seats, every aspect of the experience exceeded my expectations. The culinary delights and extensive entertainment options were blissful, but it was the exceptional customer service that truly stood out, with the staff going above and beyond to ensure my comfort and well-being.

If you have the chance to experience United's Polaris Business Class, I wholeheartedly recommend you take that turn left and indulge — tentatively, with greater self-knowledge of your limits than I — in the journey of a lifetime.

Read the full article United Airlines Business Class Review: Ice-Cream Sundaes And Eight Hours Of Sleep on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

The psilocybin craze has kicked into overdrive thanks to the likes of Netflix’s How to Change Your Mind and podcasters like Tim Ferriss spruiking its endless benefits. We wanted to see it with our own eyes, so we travelled to Amsterdam, the drug capital of the world, to experience psilocybin therapy or psychedelic insight for ourselves. 

Those who know me have long been witness to my many years of anxiety and depression. At 40ish, I feel comfortable enough talking about it and using DMARGE as a platform to share my experiences to help those battling the same demons. 

In 2022, I took part in the Hoffman Process: an 8-day retreat in Byron Bay to improve my ability to deal with stress and life. The experience also made me a somewhat more balanced and rational human. "More present and less of a c***", according to friends, family, and staff. 

Regardless of newfound improvements, my anxiety and depression remained. It was neither better nor worse, just always present and requiring daily management. Eat, sleep, gym, meditate, repeat. This is fine... In theory. With work and other life pressures it gets tiring day after day, week after week. Sometimes you just want a cure.

As my need to find a solution ebbed and flowed, my long-suffering partner suggested I look into psilocybin therapy. What’s psilocybin you ask? In short, it's the key ingredient found in magic mushrooms. Not LSD or acid, which may be your immediate thought, but the main ingredient in those cute little mushrooms you find in fields all over the world.

Psilocybin was first used in the 1960s as an experimental treatment at major universities in America. When the Nixon-era war on drugs started, psilocybin was quickly outlawed and those scientists using it for research were quickly shut down. That was effectively the end of the promising results early research had shown. 

Fast forward to the early 2010s and clinical trials began in the US and UK after a renewed interest in the substance. Although conducted in small groups, there were promising signs - especially after the research was backed up by clinical studies paired against anti-depressants.

Leading medical minds like Professor Robin Carhart-Harris and author Michael Pollan were simultaneously conducting their own studies and research, often trialling the substance on themselves to get a better understanding of how these drugs could help the many millions around the world suffering from mental health disorders. 

Last month, in a surprising turn of events, the Australian government legalised psilocybin for the treatment of medication-resistant patients suffering from mental health disorders. If Australia – which is traditionally very late to any party – is looking to become one of the first countries in the world to legally prescribe psilocybin as a therapeutic drug, surely these are good signs?

The more I listened and watched, the more I became curious about trying it for myself. Never one to shy away from getting high, psychedelics were never of huge personal interest. My mother would often tell me about a family friend who "never came back" from a bad acid trip. This fairytale was enough to guarantee I never touched psychedelics... Instead, I tried every other drug I could get my hands on. Go figure.

While researchers continue to study their therapeutic effects, psilocybin and other psychedelics are believed to facilitate neuroplasticity: a process in which the brain's wiring is altered, enabling patients to gain new perspectives on long-standing psychiatric issues.

Like all good medicine and treatment, there’s a process that must be followed in order to get the most benefit from the experience. I use the word ‘experience’ to make it sound more professional, but in truth, it’s a trip. You will trip balls, you'll go where your conscious brain won’t let you and (hopefully) you'll find some answers. 

After a few very short weeks of research, it became clear that Holland was likely the easiest place to begin my psilocybin journey. There were some whispers of people conducting sessions (illegally) in Australia but The Netherlands seemed a more legit option. 

There were many facilitators or guides in Holland offering psilocybin trip-sitting and experience. However, I was looking for someone that focused on the mental health side of things. 

Perhaps unsurprisingly, there’s almost nowhere currently doing ‘psilocybin therapy’ for mental health disorders outside of trials in hospitals and universities. In fact, everyone we spoke to in Holland refuses to take people on if they're suffering from any form of severe depression, anxiety, bipolar or schizophrenia. What they are offering is not therapy; they're offering psychedelic journeys and experiences to change your perspective on this never-ending Ferris wheel we call life.  

Psilocybin retreat companies make you fill out a very detailed medical form to ensure you’re of sound mind and body before they take you on as a client. The good news is that those like me, suffering from mild depression and anxiety – meaning never hospitalised – are welcomed with open arms... Provided you don’t dial up the crazy too much in your screening interview.  

I jumped on a Zoom with Luc van Poelje from Psychedelic Insights: we shot the breeze for half an hour, he answered all my questions, talked about his experiences with psychedelics then explained how it all worked.

Luc founded Psychedelic Insights to offer qualified trip guides the opportunity to serve clients in an optimised setting and with science-based protocols. The aim: Professional and experienced staff, providing psychological guidance on psychedelic experiences.

One day with Luc's team will cost you around $3,250 AUD for a private session with two guides (male and female) in a funky hotel near Amsterdam. You can find cheaper guides, but the guides won’t be as experienced and you won’t get the incredibly important integration sessions afterwards. 

The alternative is a 3-day experience with someone like Essense, which is also located in The Netherlands. Essence is one of the most well-known psilocybin retreats, however, their practice is in groups rather than private sessions. This was a hard pass for me. 

The Unbound is a bit like Unyoked but closer to the city with running water, electricity and a restaurant. It’s the perfect setting to get your mind altered as it’s free of people and far away from the temptations of Amsterdam. A sacrilegious temptation I knew all too well...

The week before, I met my guides briefly via Zoom as I was crammed into an overpopulated Singapore Airlines lounge. Thankfully, I didn't give a f*** about tired travellers sitting within earshot overhearing my woes. 

Your guides help you define your intention for your trip. For some it may be quitting smoking, for others, it could be healing old wounds. Having good chemistry is important when you’re doing this; you need to trust and feel like your guides have your best interests at heart. 

Herman and Karlyn were Dutch, in their 50s or 60s, and kind, compassionate souls. They also looked like they had experienced their fair share of psychedelics in their time. They answered all my questions and helped me share an intention that was realistic. Yes, being realistic about the psilocybin journey is pretty important...

Psilocybin is not a silver bullet, and it probably won't cure you after one session.

Preparation for my first psychedelic experience was simple: no drugs, no stress, and no booze for the week prior. Don’t eat anything the morning of the trip (an empty stomach enhances the experience). All very simple instructions that paired well with my good intention not to piss $3,250 up the wall. 

My guides arrived and we made small talk as they sensed my anxiousness about the experience. I then choose from a couple of packs of vacuumed-packed truffles. 

Truffles are legal in The Netherlands but magic mushrooms are not. Why? Truffles are more consistent in dosage and less likely to blow your head off. My two bags (30g) of truffles went into a Parmesan grater and were crushed into a bowl. Hot water was added and we let it sit for 15 minutes. Why this process? Ingesting truffles will most likely make you sick, which is why they make a broth instead. 

I drank my potion and plonked myself on the very comfortable bed. With the eye shades down I began to feel the effects of his rather big dose within 10 minutes. A warm feeling washed over me as I sank down into the depths of the bed, quickly followed by intense visuals and... That’s where it gets a bit fuzzy. 

The guides stay with you in the apartment the entire time, coming in regularly to check on you as various questions and emotions pop up. Vocalising what you’re feeling is helpful as you won't get stuck in mental loops. The guides are there to help you push through those moments. 

It’s worth noting you’re not completely ‘out of it’ when you’re high on psilocybin, you’re still very much conscious but with the enhancement of the mushroom. The experience is designed to help you let go of your ego or intellectual self and engage more with your emotional self or "inner child", as some describe it.

Euphoric music is piped into the room via a $199 JBL boom box. Hans Zimmer’s theme song from Interstellar, Ludovico Ennauldi, the Platoon theme song and 2001: A Space Odyssey's OST even made the mixtape.  

There’s no set amount of time your trip will last. For me, the total experience was 6 hours from start to finish. I laughed, cried, had a bathroom break, chatted to my guides on multiple occasions, went back inward and spent a lot of the time wondering how long I'd been under.

Once the trip had finally worn off and everything began to return to normal, I staggered from my cave and my guides asked questions while I stared blankly at the bowl of frozen mango on the table in front of me.

To be honest, I was glad it was over. It wasn’t a bad experience, but an exhausting one. My brain worked hard for six hours feeling everything,  ruminating, questioning, and visiting every corner of my subconscious. I described it as running a mental marathon – roughly a kilometre for every year of my life. It was akin to putting your brain in a washing machine.

In the following days, I kept a journal nearby as it was helpful for writing down thoughts and experiences from my journey. This would come in handy as I began to integrate during the following weeks and ensure nothing was forgotten.  

Immediately post-trip, there was a definite lift in my mood. I felt lighter and more content about life. This bliss wasn’t like taking medication, but rather just a natural state of contentment. 

Writing this now, the feeling is still present: staying away from stressors, phones and annoying people is recommended for the following few days. 

The anxiety, on the other hand, was still present – if anything, perhaps a touch worse due to my unfairly high expectations of the experience. There’s no denying a psychedelic journey can leave you feeling raw and a little beat up, so it wasn't unsurprising for me to be "feeling the feels" a little more than normal. 

There are many deep experiences that have affected change in energy, perception and awareness. Some immediate and others in their own pace. Some drip in, others can be mystical experiences. We can never predict any outcome and also have to prepare people for immense change but also the reality little may happen even. The last is very rare. The first less so.

Luc van Poelje, Founder-CEO Psychedelic Insights

Given everything I had read and watched prior to the experience it had given me very unrealistic expectations. There was an expectation that I would be immediately cured and life would be golden from here on. This is definitely not the case, and won’t be for most people. 

Psilocybin is a doorway that, if used correctly, will help you get to parts of your brain that are usually locked away due to your need for control or security. Taking this trip was just a look inside that doorway, a snapshot of what 'letting go' can look and feel like. 

Now that I know what the experience feels like, I’m looking forward to going again in a few months. They say with a high powerful enough some can experience what’s called ‘ego death’. This complete loss of subjective self-identity is what many hope to achieve to really go deep into themselves. 

Integration is the most important part of psychedelic therapy as it’s where you isolate and address key moments from your experience. 

The experiences will be different for everyone, but how you tackle these feelings and issues will be paramount to having some level of success in improving your mental health for the long term. Remember it's the elastoplasticity or rewiring of your brain that scientists believe is the true benefit of psilocybin. Creating these new neural pathways takes work and time.

It takes your neurology a life time to grow this way, hope we can realise it takes time to rewire differently. I hope with time, even the anti inflammatory properties may help the process. But certainly integration. Observing your own mind and learning the lessons.

Luc van Poelje, Founder-CEO Psychedelic Insights

Integration can last a few months or take as long as three years. Most guides will tell you the integration never ends once you’ve taken your first trip. That’s why having multiple integration sessions planned with your guides in the following weeks will be key to achieving some level of success. 

Of the entire psychedelic experience, integration is one area that needs more structure. If so many guides place so much importance on this, then why don’t they put more effort into literature and planning for rewiring your brain?

Based on this one experience, I’m confident that there’s some truth to the hype. A second session is definitely needed within a month or two, depending on how brain-fried you are from your first. 

I believe the second session will be where you can go really deep and begin to unlock those doors. Think Christopher Nolan’s film Inception, layers upon layers, dreams in dreams, each going deeper and deeper until you can unlock the most challenging parts of your brain. 

There is a distinct feeling that the current ‘companies’ offering these psilocybin experiences are erring on the side of caution and not claiming they will treat mental health disorders. This will change, but it will need more medical intervention, data and processes put into place for people to maximise the potential of the experience. 

However, right now, it’s just not there. 

Regardless of these initial musings from a first-time tripper, the future is looking bright for alternative treatments... And they can’t come soon enough for so many Australians.

Want to know more? Read about Australia's move into this space at Mind Medicine Australia.

Read the full article I Travelled 16,632 Kilometres To Improve My Mental Health with Psilocybin Therapy on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Fast, fun, capable and just a bit crazy, the Toyota GR Corolla is uniquely refreshing: a true enthusiast's car based on a well-loved family favourite that represents a return to form for Toyota.

Toyota has made more than a few great sports cars over the years – but few have captured the car enthusiast's imagination more than the AE86 Corolla Levin and Sprinter Trueno. The latter, made famous by the popular manga Initial D, is inarguably one of the most iconic Japanese cars ever made.

But it's been a long time since we've seen a properly sporty Corolla like the AE86 hit our shores Down Under. Actually, it feels like Toyota, as well as the rest of Japan's auto brands, have been letting the side down a little bit when it comes to affordable performance cars in recent years.

Never fear: the Toyota GR Corolla is here. Not only is it one of the best hot hatches on the market, but it's a return to form for Toyota – and is a worthy successor to the fast Corollas of yore (even more than the GR86 which is named after the AE86, but let's not worry about that...)

WATCH our 60-second review of the new Toyota GR Corolla below.

Actually, if we're speaking about heritage, the GR Corolla probably owes more to the Celica GT-Four than it does the AE86. Unlike most previous hot Corollas, which have been either front- or rear-wheel-drive, the GR Corolla is an all-wheel-drive beast. That doesn't mean you can't get the back out, though – more on that later.

Like the GT-Four, the RICE is strong in this one, with the GR Corolla rocking an aggressive and bulky body kit that instantly sets it apart from your average Corolla. It looks extremely purposeful, but it's not just for show: the GR Corolla's wider track and bigger rims necessitate the body kit. Those bonnet vents and huge grille aren't just for show, either.

What else has been changed from the standard Corolla? Well, compared to the standard Corolla hatch, which is only available in Australia with a CVT and a selection of four-cylinder engines, the GR Corolla is only available with a six-speed manual, and the same 1.6L turbocharged straight-three engine that powers the GR Yaris. In the GR Yaris, that engine makes 200kW/370Nm but in the GR Corolla, it's been boosted up to 221kW.

According to Toyota, that puts the GR Corolla on par with the Bugatti Chiron for kW per litre of engine output... And while the GR Corolla isn't exactly cheap at $62,300, that's a lot cheaper than a Chiron, which will set you back $5.5 million. The GR Corolla is also cheaper than a CUPRA Leon VZx or Honda Civic Type R (both of which are front-wheel-drive only) as well as the Volkswagen Golf R, by the way.

The GR Corolla also sports a huge rear splitter and a rather ridiculous triple exhaust (one pipe for each cylinder!) which not only sounds amazing but helps reduce backpressure, hence the performance gains over the GR Yaris.

The interior of the GR Corolla is also much more premium than the regular Corolla, with sports bucket seats, aluminium pedals and a sportier, leather-wrapped steering wheel. One minor gripe is that the GR Corolla doesn't have a proper armrest console like the standard Corolla (presumably to fit the big, bolstered bucket seats) but that's not a big deal.

In short: f***ing great. Much like the new Ford Fiesta ST, dispel any notions that a three-cylinder can't be fun: the GR Corolla has more than enough power. In fact, it might even have a bit too much.

RELATED: The New Toyota LandCruiser Proves Australians Don’t Need V8s Anymore

I had the chance to drive the GR Corolla around Sydney Motorsport Park (on one of the wettest days Sydney's seen in recent memory), and the GR Corolla was deceptively fast. It'll do 0-100 in 5.29 seconds but that figure doesn't really sell just how prompt it is. There were a few times during my drive where I was caught off-guard by how fast I was going – "I'm doing 110 right now?" – because it just pulls.

It's also unbelievably grippy. The Toyota GR Corolla is exceptionally planted, especially in its default 60:40 torque split mode. It just hangs and hangs on, meaning you can really dollop on the power in and out of turns.

The best bit about the GR Corolla is its intelligent manual mode that will rev-match for you. It's pretty amazing; it'll turn even a self-shifting novice into the next reincarnation of Ayrton Senna.

Another cool feature of the GR Corolla is its handbrake. First of all, you still get a manual handbrake, something surprisingly few modern sports cars give you. But that's not the cool bit: the cool bit is that, unlike most manual cars, you don't need to put the clutch in when you use it, as power is cut to the rear axle when you pull the handbrake up.

That means you don't have to mess around with your left foot and instead use it to brace yourself, freeing you up to focus on steering input and power/braking. In layman's terms, it makes it really easy to do big skids. And everyone likes doing big skids, yeah? I certainly liked doing big skids in the GR Corolla out on the skidpan at Sydney Motorsport Park, I have no shame in admitting.

Even being a total hoon, you feel completely confident in the GR Corolla. Maybe it's because it's a Toyota and feels appropriately bulletproof? It's just a car that inspires so much faith in its driver, meaning you can really push it to the limits and eke out every ounce of performance.

Just the concept is somewhat titillating. The Toyota Corolla is, by several orders of magnitude, the best-selling car of all time. When you think of a car, you probably think of a Corolla: they are so unbelievably ubiquitous that sometimes it beggars belief. And that's because they're great cars.

But they're not sexy, not fun. They're white goods on wheels... But the GR Corolla is fun. Wrap that boring Corolla in a boxy body kit, dial up the horsepower and pour hot sauce in its veins and you end up. There's almost a sense of cognitive dissonance there. It's a Corolla?

You get the same sort of vibe with the GR Yaris, GR's other headline-grabbing hot hatch. You tell people that you've got a Yaris and they won't be impressed, but then if you ever took them for a spin in it, you'd blow their tiny minds.

RELATED: Toyota Plans To Bring The 'HiLux Killing' Tundra Truck To Australia

Yet as good as the GR Yaris is, the GR Corolla is arguably a better car. The GR Yaris is a properly mental driver's car; a rally homologation special that you just don't see very often these days. But it's not as practical or as powerful as the GR Corolla. (Subjectively, I also think the Corolla looks better.)

At the end of the day, the GR Corolla can still do Corolla things: it'll fit 5 adults in comfort, haul plenty of groceries and do the school run, all in style. It'll be reliable, even when you thrash it, and if it needs work, it won't bankrupt you to get it fixed, and you can get it fixed just about anywhere... The GR Yaris is nowhere near as practical.

It's also not a Corolla! Fast Corolla! Come on, what more do I need to say?

The only thing that gets me more excited than the GR Corolla is the forthcoming GR Corolla Morizo Edition, which ups the torque, has a carbon fibre roof and no rear seats, despite still having four doors. I know I've just pontificated about how the GR Corolla is great because it's practical, but in the same way that there's a novelty factor about fast Corollas, there's a novelty factor there about no rear seats. It's silly and I love it.

This is what we've missed: Japanese car brands being silly. Toyota in the 90s embraced all sorts of weird stuff: twin turbos in the Supra, butterfly doors on the Sera, whacking a V12 in the Century...

The GR Corolla (and its stablemates, the GR Yaris, GR 86 and GR Supra) are a return to the innovative, sporty and a little bit silly Toyota of yesteryear. They're making sports cars again that people can get really excited about, and that's a very, very good thing.

Find out more about the Toyota GR Corolla at Toyota's online showroom here.

Read the full article Toyota GR Corolla Review: A Winning Return To Toyota’s Performance Car Roots on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

The discontinuation of the Fiesta ST in Australia (as well as the impending discontinuation of the entire Fiesta range globally) is a crying shame. Thankfully, Ford's final Fiesta Down Under is one hell of a final act.

You may or may not be surprised to hear that the Ford Fiesta is one of the best-selling cars of all time. In fact, there's been about as many Fiestas sold as Model T Fords. The Fiesta has outsold other heavy hitters like the BMW 3 Series, Toyota Camry and the classic Mini, too.

That's why it was such a surprise when Ford announced last year that they were discontinuing the Fiesta globally in mid-2023, by which time the 20 millionth Fiesta will roll off the production line.

The writing's been on the wall for the Fiesta for a while now in Australia, at least. Ford had only been bringing the top-of-the-range Fiesta ST to our shores in recent years and in reasonably limited numbers. Only a scant few examples of the 2023 facelifted seventh-generation Fiesta ST arrived Down Under, and they're mostly all gone. By the end of the year, you won't be able to get any sort of Fiesta, ST or otherwise.

But if you have the chance to get your hands on one of these final models, we can't recommend doing so enough. The new (or should we say final) Fiesta ST is, simply put, one of the finest hot hatches ever made, and a fitting conclusion to the Fiesta's long history.

Let's start with some vital statistics. The 2023 Ford Fiesta ST, which you can only get with a six-speed manual, is powered by a 1.5L turbocharged three-cylinder that makes 147kW/320Nm and will do 0-100km/h in 6.5 seconds.

For comparison, that's the exact same power and torque figures as a Volkswagen Polo GTI, but the Fiesta ST is quicker from 0-100 by .3 seconds (and costs over $5,000 less). The Fiesta ST is also $2500 cheaper than the Hyundai i20 N, its other main competitor.

But let's forget numbers for a second. How does it feel to drive? Well, it's a nugget. In the best possible way.

Most car enthusiasts know by now that a turbocharged three-cylinder isn't something to scoff at, it's something to celebrate. The Fiesta ST's is a particular gem: put the car in Sports mode, let that exhaust open up and it absolutely screams. It sounds proper tough; like a much bigger, much more exotic car.

It also goes like the clappers, with plenty of torque and power where you need it. The notchy six-speed is confidence-inspiring and forgiving – easy to use in stop-start city traffic but great for high-speed hijinks (the pedals are spaced perfectly for a bit of heel-to-toe action, by the way). Wack it in sixth gear and put cruise control on for some highway cruising and the Fiesta ST feels positively serene, too.

The Fiesta ST has always been lauded for its ride quality and handling dynamics and the 2023 model is no exception. Its cool 18-inch rims shod in quality Michelin rubber help. There's no escaping that it's firm (especially thanks to the car's highly-bolstered sports bucket seats) but it's not crashy or uncomfortable. It'll soak up potholes without destroying your filings while giving you enough road feel to take corners like you're Sébastien Ogier.

The best bit is that it's still a pretty practical car. At just over 4m long, it'll squeeze into the narrowest of parking spots, and although you'd hardly call the rear seats spacious, they're a damn sight better than those of a Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ or a Mustang.

RELATED: Subaru’s New BRZ Is For The Purists

I actually own a 2007 Ford Fiesta XR4, which is what the fifth-generation Fiesta ST was called locally (to fit in with the Focus XR5 and Falcon XR6 and XR8). The Fiesta XR4 was the first Fiesta ST Australians ever got, and it was an immediate hit.

The XR4, unlike the STs that followed it, boasted a naturally-aspirated 2.0L inline-four (a similar motor to what went into normal Ford Focuses and Mazda 3s). It was a simple formula: put a rather big engine in a rather small, basic car and let revheads go nuts. Aussies loved it. Strong reviews at the time meant that Australia wouldn't miss out on the ST ever again.

Subsequent STs found success using smaller displacement, turbocharged engines – and are also significantly more luxurious than the Mk5 – but I love my XR4, or should I say, my ST. It's a truly honest car: unpretentious, practical, sporty and reliable, it's an absolute pleasure to drive.

It also forms part of an unbroken lineage of affordable, fun and fast Ford compact cars: the Escort RS2000s of the 70s, the Laser TX3s of the 80s, the Telstar TX5 of the 90s and then the Fiesta XR4 and STs of the 00s, 2010s and 2020s... A lineage that is now coming to an end with the discontinuation of the Fiesta ST (as well as its no-less-worthy older sibling, the Focus ST).

Ford just doesn't see itself as a car brand any more. Not really. In 2018, Ford announced that it would discontinue passenger cars in North America by 2023, except for the Mustang. That's not a big surprise, considering how the bulk of their sales come from SUVs and the all-conquering F-Series truck, which has been the best-selling vehicle in America for the last four decades.

Australia's a similar scenario. The Ford Ranger ute is by far and large Ford's best-selling vehicle here (as well as one of the best-selling vehicles in the country alongside the Toyota Hilux). Ford's passenger vehicle sales have been dwindling here for years – why do you think they discontinued the Falcon and wrapped up local production?

RELATED: Ford’s New Ranger Could End Toyota’s Ute Dominance

There's also more money to be made selling SUVs than economy passenger vehicles. The profit margins on small hatchbacks like the Fiesta are razor-thin. Ford can simply make more money selling their Puma compact SUV – which shares a platform with the Fiesta – 'cause more people want compact SUVs and crossovers these days, anyway.

Ford also wants to focus on their electrification efforts. It's not totally implausible that we might see the Fiesta name return as an EV in the future, once battery tech gets good enough that Ford can offer a properly small, affordable electric car with decent range. But the fact remains that we're seeing the end of an era with the discontinuation of the Fiesta ST and Fiesta name more broadly.

Aussies have always loved hot hatches. But as cars are getting bigger and more expensive (the current VW Polo is much bigger than the original Golf, for example) there are few truly affordable hot hatches on the market these days.

A new Honda Civic Type R costs almost $70,000. A Renault Megane R.S. is $63,000. A Golf GTI is almost $55,000, as is the new GR Yaris Rallye. You get the picture. The departure of the Fiesta ST makes the hot hatch landscape just a little less exciting, as well as a little more expensive.

The long and storied history of fast little Fords might be coming to an end in Australia, but let's not look back in anger. It's bittersweet, but at least the last-ever Fiesta to grace these shores is the best Fiesta Ford's ever made. Or should we say held? Hasta la vista, baby.

Find out more about the Ford Fiesta ST (and try and track one down for yourself) at Ford's online showroom here.

Read the full article Ford Fiesta ST Review: The End Of An Era For Motoring on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Good for the planet, easy to live with, eye-catching and able to beat some of the world's fastest (and most expensive) supercars in the performance stakes, the Kia EV6 GT is already shaping up to be the best car of 2023. By a country mile.

The Australian Open came to a close on Sunday night, wrapping up a solid fortnight of tennis mania across Australia – as well as Kia mania. As the tournament's major sponsor, Kia was absolutely everywhere: on our TVs, on our billboards, and on our roads. With a bold new logo and exciting new cars punctuating some of the best tennis in the world, it was hard to miss Kia.

But truth be told, Kia's been on the up and up for a while now. The South Korean marque has slowly transformed from being just a cheap and cheerful economy car brand to a brand that's actually aspirational. That's in no small part thanks to the success of eyeball-grabbing, interesting cars like the muscly Stinger, spicy Picanto GT and of course, the EV6.

When the EV6 broke cover in 2021, we were immediately smitten. It seemed like a real needle-shifter for Kia, and we knew that when we drove it, we'd be impressed. When we did drive it in 2022, it lived up to our high expectations: sporty, futuristic, eye-catching yet practical, it was a hell of a car. But it was also a tease. Because there was going to be an even better version on the way...

Now, in 2023, we've had the chance to put the EV6 GT through its paces – and although it's only January, we can't help but feel that it's already the car of the year. High praise, we know.

First things first, let's share some vital statistics about the Kia EV6 GT, which might help you understand why it's such a tantalising prospect.

430kW. 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds. Dual-motor, all-wheel drive. 420km of driving range. All for less than AU$100,000. Can you see now why we're frothing a little bit?

It hardly needs saying, but 3.5 seconds is fast. That's faster than an Aston Martin Vantage, a BMW M3 Competition, or Lamborghini Urus.

RELATED: Kia’s EV9 Electric SUV Might Give The Toyota LandCruiser A Run For Its Money

Those sorts of superlatives would lead you to believe that the EV6 GT is purely some sort of track monster... Which couldn't be further from the truth. No, what's really exciting about the EV6 GT is just how practical it is. It's the ultimate daily driver.

Case in point: it can seat four adults in complete comfort (and five without too much imposition), meaning you can bring people along for the ride. It's got a highly practical 520L boot capacity which can be increased to 1,300 L when the rear seats are folded.

Not only is it capable of ultra-fast 800V charging, meaning it can charge from 10% to 80% in as little as 18 minutes, but it's also one of only a handful of EVs on the market that's capable of vehicle-to-load charging: that is, you can use the EV6 GT to power external devices, such as electrical camping equipment, power tools or laptops.

RELATED: The Next Battle Ground For Australian EV Owners? Home Charging Stations

On top of that, it's a Kia, which means it comes with a 7-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty – and when it does come time to service it, you'll benefit from one of the widest dealer networks in the country. That might not be very sexy but when we're talking about cutting-edge electric cars, having that piece of mind is pretty important.

Something that might get you a little hot and bothered is how much it costs. As we mentioned above, you can pick up a Kia EV6 GT for just shy of $100,000. That might be a lot of money for a Korean car, but when you consider it's a supercar-beating spaceship from the future, that's a really competitive price point.

There are few vehicles on the market that offer the sort of performance and refinement the EV6 GT offers for that sort of money. That's cheaper than a Mercedes-AMG A45 or about twice as cheap as an Audi RS6 or a Porsche Taycan 4S – all vehicles that Roland Rivero, General Manager of Product at Kia Australia, says Kia is targeting locally. And you know what? With the exception of maybe the Porsche, the EV6 GT is about as nice, if not nicer.

Honestly, we can't reserve enough praise for the EV6 GT. It ticks all the boxes: it's fast, it's good-looking, it's practical, it's good for the planet, it's reasonably priced... Why wouldn't you want one?

Find out more about the Kia EV6 GT at Kia's online showroom here.

Read the full article Kia EV6 GT Review: Supercar-Beating Electric Spaceship on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

If you don't have plans at a weekend and fancy doing something different for a day, then may I recommend jumping on a plane and flying to Antarctica? I recently went on the expedition and can categorically say it was one of the most eye-opening experiences of my entire life.

Describing itself as "the world's most unique scenic flight," – something I have to agree with – Antarctica Flights has been offering flights from Australia to the planet's least-populated continent for close to 30 years.

The flights, which have used a Qantas Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner since 2020 (replacing the outgoing 747), take full advantage of the larger windows and fly you from all Australian cities to the land of snow and ice and back again, all in the space of a day. Antarctica Flights is currently operating from November through to February 2023.

But what is an Antarctic Flights flight actually like to experience? Here's what I found.

I received all my flight documentation a good week before my departure. This included information on the whole check-in process and what to do when you get to the Qantas Domestic Terminal at Sydney Airport. You don't check-in at the usual counters, but instead go straight through security and head to the gate. Check-in didn't officially open until 7am, but I got to the airport at around 5.30am. This meant I was able to waltz through security without any trouble at all.

Boarding my Antarctic Flight was the same as any other. Business class and premium economy passengers get on first, while economy has to wait. So, since I was in premium economy, I was able to get onboard and find my seat without any trouble. I assumed that economy would experience the same, since there was an almost lack of need for any cabin luggage.

I only took a small tote bag with a few essentials: phone charger, water bottle, keys and headphones. After all, you don't land in Antarctica, so what could you possibly need to take? But I noticed there was still a hold-up when economy passengers boarded.

We were seeing the first remnants of landscape and ice just over 3 hours after leaving Sydney.

Usually on long-haul flights, you either try and get some sleep straight away or put your headphones on and settle in to some in-flight entertainment. Not so with the Antarctica flight. Given the hype and excitement surrounding our excursion, passengers were talking to each other the entire duration.

I had a rather chatty passenger sitting next to me during the first half of the journey...which was a blessing and a curse. It was nice to have a conversation with someone new, but topics became a little too political for my liking and I wanted to retreat into watching a movie.

While it could be all too easy to describe Antarctica as "just a lot of snowy mountains," or "the world's best untouched ski resort," it truly was a surreal experience to be able to see the virtually untouched continent out of the aeroplane windows.

You can't quite prepare yourself for being able to see volcanoes, glaciers and huge expanses of snow and ice that, without Antarctica Flights, you would likely never see in your lifetime.

Because of the height of some of the mountains and volcanoes, we could only descend to around 18,000ft. But the height did at least allow for some great visibility across the ice shelves and glaciers. In fact, it was claimed we could actually see some 400km into the distance.

See below.

Antarctica Flights doesn't hide the fact that some seats do, unfortunately, experience an obstructed view caused by the plane wings. And, while passengers are free to move around the cabin when cruising around over Antarctica – I ventured into business class to try and experience a little bit of the high life – some passengers didn't have quite the same capability.

By this, I mean a good proportion of the demographic onboard were well over 60 years old and so needed a bit of aid when walking around. If they didn't have it, they were consigned to their seat.

While it was clearly mentioned in my pre-flight documents, I wasn't actually aware we had the luxury of two expert guides onboard, telling us what we were seeing out of the windows as we passed by. The experts in this case were Peter Hicks and Peter Keage, both of whom have years of experience living and working in Antarctica.

I actually had the pleasure of sitting next to Peter Keage on the first half of the journey, so was able to talk to him about Antarctica and what he's experienced over the years.

He told me that there were "very obvious changes [to the landscape of Antarctica] which include the thinning on the edges, particularly towards the glacier, caused by global warming."

The entire flight lasted around 13 hours. Antarctica Flights even said we could expect to land back at Sydney Airport around 10 p.m., and we landed at 9.59. I'm pretty sure I've never been on a flight that's had such an accurate landing time.

But, because of the fact passengers were up and moving around for the middle part of the journey, and listening to the Peters commenting from the cockpit, it didn't feel that long at all.

I noticed a number of passengers asking the question, "how is flying on an emissions-emitting aeroplane in any way environmentally-friendly?" despite having bought the ticket already and knowing full well what they were getting themselves in for.

Pete Keage and Antarctica Flights both claimed that every single flight is carbon neutral. The company works with Carbon Neutral – an organisation that works with businesses to help them offset their emissions – and purchases carbon credits, which are used to help fund a reforestation project in the Yarra Yarra Biodiversity Corridor in Southwest Australia. By planting these trees, the carbon removed from the atmosphere equals the amount emitted by the flight.

To be honest, this was the first time I'd been on a Qantas flight, I've usually been a Virgin Australia man when flying domestic. And, knowing my colleagues at DMARGE are frequent Qantas flyers, I was keen to see what all the fuss was about.

Well, colour me impressed. I couldn't fault the service one little bit. Even before getting onboard, when the cabin crew came to our gate to prepare for the flight, they wished us all a good morning. It's the little things that certainly go a long way. Once onboard, they were incredibly attentive and the food provided in premium economy was excellent, in my opinion. Shout out to Tyler, who only got the call he was headed to Antarctica the night before.

I'll certainly miss the welcome glass (or should I say, glasses) of champagne next time I board a domestic flight in my usual economy class. But, considering business class on short-haul and domestic flights doesn't provides little in the way of extra worth, I'm prepared to make the compromise.

DMARGE flew on Antarctica Flights as a guest of Antarctica Flights

Read the full article Antarctica Flight Review: There & Back In A Day & It Was An Absolute Breeze on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Subaru is known for many things. But among those at the top that help maintain a loyal fan base are its associations with rallying and all-wheel drive traction. And now, the two supposedly meet in wagon form. But what's it like in reality? We spent a few days with the 2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon to find out.

Arriving alongside the all-new Subaru WRX sedan (a review of which is coming soon) is the WRX Sportswagon. In Australia, the Subaru WRX Sporstwagon is available in three trim levels – base, GT and tS – and we spent some time with the top-of-the-range tS to see if it can live up to the reputation of those imposing 3 letters. 

Firstly, we wanted to get the elephant out of the room. What particularly loyal fans of the Japanese car brand will immediately notice is the omission of an STI-spec car. Subaru hasn’t fully explained why this is, although has previously touched upon it, saying the move to a new global platform (which introduces regulations on fuel economy and omissions, and which is used on the 2022 WRX Sportswagon) has meant they have had to say sayonara to STI. At least, for now. 

All is not lost, however, as if you opt for the top-of-the-range tS then Subaru does offer a sort of apology/compromise in the form of STI branding on the seats and steering wheel. It’s certainly cool, make no mistake, but for the true Subaru purists, it might leave a sour taste in the mouth. 

So, onto the actual review of the WRX Sportswagon tS. What exactly is it? Well, what it isn’t, stresses Subaru, is an evolution of the Liberty or the Impreza wagon. Instead, it is a brand new beast, although some may liken it to the Levorg. The Levorg is no longer sold in Australia, but the WRX Sportswagon could be seen as similar.

The 2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon, therefore, is a performance-oriented practical people-mover that is only available with an automatic CVT transmission. That’s right, there’s no manual gearbox on offer. Considering the Subaru WRX Sportswagon shares the same 2.4-litre direct-injection, turbocharged boxer engine with its WRX sedan sibling (and the sedan comes with a manual), this makes the omission in the WRX Sportswagon a little confusing. 

In two words, incredibly comfortable. The portrait-orientated screen in the centre console is large and clear, making it easy to see whilst driving. Apple Carplay and Android Auto are supported, and, unlike some other car makers that have jumped aboard the technology-focused touchscreen train, Subaru has retained some physical controls for climate control and volume. Some controls have moved to touchscreen-only, such as the heated seats, but at least the on-screen buttons are large and responsive to touch. 

The seats do a good job of keeping you planted whilst you rack up the miles, and they proved to be exceptionally comfortable throughout the duration of my loan, thanks in no small part to the ultra suede upholstery exclusive to the tS model. 

However, having also driven the WRX sedan, I have to say I prefer the seats in the latter. I felt they did an even better job of keeping you locked in position, and this could be because the sedan is clearly the one to really bring home what it means for a Subaru vehicle to bear the WRX moniker.

There is, of course, the argument that anyone who buys the WRX Sportswagon is going to do so more for practicality than performance – and with a claimed 492 litres of cargo space with the rear seats up and 1,430 litres when they’re folded down (folding them down couldn’t be easier) there’s plenty of space for your luggage, shopping or whatever else you can think of. 

One area that did cause me a little bit of grief, at least when compared to my own 2008 Liberty, was adjusting to the size of the Sportswagon. Everything felt so much larger from inside the cockpit, so viewing angles out of the windows took some getting used to. Fortunately, Subaru has equipped their new wagon with plenty of cameras around the car, which come in handy when reverse and parallel parking. There’s a camera view of the front passenger side wheel, so you can see how close (or not so close) you are to the curb. 

On the whole, though, the Subaru WRX Sportswagon tS’ interior is a great place to find yourself. Materials are of good quality and everything feels incredibly well put together. It certainly helps to justify the AU$57,990 starting price tag, that’s for sure.

With interior comforts taken care of, onto the main event. How does the Subaru WRX Sportswagon tS perform? The quick answer is, exceptionally well. The 2.4-litre turbocharged flat-four engine gives out 202kW of power at 5600rpm and 350Nm of torque between 2000 and 5600rpm. While they’re not crazy numbers, it’s the fact that the torque is delivered low down the rev range that makes the WRX Sportswagon a rather impressive performer. 

For those looking for a 0-100km/h time, you're out of luck. Subaru doesn't claim one itself, although I did manage the spring in a little over 6 seconds.

This thing really does pull and in quite literally the blink of an eye, you’re hitting cruising speed on the motorway. As expected, Subaru’s all-wheel-drive system makes an appearance, offering exceptional traction to ensure you feel safe every time you push your right foot down to the floor. 

But, while I was impressed with how the Subaru delivered its power, I was less impressed with how it made me feel when driving. The steering on the WRX Sportswagon was too light for me, personally.

The inclusion of different drive modes did help, as putting it into Sport did tighten things up a bit (compared to Comfort and Normal), but still not quite enough for me to feel truly connected to the road beneath me. And, the driving modes are only available on the tS model. 

Subaru also gives you a wealth of driving aids, delivered through its EyeSight system. This system sees a couple of cameras placed behind the rearview mirror, which constantly scans the road ahead for any potential hazards or oncoming collisions.

If it spots something that could result in your brand-new Subie ending up looking a little worse for wear, the system will take over and apply the brakes, or get you back into your own lane. I did feel a couple of times the EyeSight system was a little overdramatic, but all in all, its inclusion did make me feel extra safe on the road. Not because of my driving, of course, but because of the numerous obstacles faced by Sydney traffic.

In essence, then, whilst the Subaru WRX Sportswagon should be a ‘hot wagon’ and therefore, a car that should be right up my alley, it didn’t exhibit any of the loony characteristics a ‘hot’ car should have. It didn’t make me smile as much as I expected it would. And certainly less than the thrills I experienced in the WRX sedan. 

That’s not to say it’s a bad car. Far from it. It handles well and offers a comfortable ride. But I expect those looking to buy a Subaru bearing the WRX badge will be looking for something they can confidently throw into corners and have a bit of fun with. What they’re actually going to get is a comfortable cruiser that will happily whisk the family away for a weekend.

2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon specs:

Engine: 2.4-litre 4-cylinder direct-injected, turbocharged BoxerTransmission: CVTMax Power: 202kW at 5600rpmMax Torque: 350Nm @ 2000 - 5200rpmFuel Consumption: 8.5l/100km (combined)

2022 Subaru WRX Sportswagon price list:

WRX Sportswagon AWD Sport: from $49,990WRX Sportswagon AWD GT Sport: from $55,490WRX Sportswagon AWD tS Sport: from $57,990

Read the full article Subaru WRX Sportswagon Review: More Wagon Than Sport on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!

Since its debut in 2012, the Tudor Pelagos has quickly become one of the most prized luxury dive watches on the market and reflects Tudor's ongoing evolution into a brand that's truly distinct from Rolex.

The Pelagos is unlike any watch in Rolex's range. Firstly, it's made from titanium – it remains the only watch from either Tudor or Rolex to utilize the metal. It's also got a brushed case, something Rolex doesn't dabble in. Aesthetically, it's rather unique too – ultra-clean, with square indices and of course, Tudor's signature 'snowflake' hands.

No wonder, then, that the Pelagos was an immediate fan favourite. It's a credible tool watch, the likes of which few luxury watchmakers bother making anymore. Yet the Pelago's utilitarian bent also makes it a relatively niche choice, and appropriately, fans have long been crying out for a smaller Pelagos that's a little less intense.

Now, in 2022, Tudor has come up with a Pelagos that's truly for everyone. Meet the new Pelagos 39: a smaller, thinner and simpler take on the Pelagos that's perfectly poised to take advantage of the trend towards smaller watches after years of chunky cases being in vogue – and a watch that's aimed at a broader audience than the more intense original Pelagos.

DMARGE had the chance to test-drive the new Pelagos 39 for a week – the first publication in Australia to do so – and we were mightily impressed by Tudor's newest creation.

WATCH BELOW as we highlight some of its coolest new features and show you what it looks like on wrist.

REFERENCE: M25407N-0001MATERIAL: Grade 2 TitaniumMOVEMENT: Manufacture Calibre MT5400 (COSC)SIZE: 39mm diameter, 11.8mm thick, 47mm lug-to-lug distancePRICE: AU$6,010

As the name implies, the Tudor Pelagos 39 has a 39mm case, which is a whole 3mm smaller than the original Pelagos. It's also thinner (11.8mm versus 15mm) and has a shorter lug-to-lug distance (47mm versus 50mm).

Mechanically, it's also rather different. The Pelagos 39 eschews the date window of the larger model, making it a time-only piece, and 'only' has 200m of water resistance compared to the larger model's impressive 500m. Still, 200m is more than enough for the vast majority of wearers; you could definitely still dive with the Pelagos 39.

Other key differences: the crown is different (smaller and much more like a Rolex crown instead of the flat Tudor crown we're used to on the larger Pelagos or on the Black Bay range) and the dial lacks the unique angled rehaut of the standard Pelagos.

On the dial: both the dial and bezel of the Pelagos 39 feature a sunray brushed texture as opposed to the previous Pelagos' matte finishes.

The 39's integrated bracelet doesn't have the same trick expandable clasp that fans love about the larger Pelagos, but it does utilise Tudor's T-Fit adjustment system, which lets you adjust the bracelet’s length between five various positions over 8mm without needing a tool. The T-Fit system is a total game-changer (way better than anything Rolex offers) and is one of the best micro-adjustment systems in the game, so not having the bigger Pelago's clasp isn't a huge loss.

We wore the Pelagos 39 on its rubber strap option instead of its integrated bracelet, which is a much simpler affair, featuring a standard tang-type buckle with the Tudor logo emblazoned on the bracket plus solid titanium end links. The underside of the strap features a texture that evokes the snowflake hands of the watch. It's a perfectly serviceable option – nothing to write home about specifically – but is well-executed and suits the aquatic nature of the watch perfectly.

Under the hood beats the in-house calibre MT5400, which is chronometer-certified and features a 70-hour power reserve, which is totally 'weekend proof'. It's a buttery-smooth movement and crucially, a lot thinner than the MT5612 in the larger model.

RELATED: The New ‘Holy Trinity’ Taking The Watch World By Storm

In short, exceedingly pleasant. The smaller size is obviously the biggest draw of the Pelagos 39 and appropriately, it's far lighter on the wrist than the larger model. Tudor is clearly gunning for a more gender-diverse audience with this watch, but also trying to create a watch that's more versatile; more wearable. It's still a tough tool watch but its slimmer size makes it a little more approachable as a daily wearer.

That said, I've got pretty large wrists and I thought the Pelagos 39 wasn't too small, either... Being slimmer it also sits under a shirt cuff better for proper desk diver action. The sunray dial and bezel are also very eye-catching and do much to differentiate the Pelagos 39 from other Tudor dive watch models.

The lack of a date window is a sticking point for me. The Tudor Pelagos FXD which came out last year (which features a bidirectional bezel, fixed lugs and similarly no date window) was mooted as a purer, more functional Pelagos, in no small part thanks to the lack of date window. The Pelagos 39, however, is supposed to be a more casual Pelagos – yet the date window delete kind of goes against that?

That's a real nitpick though and for most people, the lack of a date window won't be a deal breaker. It also helps keep the watch thinner, which is the main point of the Pelagos 39.

All in all, the Pelagos 39 is magnificently executed and demonstrates that Tudor's not only listening to their fans but is increasingly diverging from Rolex both in terms of style and substance. It's an exciting piece and one that's already led to insane demand from collectors – so if you want one, you better get in quick before the waiting lists start going crazy.

At just over AU$6,000 the Tudor Pelagos 39 isn't what you'd necessarily call cheap, but it does represent pretty good value for money, especially considering the insane quality of Tudor's finishing and movement construction. There aren't that many 39mm luxury dive watches on the market so it's hard to make a direct comparison – which is probably why Tudor went for such a diameter, to be fair.

The Oris Divers Sixty-Five Calibre 400 weighs in at 38mm, is a grand cheaper than the Tudor and features a truly impressive 5-day power reserve, but it has a more retro aesthetic (with a faux-riveted bracelet akin to a Tudor Black Bay, actually) and lacks both the refinement and brand cache that Tudor enjoys.

Indeed, the biggest competition to the Pelagos 39 might be from within Tudor's own range, with the Black Bay Fifty-Eight also boasting a 39mm case diameter while also being cheaper. They're very different watches though: the BB58 is steel, much thicker and again, retro-styled.

Discover the Tudor Pelagos 39 at Tudor's online boutique here.

Read the full article Tudor Pelagos 39 Review: A Week On The Wrist: on DMARGE. Don’t miss it!