Author - handiwor

We’re often asked about our recommendations for campsites for families in the UK, and sometimes in Europe. Now, we do have our favourites but we’re not you, and what suits us might not be the best campsite for you. So, we decided to ask some of the UK’s top parent bloggers for their recommended family campsites. Read on for a run-down of some family campsites which could be worth a look. Could one of these become your favourite?

Why camping is good for families

Yes we are biased but we know that camping is good for families. We love it! We’ve had our families camping from the children being very small and we can see how each trip has helped them to develop as individuals, and helped us to grow as a family.

Camping teaches skills such as everyone helping out. I think the first time one of our children had washed up was when camping. They also don’t seem averse to sweeping up debris, and taking the rubbish out when camping. Who knew?

Our family have learned that we can have fun without relying on electronic devices. The children have learned that can have as much fun with a pack of cards as with a Playstation. They have learned the art of stargazing, and making new friends down the camp play area. They can deal with new sleeping arrangements without making a fuss, and appreciate the art/science of being organised.

Camping is great for larger families especially; hotels don’t tend to cater for more than the standard 2 adults + 2 children. Larger hotel suites can carry an eye-watering price tag. Camping is much more wallet-friendly and frees up budget to do more fun stuff when on holiday.

What do you love about family camping trips?

The best UK family campsites

So here we are with a run-down of some of the UK’s top parenting bloggers favourite campsites. Could one of these become a firm favourite with you?

Camping in Surrey

Helen and her family enjoyed their trip to Polesden Lacey in Surrey. Though they had a pre-erected bell tent on their trip, you can take your own tent instead if you prefer.

Helen said “It’s in a National Trust site, so the surroundings are beautiful (and safe), and there’s lots to do. They let you have a campfire, and they sell the most amazing ice creams and wood fired pizza. Perfect for families.”

Check it out at: https://www.actuallymummy.co.uk/2017/06/09/travel-embers-camping-tips-picking-right-campsite-family

Camping in the New Forest

Jaymee from The Mum Diaries recommends Holmsley, which is a Camping and Caravanning Club site in the New Forest, Hampshire.

Here they got up close to ponies!

See what else they got up to on their camping trip at: https://themumdiaries.co.uk/camping/holmsley-camping-caravanning-club/

Camping in Gloucestershire

Holly recommends Hogsdown Farm, which is near Dursley, Gloucestershire.

Holly says “We love it because it’s cheap, it’s usually got great availability (if you’re happy to forgo electric hookup) and it’s on the doorstep to some great family days out. We’ve stayed there for as little as £11.50 a night, and it has a playground!”

Read more at: https://www.hollymadelife.com/camping/

Camping in Devon

Joanne from Kids Days Out Reviews recommends River Dart Country Park near Ashburton, Devon.

Joanne says “River Dart has got loads to do on-site, including kayaking and water zorbing, high-ropes, and a fantastic pirate lagoon for the children. Take an inflatable boat!”

Learn more at: https://kidsdaysoutreviews.co.uk/river-dart-country-park-ashburton-devon/

Emma also recommends a Devon campsite – Warcombe Farm, which is near Woolacombe.

She says “It has great facilities (loos and showers), a lovely walk down to the coastal road, and they have allocated pitches and let groups go.”

Learn more at: https://bubbablueandme.com/2018/08/sharing-a-love-of-warcombe-farm-campsite-woolacombe/

Camping in Yorkshire

Erin and crew tried out Masons Campsite near Appletreewick in Yorkshire and loved it. Here’s their trip review https://yorkshiretots.com/family-camping-at-masons-campsite/ (do we spy a HandiHoldall on their car?)

Cat and team tried out Woodhouse Farm Camping in Nidderdale – here’s how they got on https://rockandrollpussycat.co.uk/2017/07/woodhouse-farm-campsite-near-ripon-yorkshire-review/

Camping in Norfolk

Jade recommends Haven’s Wild Duck Park. It’s a campsite in a woodland setting but with a host of usual Haven Holidays facilities, such as the indoor pools and the entertainment led by Bradley Bear and friends.

Read more at: https://mummieswaiting.com/2017/07/haven-wild-duck.html

Jade says “It’s close to the beach, has a nature area, plenty of activities and good pitches.”

Camping in Wales

Emma recommends a site in Wales – Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula. This one has stunning views, cow neighbours, and nice tea at the shop – what else do you need?

Read more about Emma’s stay at: https://bubbablueandme.com/2017/08/three-cliffs-bay-campsite/

Camping in Scotland

Penny and her family visited Loch Ness and stayed at the Loch Ness Shores – Camping and Caravanning Club Site, where they explored Loch Ness by boat and the shores by foot.

You can read more about their trip at: https://www.parentshaped.co.uk/2016/04/21/loch-ness-shores/

Camping in France

A little further afield, and there’s a lot of love for family campsites in France, specifically in Brittany.

Jo and her family visited Camping du Letty, which is just outside the seaside town of Benodet. It is on a river and very family friendly. It looks like there’s lots to do here!

Read more at: https://www.organisedjo.co.uk/camping-du-letty/

Another Brittany recommendation comes from Katy who visited Mané-Guernehué, which is a Camping and Caravanning Club site near to Auray.

Katy says “It is a beautiful campsite, family friendly, great facilities on site including restaurant, takeaway, waterpark, indoor pool and wellness centre. For the kids there is a trampoline area, bouncy castle, play park and horse riding and kids club. We only planned a stay for three days as part of our road trip but I could have easily stayed longer.”

Read more at: https://otisandus.co.uk/travel/a-road-trip-exploring-brittany-france-the-camping-and-caravanning-club/

Glamping in the UK

If you can’t face camping in a regular tent, how about a spot of Glamping?

Sian and her family recommend Low Wray in the Lake District.

Cathy and her family had a good time at Penhein, on the edge of the Forest of Dean.

Have you got any family-friendly campsites recommendations for us?

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It’s hot tub season! Here at HandiWorld, we love our inflatable hot tubs. They are a great way of passing the time while relaxing on a long, hot summer evening – or even a short autumnal one! Hot tubs and spas have positive health benefits both physically and mentally. They can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and they are a brilliant addition to a home’s leisure kit.

What is putting you off owning an inflatable hot tub?

We find that most people are put off because they are not familiar with how to set one up and maintain it. Actually, it’s very easy once you get to know what you are doing. So here we have some pointers to help you make the decision whether to invest in a hot tub or spa for you and your family.

How much are inflatable hot tubs?

We sell two versions of the INTEX PureSpa hot tub; the INTEX Octagonal Inflatable Hot Tub for 4, and the INTEX Round Inflatable Hot Tub for 6.

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Round 6 Person

The 4 person version is £575.00 and the 6 person is £700.00. This is considerably cheaper than wooden hot tubs which retail from around £2,000.00 and fibre-glass hot tubs which retail from around £3,000.00 and more!

How easy is an inflatable hot tub to set up?

Very easy! There are two main parts; the tub with lid, and the power unit. Once the tub and lid are inflated (often the power unit can do the inflating), you connect the power unit and follow the instructions provided to start it off. You will also need to insert a filter, which are generally supplied with your hot tub.

The water is simply put in from your home’s water supply using a hose pipe. You add chemicals as per the instructions, and leave the water to heat up to the required temperature. Heating usually takes around 12 – 24 hours to heat the water from around 20 degrees up to 40 degrees.

After around 24 hours after the initial chemical insertion, you test the water using your testing strips and you’re good to go!

How long do inflatable hot tubs last?

Like a lot of hot tubs, the life of an inflatable hot tub depends on lots of things, like how often it is used and how you look after it. There are two main components to an inflatable hot tub; the tub itself and the power unit. Each needs to be looked after correctly to ensure a long life. The hot tubs that we sell come with a manufacturers guarantee of 12 months. We expect the hot tubs to last longer than this guarantee.

Do inflatable hot tubs have jets?

Yes. Well ours do anyway! Check before you buy if you specifically want jets, but we definitely know the ones we sell do. Our 4 person one has 120 heated bubble jets, and the 6 person has 140. The jets are worked by selecting the option on the power unit.

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Octagonal 4 Person

Do inflatable hot tubs use a lot of electricity?

An inflatable hot tub uses around £5.00 – £10.00 of electricity per week, depending on a few factors. To reduce energy use, you could turn down the temperature of the hot tub if you know you’re not going to be using it soon. Electricity is used for heating the water, and running the bubble jets.

You should set the power unit to your preferred temperature and let the hot tub do its thing. When you’re done, you simply replace the lid. You don’t need to fiddle with the settings every day. Making sure to put the lid on correctly to preserve the heat after use will mean the power unit uses less energy to get the water back up to the correct temperature each time.

What are the costs of running an inflatable hot tub?

Aside from the electricity, there are other things to take into account. These are:

• Chemicals
• Filters
• Water

What chemicals for inflatable hot tub?

Chemicals – you will need a chemical kit to keep your hot tub’s water well balanced and hygienic. The main chemicals you will use are chlorine granules, PH+ liquid, PH- liquid, and foam reducer. You can buy these in a pack, or individually. As an example, a hot tub chemical starter kit including PH testing strips can be bought from Amazon for about £24.00, which should be more than enough to get you through the hot tub season. You may also be able to pick up these packs from a local store or garden centre.

You will likely need to top up the water with chlorine every day when used. You should dissolve the required amount (about a capful) in water before adding it to the hot tub to avoid clogging the filters with undissolved granules.

Filters – You should clean the filter every couple of uses, and change the filter every 4 – 6 weeks. Price of the filter depends on the size you need but expect to pay anything between £4.00 and £15.00 per filter. Again, these can be sourced fairly easily on Amazon, or your local store.

Water – If you are on a water meter then you need to consider the cost of the water itself. A hot tub can hold around 800 – 1000 litres, and you should change the water around every two weeks. If you find yourself using a lot of chlorine and foam reducer and you can’t see your feet when you sit down, it’s definitely time to get it changed! 1000 litres of water costs around £3.00 – £4.00 depending on your water supplier.

In total, a hot tub shouldn’t cost more than £50.00 – £60.00 a month to run.

How to drain/empty an inflatable hot tub

Emptying your inflatable hot tub is easy. They come with a drain point/plug in the base. You connect up a hose pipe and direct it into a drain. Once most of the water has drained away, it’s easy to prop up the hot tub and tip the remaining water onto your garden. A little water with spa chemicals in won’t do a lot of damage to your lawn and the garden might appreciate some extra water, come the summer.

Can inflatable hot tubs be used in winter?

Yes, an inflatable hot tub can be used in the winter, though you might want to empty it and bring it indoors during particularly frosty seasons. Energy use may increase through the winter as the power until will be working harder to maintain the water temperature, so if you know you won’t be using it in winter months, then you might want to consider putting off hot tub activity until the spring. However, using the hot tub in colder weather is very enjoyable and we can think of worse ways to spend the winter evenings!

INTEX PureSpa Bubble Octagonal 4 Person

Why an inflatable hot tub is better than a fibre glass hot tub

We prefer inflatable hot tubs to fibre glass ones for three main reasons.

1. They are significantly cheaper to buy.
2. They can be deflated and stored when not in use which saves on maintenance and running costs
3. They are nicer to sit in. Inflatable hot tubs are deep with a soft floor which we prefer to the hard base of a fibre glass tub.

Do you have a hot tub? What do you like about it?

Say goodbye to winter and get ready to greet spring. Whilst the temperature is beginning to warm up and lighter evenings are approaching, it is the perfect time to plan excursions. Are you going kayaking? An inflatable kayak could be a good option, but which is the best? Here at HandiWorld, we provide high-quality inflatable Kayaks, and we think they’re all pretty good.

Here’s our guide to what to look for in an inflatable kayak…

So, which inflatable kayak is the best?

We don’t know about the best but we really like the INTEX Challenger Kayak K1 and K2. They’re ideal for both those kayakers who are experienced and those at beginner level.

Although kayaking may seem like a challenging activity to maintain, this inflatable kayak is specially designed to better those who are unexperienced. Buying the right kayak that’s suitable for your level of experience is important because you can learn how to Kayak effectively. Let’s face it, there is no pleasure in struggling! On the other hand, for those who are more advanced, this kayak is well equipped with all the essentials to meet your needs, therefore you don’t have to go through the hassle of buying them separately.

There is a choice of buying either the K1 or the K2. If you like to paddle solo, then the INTEX Challenger K1 Kayak is ideal for you.

Whereas if you prefer to paddle with a friend, then you should choose the INTEX Challenger K2 Kayak.

They both have plenty of room for your legs if like to stretch and move them around. If you get uncomfortable easily from being sat down for some time, don’t worry – this kayak has supportive seats with backrests. The K1 and K2 include 1 x high out-put pump and 1 x 220cm aluminium oar.

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

Where to use an inflatable kayak?

The INTEX Challenger Kayak is suitable for lakes and mild rivers.

Unsure on where’s best to go? Why not go kayaking at Anglesey in Wales, Cragside in Northumberland, or even on the West Coast of Scotland? With a breath-taking scenery and plenty to explore, these three destinations are at the top of the list of places to visit in the UK. Looking for other options? Then visit NationalTrust.org. There are plenty more great recommendations of places that’s worth visiting.

If you’re planning on visiting a large area and worried about paddling away from your group, don’t panic. You can easily spot the bright vibrant green that features on the kayak from a long-distance. Even though it seems that you’re a mile away from each other, seeing the colour means that you’re closer than you thought!

How easy is it to use an inflatable kayak?

Inflatable kayaks weigh lightly on top of the water which makes it much easier to direct and control when you’re kayaking towards your target destination. Also, the turning radius is simpler because there is less effort to put in.

If you’re a beginner, the lightness of this kayak will make easy for you to develop your kayaking skills. As for the experienced, you’ll find kayaking in the INTEX Challenger an absolute joy!

If you first-timers are wanting more in-depth information about kayaking, Seeker.com offers plenty of guidance with this article Kayaking for beginners – what you need to know.

How to transport an inflatable kayak?

Transporting an inflatable kayak is very straight forward. If the kayak is uninflated stored in its case, then you can place it in the boot or back of your car. Or, if it’s inflated you can tie it down to a rack on top of your vehicle. Make sure the kayak is laid on a side to avoid complications and help secure it. Haven’t got a roof rack? We have a range of great quality inflatable roof rack bundle offers.

Once you have arrived at your destination, you will then have to transport the kayak through using a kart by hand to travel from your car to the water. Using a kart is a smart way to move your kayak as you’ll avoid damaging it and it’s effortless to move. Not got a kart? No problem! We have the HandiKart kayak trolley.

What are the advantages of inflatable kayaks?

Easier to transport and store

Inflatable kayaks are lighter than fibre-glass kayaks so are much more portable. Room is less of an issue as they don’t use much of it up once deflated. Setting up an inflatable kayak is hassle-free, all you need to do is attach the pump to the air pipe; no fixing pieces together or building is involved.

Better value

If you’re on a budget, buying an inflatable is cost effective as they’re much less expensive compared to fibre-glass kayaks. Although inflatable kayaks are not particularly fragile, they are easy to repair and cheaper if you do happen to have an accident. All you need to do is plaster on the repair patch to the kayak, and you’re ready to paddle again.

When you’re wanting to make the most of your leisure time but are limited on space and budget, an inflatable kayak could be a great investment. Have a look at our range of inflatable boats and kayaks and get out there!

At HandiWorld, we love a good music festival, and the UK has plenty to choose from! There’s not much that matches the atmosphere and feeling of a weekend in a muddy field listening to your favourite bands. We take a look at some of the top UK festivals in 2019 – who are you looking forward to seeing this year?

Photo by David Calderón on Unsplash

Isle of Wight Festival 2019

13 – 16th June 2019

This is a festival popular with families (kids under 12 get in free with accompanying adults) and is a lot more intimate than Glasto or Leeds/Reading. While 2018’s acts included Kasabian, The Killers, and Depeche Mode, there’s no official confirmation of any acts as yet for 2019.

This site https://www.isleofwightguru.co.uk/isle-of-wight-festival-2019-lineup-and-tickets.html is good for everything you need to know about attending the Isle of Wight Festival, containing some educated speculation on who the acts might be.

The Isle of Wight itself is a great place to explore, though it does get very busy around festival time.

Photo by James Padolsey on Unsplash

Download 2019

14 – 16th June 2019, Donington Park, East Midlands

Download bills itself as the UK’s premier rock festival and with acts like Slipknot, Slayer and The Smashing Pumpkins already confirmed for 2019, who are we to argue?

Camping is available here though, like most other festivals, you can just grab yourself a day ticket or three. Under 18s are welcome, though no under 5s are permitted. Probably wise!

More info at: https://downloadfestival.co.uk/

Photo credit: James Bridle

Glastonbury 2019

26th – 30th June 2019

Fresh from its ‘fallow year’ in 2018, the UK’s most famous festival is back with aplomb in 2019. This year, headliners are Stormzy and Janelle Monáe, and the lauded Sunday teatime slot will be filled by Kylie. More acts will be announced over the coming weeks, no doubt. Not that there isn’t plenty to do here without seeing a single act on one of Glastonbury’s many stages.

All tickets (around 200,000) were sold out in half an hour, even before the headline acts were announced, which shows how eagerly anticipated the return of this long-running festival has been. Did you manage to bag yourself a ticket? If not, there may be some available come April, though you need to register on the Glastonbury website first.

Photo by Joe Green on Unsplash

Need temporary carrying capacity on your car? Check out our popular HandiRack – available in Slipknot Black (we just call it ‘black’) or Manic Camo – learn more at https://www.handiworld.com/roof-racks-and-bars/.

Latitude Festival 2019

18th – 21st July 2019

Southwold, Suffolk is the location for this very family-friendly festival. Kids of all ages are catered for well with a huge choice of activities and entertainment for little ones, and for those aged 12+ too.

Line-up has yet to be confirmed on this one but tickets are already on sale. Acts in 2018 included a set on the BBC Music Stage from Liam Gallagher, sessions by comedians James Acaster and Harry Hill, and festival faves The Killers.
Lots to do. You could even try lake swimming! Bring your trunks.

More info at: https://www.latitudefestival.com/

Creamfields

22 – 25th August 2019, Cheshire

In a date clash with the huge Leeds and Reading festivals, Creamfields offers something a little different – something for the dance music fans. With a line-up that includes Canadian electro pioneer deadmau5, and electronic supergroup Swedish House Mafia, this is sure to be the festival for technoheads everywhere. Strictly over 18s, there’s a range of camping options to suit all levels of pickiness!

Find out more at: https://www.creamfields.com/

The HandiMoova is convenient for camping, and fantastic for festivals. Buy now at https://www.handiworld.com/all-terrain-trolley/ It’s a brilliant addition to a festival camping kit.

Leeds Festival and Reading Festival

23-25th August – Leeds Festival is at Bramham Park, and Reading Festival is Richfield Avenue, Reading

Since Reading’s first festival in 1989, and sister festival Leeds’ following ten years later in 1999, many amazing acts have graced the stages of either or both. This year, the line-ups include Twenty-One Pilots, The Foo Fighters, and Post Malone. Full schedule to be confirmed, and tickets are still available for one or all of the days.

Photo by Krists Luhaers on Unsplash

Whichever festival you decide to go to this year, we hope you have an amazing time. Fingers crossed for sunshine and for a jam-free journey!

Click on this link to see how many UK festivals are there for you to choose from.

Introducing the KUNGS Winter Range (exclusively at handiworld.com)

Quality ice scrapers and winter accessories for your car

Is the Beast from the East that hit us in March 2018 about to return in the next few weeks? It’s the same old story; some say it is, some say it isn’t, and no-one will really know until nearer the time, if it strikes at all. But if there’s one thing us Brits love, it’s speculating on the weather.

Whether the Beast returns or not, it’s fair to say that the weather will probably get worse over the coming weeks – it usually does! It’s not unusual for it to snow in January and February – indeed in 2018, it was the end of February when the worst of the wintry weather hit the UK, and there was a smaller encore in March. Just because we didn’t have a white Christmas and we seem to have made it into the New Year with reasonably mild weather does not mean we have made it safely to spring just yet.

Whatever the outcome, it’s always best to be prepared for every eventuality. Before the bad weather strikes, you could do these ten things to prepare for winter, for you, your home and for your car.

Photo by Nathan Van Egmond on Unsplash

Tips for Winter Motoring

Our main area of expertise is travel and adventure. While the snow and ice may make your daily travels more of an adventure, when you want to be at work, or doing the school run, it can get a bit tedious and more dangerous. In cases of really bad weather, travel at all can be impossible and the odd snow-day or a day working from home could be for the best!

Photo by Jesse Orrico on Unsplash

For those days where travel is possible but the winter weather is impacting, then good management goes a long way. The Met Office have provided a useful list of vehicle checks to make before a journey, which become more important in times of bad weather. It’s also a good time to check that you have cold weather kit in your car such as a blanket, a shovel, and tyre mats, just in case.

Is it illegal to drive with an icy windscreen?

One question we see being asked is if, as a motorist, you can be prosecuted for not clearing your icy windscreen fully? The short answer is yes you can. While the law isn’t totally clear, it is an offence to cause danger to others. Not demisting your windscreen inside and out, and having snow on your car’s roof which could fly off could potentially cause problems for yourself and others.

Check out this advice from the RAC.

This article has some examples of when motorists haven’t taken care to defrost their cars and have paid the price.

How do I demist my windscreen effectively?

Want some advice on how to demist your car’s windscreen? This article from the RAC is very good and will get you stocking up on shaving foam!

What’s the best ice scraper?

Well, it’s kind of you to ask! While we don’t profess to have tried out every single ice scraper available, we do know that the ones we stock from KUNGS are very, very good. They are designed and manufactured for motorists in Finland, and they know a thing or two about motoring through snow and ice.

Helsinki in the snow, photo by Alexandr Bormotin on Unsplash

KUNGS winter products are designed, tested and manufactured in extreme Finnish winter conditions in their own factory in Kokemäki, Finland. The KUNGS philosophy is to produce the best products in each segment. KUNGS are a growing, family business, and take a great pride of being today the market leader in Northern Europe for car winter accessories.

Have you ever had to drive in Finland? Here are some tips.

We are stockists of KUNGS winter products in the UK. We have four products available, all top quality, and all designed to help you through the wintriest of winters.

1) KUNGS Arctic-IS Ice Scraper

This is an ice-scraper in a glove and we can vouch that it is extremely comfortable and warm. The ice-scraper is ultra-strong, being made from frost-proof polycarbonate, and it includes several features that really add utility to it such as a wiper blade clearing notch. It also comes with a 3-year warranty – you can’t say that about your average pound shop ice-scraper!

Learn more about this brilliant ice-scraper glove by clicking here.

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Do you have an adventurer in your life? Whether your favourite adventurer likes getting out and about in a car or on their trusty bike (or two!), Christmas is a great time to fuel their indulgence for travel and the outdoors. But what do you buy the intrepid adventurer who has everything?

While none of us need more ‘stuff’ in our lives to have to find homes for, gifts which encourage us to get out into the outdoors and enhance our travel experience can only be a good thing. With these gifts you’re giving motivation, inspiration, and the enhanced enjoyment of travel, and while a round-the-world ticket could be an amazing gift for someone, it might need a few more Christmasses before that one can be afforded!

So here’s our guide to realistic but still appreciated travel gifts for Christmas.

Halfords have these very handy Bikehut bike storage tents which are perfect for storing bikes in when on a camping trip. They can store up to three bikes. It’s easy to pitch and has UV protection.

If your adventurer’s choice mode of transport is more four-wheeled than two, how about this car boot organiser? This is a durable storage system with space for all of your adventurer’s treasures (or junk). It also has a built in red warning triangle, which could come in very useful when they get into a tight spot.

Talking of cars, have you seen the winter range from KUNGS? We are one of only a few retailers in the UK selling these top-quality Finnish products – they’ve been developed and tested in Finland, a country that knows a thing or two about motoring through wintry weather. This could be the most money you’ve ever spent on an ice-scraper but with good reason. This gloved ice-scraper is a real boon on cold mornings.

Have a look at the full winter range here >> https://www.handiworld.com/kungs-winter-products/

For the camping lovers, this pop-up emergency camping light could be a key piece of camping kit. This folds down to take up minimal space and can be used as either a lantern or a torch. Don’t forget the batteries!

Last but not least, we LOVE this scratch off map (with flags) from TravelNuts. Scratch off each country as you visit and steadily turn the gold area into a patchwork of colour. How many of these countries is your adventurer planning to visit?Are you well-known for your adventuring? We’d love to know what your loved ones bought you to help along your wanderlust this Christmas.

The summer holidays are creeping up on us now, which means if you’ve got a UK family holiday planned for the long school break then you’re probably starting to get prepared.

As well as packing everything you could possibly need into suitcases, you need to think about how you’re going to prepare your car for the wear and tear long drives can bring with them.

It can be easy to forget that there are certain checks that need doing before setting off on a long journey when the chaos of getting out the door sets in, so allow us to share with you 5 things to remember to do before hitting the road for your UK adventure.

Tyre Pressure

An important check to do before you start packing the car and to continue to do throughout your trip, both checking and adjusting your tyre pressure accordingly will help avoid flat tyres or unexpected disasters.

The AA recommend you check your tyre pressures every couple of weeks when the tyres are cold and we’d recommend doing a check before and after packing up the car to ensure your tyres are safe and ready for the journey ahead.

They also recommend checking for any cracks, cuts or bulges in the tyres when checking the pressure as these are signs of damage and weakness in the tyres and could lead to problems on the road.

Fluid Levels

At the very top of Aviva’s road trip checklist is your fluid levels and we couldn’t agree more with how important it is to check these before you head off.

Brake fluid, engine oil, window washer fluid, antifreeze – check all the fluid levels under the bonnet and top up where required. We’d recommend having spare bottles of the fluids packed away tightly in the boot in case you happen to need them on the go.

Lights

Just because you’re planning your trip to be during the daytime, doesn’t mean you don’t need to give your lights a proper check before setting off.

As well as being something that the police can pull you over for, having a brake light out or a broken headlight is really dangerous when driving, whether it’s a short or long distance trip.

The best way to check all your lights are working is to get a friend or family member to move around the car as you test your brake lights, headlights, fog lights and indicator lights are all working properly and you may want to stock extra bulbs in the car just in case.

Brakes

Whilst you’re checking your brake lights, you want to check your actual brakes too. An essential part of your vehicle and something that needs to be in perfect working order, especially when using a roof box, you need to check your brakes don’t need changing before you head off.

Kwik Fit recommend brake pads are changed when they reach a 3mm thickness or below and describe how you can tell your brakes need attention when you can hear grinding noises when braking, feel the car pulling in a certain direction when braking or the brakes may feel soft of spongey.

If you’re planning a lengthy road trip, it might be worth booking your car into a local garage for a mini service to ensure you’ve done all your checks right and everything is safe and ready to go.

Securely Attach Your Roof Rack and Box

Once you’ve checked your car is in perfect working order, it’s time to prepare it for the load it needs to carry by adding extra secure storage space. Fitted metal roof bars can be expensive and inconvenient when not in use, which is why the HandiRack is ideal for families who love a road trip.

Our inflatable roof rack is small to store and can be fitted to your vehicle in a matter of minutes and is then ready for you to add the HandiHoldall, our 320-litre soft roof box and fill with all your belongings to ensure you’ve got plenty of space to stretch out inside the car.

We hope this little guide has been helpful if you’re trying to get everything in order for your upcoming UK family holiday. If you’re looking to use one of our handy products as part of your travel set up, feel free to drop us an email at info@handiworld.com and one of our team will be happy to help.

Summer is well on its way now which means that day trips to the local beach are just around the corner.

We may not get the warmest of weather here in the UK but when we do get a hot day, our beaches are the place to be and we’re confident that plenty of our customers will be heading towards the coast at some point in the next few months.

Whether it’s an adults-only trip or a family holiday, there are always lots of things you need to have in tow when you head to the beach, so we’re going to be sharing with you all the essentials you can’t forget and our tips for packing everything into the car!

What You Need to Pack

Creating innovative products that are the solutions to common travel problems is at the core of everything we do here at HandiWorld, so when our customers speak, we listen and that is how our newest product has been created.

We have plenty of customers who are real cycling enthusiasts and when they said to us that they couldn’t find a roof box that would fit alongside their bike on a roof rack, we knew there was room for a newer, smaller version of the original HandiHoldall.

Our new 175-litre HandiHoldall is the smallest version of our soft roof bag yet and has been purposely designed with cyclists in mind. Smaller but just as mighty, this petite version of the HandiHoldall is made from the same 250D polyester tarpaulin outer material with dry bag technology and UV resistance for protection from all weathers.

Suitable for fitting to a pre-fitted bike or sports rack alongside your bike, we truly believe every cyclist needs one of our new HandiHoldalls but if you’re not convinced yet, here are 3 reasons why.

1. All Your Essentials in One Place

If you’re the cyclist who likes to head further afield for your biking adventures, you’re probably going to have a lot of kit in tow and it can be difficult to get that all in the car, especially when there’s no space on the roof next to your bike but with the help of the brand new HandiHoldall, that problem is solved.

The perfect place to store all your essentials while you head to your cycling destinations, you can pack your helmet, cycling clothing and shoes, repair kits, bike accessories and more into one super secure, weather-resistant roof bag and know that everything is easy to find in one convenient place and simply secure it next to your bike on your pre-fitted sports rack.

2. Easy to Access

There’s nothing worse than cramming all your essentials into the boot of the car and then realising you need to access something that is squashed right at the back. When you pack all your biking essentials into the 175-litre HandiHoldall, you can quickly and easily access your belongings whenever you need.

Simply stop the car, quickly detach the HandiHoldall from your sports rack and you can easily get in and pull out whatever it is you need without having to pull everything else out too thanks to the new HandiHoldall having 3 points of access, so you’re guaranteed to be able to quickly get your hands on what you wanted.

3. Convenient to Store When Not in Use

When designing the new HandiHoldall, we haven’t just thought about how it will function out on the road but how it will work when it’s not in use which is why we’ve ensured that as with the 320-litre HandiHoldall, this smaller version is convenient to store when you don’t need it.

Cyclists usually have garages full of bikes and equipment, so you don’t want your space filled up with bulky roof boxes which is why we’ve designed the 175-litre HandiHoldall to fold up to a compact size of just 61cm x 17cm x 17cm in its own storage bag when not in use, a perfect petite size for storing in your boot or garage without taking up too much space from your cycling gear.

We could go on forever with reasons why our brand new HandiHoldall is essential for any cyclist but we think these 3 reasons alone are enough to convince anyone. The brand new 175-litre HandiHoldall will be available exclusively from the HandiWorld website for just £120.00 in early May 2018 and will even come with free UK shipping, so you can put it to use in no time.

If you’ve got any questions about the new member of the HandiWorld family, drop us an email at info@handiworld.com and one of our team will be with you in no time.

Roof bags truly are a great investment for big families or people who do a lot of travelling but there are certain safety procedures you have to take into consideration when packing and using one.

The HandiHoldall is our very own soft roof bag, a unique version of a traditional roof box that is lighter, easier to attach to the car and capable of holding up to 320-litres worth of cargo but similarly to all other roof boxes, you need to pack it properly to be safe.

We’re going to be sharing with you our top tips for packing a roof bag securely to ensure you, your belongings and everyone around you is kept safe.

Don’t Go Over the Maximum Capacity

Every roof bag will have a maximum capacity and this is advertised for a reason. For example, the HandiHoldall can be packed with up to 320-litres worth of luggage and belongings and still be closed properly and securely without putting too much pressure on the fabric or fastenings.

Over-filling a roof bag isn’t safe and can lead to damaging your roof bag or even worse, not being able to fasten properly and therefore your belongings not being securely packed away which could lead to problems as you travel.

Every roof bag or box has its own specified capacity and this has been set after rigorous testing, so this isn’t something you want to ignore.

Don’t Confuse Weight with Capacity

As well as having maximum capacities, many roof bags will have maximum weight limits too and these are different things and both have to be considered.

The HandiHoldall may be able to hold up to 320-litres but it has a weight limit of 50kg, which means you need to think carefully about what is best to pack into the roof bag and what would be better in the boot.

Although 50kg is roughly the equivalent of two full suitcases, if you’re heading off camping, you might have lots of sleeping bags, sleeping mats and pillows to transport which although larger, are quite light, so packing these in your roof bag is safe and frees up lots of space in the car.

Don’t Fill with Lots of Loose Items

Although it can be tempting to just throw everything into a roof box or bag loose and then shut it and hope for the best, this isn’t the safest or the best way to pack them.

Not only is this not the best way to optimise the space you have available but it could also cause real problems if your roof box was to come unsecured. By packing your belongings into bags such as the HandiDuffel bags, your cargo will be secure inside of both a luggage bag and the soft roof box, so should it come open, you won’t find your belongings all over the place.

Packing your roof bag with 2-3 larger bags as opposed to lots of little items will also help you balance out the weight to make driving with it on board easier and safer.

Always Use the Recommend Fixtures and Accessories

We’ve all been there, we’ve come to attach the roof box to the car and can’t find the original fixtures to attach to the roof bars but you should never use make-shift fixtures such as bungee cords or ropes.

It can be frustrating but you should always use the fixtures and accessories that came directly from the brand with the roof bag when you bought it or if you’re buying new/spares, you need to buy branded ones again.

These fixtures and attachments have been designed specifically for use with this product and are therefore the most reliable and will ensure your roof bag is attached safely. Using anything else could leave you at risk of not having your roof box attached properly, so you need to always use the original or branded parts.

Ensure Your Roof Bag is Central

More a tip for attaching your roof bag as opposed to packing it but an essential part of the overall process, ensuring your roof bag is positioned in the centre of your roof is key for easy and safe driving.

The HandiHoldall comes with instructions as to how to properly attach to your car, including how to ensure it is central for even weight distribution, so following these instructions is really important for safely and securely attaching your roof bag.

Roof bags are a really worthwhile purchase for all kinds of people and although this may seem like a lot of things to remember before heading off on your travels, they’re all simple, self-explanatory tips that are super easy to follow.

If you’re interested in getting your very own roof bag and would like to speak to one of our team, drop us an email at info@handiworld.com.