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The Filter’s bestsellers often tell a story. This month, it’s that, in this era of global heating, extreme weather in our summers is here to stay. Despite the hottest spring on record, the ferocity of June’s heatwaves seemed to take many of us by surprise, with much-needed fans going out of stock almost as soon as we’d published our group test.
Your desire for quiet tower fans and cold-brew coffee hints at sweaty, sleepless nights, followed by intense cravings for caffeinated cold drinks (or was that just me?). But also among your favourites were things that showed a sense of excitement about holidays, festivals and, more surprisingly, wildlife, with one-shouldered holiday swimsuits, wildlife-capturing cameras and the ideal festival handbag all capturing your attention this month.
The best tower fan
Dreo Cruiser TF518
It’s no surprise to see a fan top the list in a month of extreme heat – and, as veteran tech journalist and engineering graduate Caramel Quin grimly points out in our roundup of the best fans, “there will always be another heatwave.” Quin put 14 to the test, measuring everything from wind speed to energy efficiency, to find the most sustainable and effective. At full blast, this Dreo tower fan “felt positively windy and was definitely cooling on a hot day,” she wrote, while the lower settings were so quiet that they weren’t audible.
The hit cossie
Las Flores swimsuit
“John Lewis tells us that this one-shouldered swimsuit has been a huge hit,” said fashion editor Jess Cartner-Morley in her June style essentials. “Customers love it because the shoulder detailing and sturdy, non-transparent fabric make it perfect for wearing as a top, so it does double duty on holiday.” Plenty of you have been packing it for your holidays, too.
The budget water flosser
Operan cordless oral irrigator
“From the suspiciously low pricing, I was sure there would be something to complain about with the Operan cordless oral irrigator,” wrote our resident teeth-cleaner, Alan Martin, in his roundup of the best water flossers. “But mouthful of a name aside, there really isn’t.” While there’s no evidence that water flossers are as effective as interdental brushes or manual flossing, the convenience factor means they can be useful for those of us who struggle to floss every day (if my dentist is reading this, this obviously doesn’t include me).
The hair styler
BaByliss Air Power Volume hot brush
It’s always a surprise when something we wrote about in a previous month makes it into the best-sellers list for the first time. Could it be because the price has dropped by £4? Or because wedding season is now in full swing? Either way, our reviewer Lise Smith loved this bargain BaByliss in our roundup of the best hot brushes. “This is a well-designed wet-to-dry air styler for less than £100 that delivers results comparable to some of the more expensive brushes on our list,” she wrote.
The gardening gloves
Unisex Donkey Gloves
Still not finished your pre-summer garden tidy-up? You’re not the only one: these gardening gloves were your favourite pick in our Father’s Day gift guide. “The faux-leather fabric offers the dexterity needed for fiddly tasks and protection against brambles and nettles,” wrote Charlie Allenby, “while still being comfortable enough for a long day in the garden.”
The crisp white T-shirt
Men’s white crew neck T-shirt
Sometimes, classics are classics for a reason. “Everyone should own a well-fitting crisp white T-shirt, particularly when the warmer months hit,” said stylist and menswear expert Peter Bevan in his 50 men’s summer wardrobe updates. This £14.90 crew neck T-shirt was your favourite pick from the piece, ahead of less classic ideas such as wearing boxers as shorts a la Paul Mescal (although that wasn’t far behind …).
The wildlife camera
Maxdone wildlife camera
This camera can “transform any garden into the setting of an Attenborough-style wildlife documentary,” says Allenby, and this appealed to our Planet Earth-loving readers. Capture stills and 4K video of “songbirds, squirrels and scraggly foxes” – or just watch next door’s cat digging up your planters. It’s also £20 cheaper if you’re a Prime member.
The best capsule coffee machine
Philips L’Or Barista Sublime
As with the BaByliss, we were surprised at the sudden popularity of this Nespresso-compatible L’Or machine this month. But it was immediately obvious why: its price has dropped by more than 40% since we first reviewed it. This is our resident coffee aficionado Sasha Muller’s favourite capsule machine – even at its previous higher price – from our roundup of the best coffee machines. The Barista Sublime “looks great and works well”, he wrote, praising its compact dimensions, how easy it was to use and the choice of 100+ types of capsule.
Pint perfection
Guinness Nitrosurge starter pack
Chosen by food and drink writer Joanne Gould as one of the best tinned drinks, the Nitrosurge also proved a hit for many in our Father’s Day gift guide. The USB-charged nozzle can be attached to a chilled can of a special version of Guinness to pour a slower, smoother pint. “It’s creamier, has a more admirable swirl in the pour, and may even taste better,” said Gould. “It could be my imagination, but I appreciate the ritual for improved pints in the park.”
The gradual tan
This Works Perfect Legs gradual tan
We’re all aware of the importance of good sunscreen these days, but that doesn’t mean we don’t want a tan. Beauty writer Danielle Wilkins “spritzed, sprayed and slathered” herself in more than 20 self-tan products over five weeks to find the best fake tan products, choosing this formula from This Works as her favourite gradual tan. “The sumptuous, premium-feeling formula absorbed quickly and left my skin feeling soft and velvety as it dried,” she wrote.
The cold-brew coffee maker
Cold-brew bottle
“Summer is cold brew season,” wrote Charlie Allenby in our Father’s Day gift guide – and many of you agreed. “Simply add your ground coffee of choice to the glass bottle’s internal filter, fill with cold tap water, put in the fridge overnight and wake to smooth, aromatic perfection.” The perfect drink for hot summer mornings.
The Tardis bag that’s perfect for summer
Round mini shoulder bag
In our ultimate festival kit list, Glastonbury super-fan and Filter researcher Lily Smith recommended this bargain of a shoulder bag – and it was your favourite pick in the article, too. “These bags from Uniqlo are a Tardis,” she said, “from experience, you can fit a small water bottle, a power bank, sunglasses, phone and a bottle of sun cream in one.” Three of us on the Filter team are packing it for Glastonbury – and we’ll be keeping an eye out for our readers wearing these in the wild.
Get involved
Going on holiday soon? We want to know all your best tips: what saves your clothes from getting crumpled and bottles from leaking? What makes long journeys more bearable (particularly when you’re travelling with kids)? How do you stay sand-free on the beach? Share all your top buys, hacks and tricks by replying to this newsletter or emailing us at [email protected].
