News

A wearable poncho tent may look eccentric, but what better way to spend a night under the stars in glorious self isolation? Even if your staycation has to play out in the back garden. Hikers and cyclists already have the option of wearable waterproof sleeping bags, but the poncho appears to be the first tent that can be worn as an item of...

Marie Kondo is a powerful advocate for throwing out stuff you don't need in favour of items that 'spark joy'. Allen key sets have a habit of always missing the size you're after (for me, it's the 5mm). So we were drawn to this colourful set of allen keys from Sealey. The set is manufactured from hardened and heat-treated chrome vanadium...

A change in the way that emissions are calculated means drivers who buy larger petrol or diesel vehicles from new will be hit with a higher initial car tax payment. In a bid to increase take-up of electric vehicles, some drivers could be hit with an increase of more than £1,000 on their first year's payment of vehicle excise duty. The...

If you have two metres or so of space, you can sling a hammock. And in these days of social distancing and self isolation, what better way of whiling away your leisure time? Snooze, read a book or daydream about better days to come. The word hammock originates from the Taino people of Central America who used the word hamaca to describe...

London's polluted air has improved so dramatically since Covid-19 restrictions on travel that the machines used to measure toxicity have flagged the anomalous readings as a possible fault. Road traffic and building works have slowed dramatically over the last two weeks. As a result, levels of nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and...

Having established a reputation as a Pope who takes the bus, Pope Francis had an opportunity on this day in 2013 to cement his image as the people's pontiff when he was offered the world's first pedal-powered Popemobile. The entirely carbon-neutral, pedal-powered Popemobile was commissioned by us here at the ETA after the previous pontiff,...

Michael Gove said last week that visiting an allotment seemed a perfectly sensible thing to do given the current restrictions. He won't have had in mind, but people have taken to growing their own bicycles. Bicycles built from bamboo are nothing new. However, despite the fact they offer a sustainable and practical alternative to steel it's...

Cycling is a simple pleasure – a bike can be acquired for next to nothing and you don’t require a licence or any specialist equipment. However, whatever type of cyclist you are, it pays to know the basics. We've spoken to countless newbies over the last few years as part of our Back on a Bike project. How to avoid getting your bike pinched,...

While countless businesses languish as a result of covid-19, others are seeing their sales speed up. Perhaps it's due to people seeking a new way to exercise, or taking advantage of quieter roads, but it's estimated that sales of bicycles are up by around fifteen per cent. "People are thinking, I want to have independence," says Will...

The fact millions of cars across Britain are currently sitting idle is great for the environment, but not so good for the cars themselves as batteries may begin to lose their charge. Solar-powered battery chargers are inexpensive and easy to use. Simply place one on your dashboard and plug into your 12v socket. Be aware that running your...