0:00:02 > 0:00:04Welcome to the Olympic Park in London,
0:00:04 > 0:00:07for the show that asks the top professionals
0:00:07 > 0:00:09what you should be spending your money on.
0:00:09 > 0:00:11In this New Year,
0:00:11 > 0:00:16we Brits will spend over £1.5 billion on gear to get us in shape.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19But before you put your hand in your pocket,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22we've enlisted the help of elite athletes
0:00:22 > 0:00:25to road test the latest fitness equipment for you.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29Whoo! Here's what else is coming up.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31Was that OK?
0:00:31 > 0:00:33Sh!
0:00:33 > 0:00:35Here's what else is coming up.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I'm Cherry Healy, and for the next six weeks,
0:00:38 > 0:00:41I'll be travelling to spectacular locations around Britain
0:00:41 > 0:00:44to ask the country's best experts
0:00:44 > 0:00:46to show you how to shop like a pro.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49From TVs, steam irons and toasters
0:00:49 > 0:00:51to bed linen, hairsprays and lawnmowers,
0:00:51 > 0:00:55our specialists will push the most popular products to their limit
0:00:55 > 0:00:58to help you choose what to buy and why.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Tonight I team up with former Olympians to ask,
0:01:02 > 0:01:05do you need an expensive activity tracker to keep fit,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08or can a free app on your phone do the same job?
0:01:08 > 0:01:10Is everyone ready? THEY CHEER
0:01:10 > 0:01:12OK, let's get this over with!
0:01:12 > 0:01:15Investigative reporter Naga Munchetty conducts the ultimate test...
0:01:15 > 0:01:17They're going to be dropped from space.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22..to find out which mobile phone cases protect your screen best.
0:01:22 > 0:01:25Plus London's top basketball team
0:01:25 > 0:01:29try out the latest must-have health items - bullet blenders.
0:01:29 > 0:01:32Can you get away with a budget option?
0:01:32 > 0:01:34- This could be the worst one. - LAUGHTER
0:01:34 > 0:01:36And scouring the country,
0:01:36 > 0:01:39we ask the industry professionals to reveal their tricks of the trade.
0:01:39 > 0:01:42A cheap and easy way to shine you leather shoes
0:01:42 > 0:01:45is using a pair of old nylon tights.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49So if you want the inside track on the latest products
0:01:49 > 0:01:51from the people really in the know,
0:01:51 > 0:01:54then look no further.
0:01:54 > 0:01:57This is What To Buy And Why.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02# Since I came to know you, baby
0:02:02 > 0:02:05# I've been telling you how sweet you are. #
0:02:05 > 0:02:07Half of all British adults say
0:02:07 > 0:02:11they intend to do more exercise in 2016,
0:02:11 > 0:02:15and unsurprisingly, there are a whole raft of products on the market
0:02:15 > 0:02:18that pledge to help achieve that goal.
0:02:18 > 0:02:21The most popular are monitoring devices
0:02:21 > 0:02:23that measure things like the distance you walk,
0:02:23 > 0:02:25the number of steps you take
0:02:25 > 0:02:27and the calories you burn.
0:02:27 > 0:02:3025 million of them were sold worldwide last year.
0:02:30 > 0:02:34But are they worth a chunk of your hard-earned cash?
0:02:34 > 0:02:37I have the perfect person to help me find out.
0:02:38 > 0:02:422012 Olympic triathlete Lucy Hall.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46Triathlon, it consists of three discipline,
0:02:46 > 0:02:48so, swimming, cycling and running.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51And we pretty much do all three each day.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55How important is it for you to be able to monitor your exercise?
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Do just know in your head what's going on, or do you need help?
0:02:59 > 0:03:00I definitely need help.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03Especially with the amount of training you do each day,
0:03:03 > 0:03:05your mind can be all over the place.
0:03:05 > 0:03:07So being able to have that kind of measurement,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10it's just really important to get that right.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15So, if you also want something to keep on top of your progress,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17there are two main choices.
0:03:17 > 0:03:22A fitness tracker - it monitors all movement and activity 24/7
0:03:22 > 0:03:25and costs from £20 to £200.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28Or a sports watch - it collects performance data
0:03:28 > 0:03:30like distance, speed and heart rate.
0:03:30 > 0:03:34It's pricier, ranging from £45 to £300.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37But there is a cheaper option.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41There are numerous free apps available on a smartphone
0:03:41 > 0:03:45that claim they monitor your physical activity in the same way.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49So if I can do it for free on my smartphone,
0:03:49 > 0:03:51do I need to pay for anything else?
0:03:51 > 0:03:54So that's what we're going to try and find out -
0:03:54 > 0:03:59are these devices useful and can free apps compete?
0:03:59 > 0:04:01If only I could find a place round here to conduct
0:04:01 > 0:04:04a mass participation step count challenge...
0:04:04 > 0:04:09Perfect! The ArcelorMittal Orbit - Britain's largest sculpture,
0:04:09 > 0:04:13with its walkway of 350 metres and 556 steps.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16And a load of fitness fanatics.
0:04:16 > 0:04:19OK, we're going to walk up and then we're going to see
0:04:19 > 0:04:23how accurate all of the different fitness trackers are.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25- Is everyone ready? ALL:- Yeah!
0:04:25 > 0:04:27OK, let's get this over with!
0:04:27 > 0:04:29CHEERING AND LAUGHTER Come on!
0:04:34 > 0:04:39My group are wearing the £99 Fitbit Charge HR activity tracker.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47Lucy's team are wearing the £200 TomTom Multi-Sport Cardio GPS watch.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51And a final gang are wearing a fitness monitoring app
0:04:51 > 0:04:54to see how their accuracy compares.
0:04:54 > 0:04:56Because we have the precise measurements
0:04:56 > 0:04:58of the journey up the sculpture,
0:04:58 > 0:05:01we know what figures each should record.
0:05:01 > 0:05:05Waiting at the top to analyse our results is sports scientist
0:05:05 > 0:05:10and nutritionist Freddy Brown, from the English Institute of Sport.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15We gather the data from our devices and it makes for an interesting read.
0:05:15 > 0:05:16Now, in terms of accuracy,
0:05:16 > 0:05:19there's a large amount of variation between individuals.
0:05:19 > 0:05:22A lot of the numbers, when it comes to steps
0:05:22 > 0:05:24and distances, are all over the place.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Not one of the trackers or apps recorded the correct number of steps.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31There are 566, but we got scores
0:05:31 > 0:05:34ranging from 433 to 619.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36The smart watches measure distance
0:05:36 > 0:05:40and they should have recorded 350 metres, but instead...
0:05:40 > 0:05:44Anywhere between 428 and 700 metres.
0:05:44 > 0:05:46That's a lot of variation.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47A freak one-off?
0:05:47 > 0:05:51Let's see if we get more accurate results as we head back downstairs.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52- Ready? ALL:- Yeah!
0:05:52 > 0:05:54Go!
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Once again, the data is very varied.
0:05:57 > 0:06:01On average, the Fitbit was out by 47 steps,
0:06:01 > 0:06:05the apps by 70 and the watch by 50 metres.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08But most people had almost exactly the same figures
0:06:08 > 0:06:11coming down as they had going up.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13We tried it out several times
0:06:13 > 0:06:15and it always remained the same.
0:06:15 > 0:06:17So, the devices were wrong,
0:06:17 > 0:06:20but by roughly the same amount every time.
0:06:20 > 0:06:24It's kind of consistently inaccurate, if that makes any sense.
0:06:24 > 0:06:28Meaning the figures WOULD give you a record of your progress over time.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30Not necessarily accurate, but repeatable,
0:06:30 > 0:06:32gives you some useful information.
0:06:32 > 0:06:35Yeah, if I really wanted to know exactly how many steps
0:06:35 > 0:06:38I'd done in the day, I think these aren't going to tell me that,
0:06:38 > 0:06:40but if I want to know that I've been really active,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43monitor which day I've been more active,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I think it's useful.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49So, for accuracy, the free apps look like they're better value
0:06:49 > 0:06:52than the pricey wearables.
0:06:52 > 0:06:55Later we'll see how the apps compare to the trackers and watches
0:06:55 > 0:06:58during more strenuous activity
0:06:58 > 0:07:01so that you know what to buy and why.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12Throughout this series, we'll be introducing you
0:07:12 > 0:07:15to professionals who really know their stuff.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17Passionate experts with years of experience
0:07:17 > 0:07:20whose hints and tips could save us money
0:07:20 > 0:07:22and make stuff we own go further.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25Sharing their tricks of the trade with us tonight -
0:07:25 > 0:07:27a bunch of cobblers.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31I'm Al. In 2015, I travelled to Jacksonville in Florida,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34and I won the Shoe Repair World Championship.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36That makes me the current Shoe Repair World Champion.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41Your suede shoes can start to look really tired.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43A great way to take out these deep marks
0:07:43 > 0:07:46is to use a small piece of sandpaper
0:07:46 > 0:07:49and take it very lightly to the nap of the suede.
0:07:51 > 0:07:54If you haven't got sandpaper, you can use a nail file.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I'm Martin. I've been repairing shoes since I was 17.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05I've owned my own company since 2004.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09If you scuff your favourite shoes, rather than throw them away,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12buy some nail varnish of the exact shade,
0:08:12 > 0:08:14simply paint it on,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and those nasty scuffs have disappeared.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22When you get your shoes wet, it's natural
0:08:22 > 0:08:24to just throw them in front of a heat source to dry them out.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27Avoid this at all costs, especially with leather shoes,
0:08:27 > 0:08:31because you'll find the nice, supple bend of the leather
0:08:31 > 0:08:34will go brittle and hard and it'll ruin your shoes.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36The best thing I can suggest in this situation -
0:08:36 > 0:08:38pack your shoes full of newspaper,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41put them in a cool, dry place and let them dry naturally.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Still to come - inventor Tom Lawton
0:08:44 > 0:08:46deconstructs a £10 toaster
0:08:46 > 0:08:49and one that costs £270
0:08:49 > 0:08:53to ask what you're really getting for all that extra money.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56But first, the protective phone case industry
0:08:56 > 0:09:00is worth a whopping 75 million a year.
0:09:00 > 0:09:03But are they all they're cracked up to be?
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Here's our investigative reporter, Naga Munchetty.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08I paid about £10 for this case.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10My husband dropped my phone.
0:09:10 > 0:09:12Sure enough, it cracked.
0:09:12 > 0:09:15Would it have come out unscathed if I'd paid a bit more?
0:09:15 > 0:09:18Just how much protection do these things actually offer?
0:09:18 > 0:09:23I think it's time for a crash course in smartphone survival.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25They tend to be made from five main materials,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28so we're going to put the most expensive cases
0:09:28 > 0:09:30we can find for each to the test.
0:09:30 > 0:09:31We have...
0:09:31 > 0:09:33plastic,
0:09:33 > 0:09:34foam,
0:09:34 > 0:09:36leather,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38an aluminium case worth £65,
0:09:38 > 0:09:40and one made from polycarbonate,
0:09:40 > 0:09:43costing a whopping £84.
0:09:43 > 0:09:45And just for good measure, we're throwing in
0:09:45 > 0:09:47a simple plastic screen protector too.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50OK. Phone's in hand, it's time to get...
0:09:53 > 0:09:54..on with the test.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59Drops like this are the most common cause of insurance claims
0:09:59 > 0:10:01for mobile phones in this country.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03But here, all the cases did their jobs,
0:10:03 > 0:10:06with only a few scratches to the outside.
0:10:06 > 0:10:08So, a good start across the price range.
0:10:08 > 0:10:09Let's up the stakes.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15Believe it or not, the other most common cause of screen smashing
0:10:15 > 0:10:16comes from people doing this.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21Let's hope my six phones are ready for a road trip.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Let's see what damage has been done.
0:10:30 > 0:10:33Amazingly, all of the phones survived,
0:10:33 > 0:10:35with one exception.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38Lots of scratches - it's obviously had an impact in this corner.
0:10:38 > 0:10:40So, the one with the simple screen protector
0:10:40 > 0:10:43has failed to, well, protect.
0:10:43 > 0:10:45And so, it's our first casualty.
0:10:47 > 0:10:49You're more likely to sustain damage
0:10:49 > 0:10:51if your phone hits the deck face down.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54So that's what we're going to do next.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02And the results are somewhat unexpected.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05A very, very cracked screen, and a chip.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07Even the glass has flown out of the screen.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10So, it's curtains for plastic, our cheapest case.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12Not a scratch.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Screen intact.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17But the foam, our second cheapest, performed admirably.
0:11:17 > 0:11:18Ah.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22The screen has come away a little bit.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24Leather bit the dust.
0:11:24 > 0:11:27But at the upper end of the price scale...
0:11:27 > 0:11:29Not a scratch on the screen.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Our £65 aluminium case survived.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Unlike the £84 polycarbonate one.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39Not good news - the screen has cracked.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41There are cracks all over it.
0:11:41 > 0:11:44So with the most expensive case out of the race,
0:11:44 > 0:11:45it's foam versus aluminium,
0:11:45 > 0:11:48£25 versus £65
0:11:48 > 0:11:51in our final ultimate phone case challenge.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55So, for the final test, we're really going to push their limits.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58In fact, we're going to push the limits of gravity.
0:11:58 > 0:12:01We're going to take these cases and send them into space.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04Yes, they're going to be dropped from space.
0:12:04 > 0:12:05Ready?
0:12:06 > 0:12:08Here you go!
0:12:09 > 0:12:10Good luck!
0:12:13 > 0:12:16Yes, from this specially chosen remote launch site
0:12:16 > 0:12:20clear of built-up areas, our GPS-enabled weather balloon
0:12:20 > 0:12:23carries our phones towards the upper atmosphere.
0:12:23 > 0:12:27One small step for phones, one giant leap for case-kind.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30So, throw some numbers at me. How quickly will it be travelling?
0:12:30 > 0:12:32So it's going to be going up currently at about
0:12:32 > 0:12:345.5 metres per second.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37Meaning an hour and a half later,
0:12:37 > 0:12:38our phones have reached a height
0:12:38 > 0:12:42of 91,863 feet.
0:12:45 > 0:12:48Whist on terra firma, we follow their progress.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52But then, phones, we have a problem.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55As the atmosphere thins, the weather balloon bursts,
0:12:55 > 0:12:58sending our payload back towards Earth.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00Even with a parachute to slow them down,
0:13:00 > 0:13:03the 126mph descent
0:13:03 > 0:13:05will be the biggest phone drops ever.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12Right, so we're off to find these cases. Let's go!
0:13:12 > 0:13:14I'm not hopeful either will have survived
0:13:14 > 0:13:17a fall from 17.5 miles above the Earth.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Well, the phones are still attached.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30So this is the aluminium one, the second most expensive.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32It's been to the edge of space
0:13:32 > 0:13:34and dropped and hit hard ground,
0:13:34 > 0:13:36and it's absolutely fine.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38Let's see how the foam one is.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40This is the second cheapest.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44And there's not a scratch on it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:46Just a bit of mud,
0:13:46 > 0:13:48but it's absolutely fine.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Which means, at £25,
0:13:51 > 0:13:53foam has to be the winner.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Does paying more for a case increase the chance of survival?
0:13:57 > 0:13:59Based on our tests, no.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Is there an element of luck involved, depending on how
0:14:02 > 0:14:04and where a phone lands? Possibly.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08But if a material can withstand a fall from the edge of space
0:14:08 > 0:14:11and not break the bank, then I'll tell you what,
0:14:11 > 0:14:12that's good enough for me.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Back down to Earth at the Olympic Park, I've come inside
0:14:19 > 0:14:21the Copper Box Arena,
0:14:21 > 0:14:25home of professional basketball team the London Lions.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28They might be smooth operators with the ball,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31but I need their help testing a must-have health gadget
0:14:31 > 0:14:34that's changing the way we consume fruit and veg.
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Yeah!
0:14:41 > 0:14:44Of course, I'm talking about personal smoothie makers,
0:14:44 > 0:14:47otherwise known as bullet blenders.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Blending a drink into one cup which you grab and go,
0:14:50 > 0:14:53the biggest seller is the NutriBullet.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57John Lewis says they sell one every four minutes.
0:14:57 > 0:15:00But there are numerous other makes and models available,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02costing up to £400.
0:15:02 > 0:15:07So, can those at the bottom end compete with the one at the top?
0:15:07 > 0:15:10With my health huts in place, I set the challenge.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13And no sniggering at the back about my height, please!
0:15:13 > 0:15:17Gentlemen, let's see who can make the best smoothie.
0:15:17 > 0:15:20I'll see you in a minute. Good luck.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24On the left, four blenders costing less than £50.
0:15:24 > 0:15:28And on the right, four costing 100 or more.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Both have identical ingredients,
0:15:32 > 0:15:37including tough to blend items such as ginger, kale and ice.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Whilst they get prepping, our expert nutritionist Freddy Brown
0:15:40 > 0:15:44explains why these machines make such healthy drinks.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48They whizz up your vegetables and your fruit to such a fine degree
0:15:48 > 0:15:52that you're still getting a lot of the fibre in the finished product.
0:15:52 > 0:15:55Whereas a juice would just extract a lot of the sugar,
0:15:55 > 0:15:58a blender will actually give you the whole fruit.
0:15:58 > 0:15:59Nothing is thrown away.
0:15:59 > 0:16:02You get all the goodness from all the fruit and veg.
0:16:02 > 0:16:05I do love the fact you can bung everything in and it's
0:16:05 > 0:16:07already in its own container.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10Ultimately, the finished product needs to be pleasant to drink,
0:16:10 > 0:16:13so we will be judging them based on their overall smoothness.
0:16:13 > 0:16:15Houston, blast off!
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Oh, yeah, look at all that green stuff.
0:16:18 > 0:16:22Before we tackle the budget options, Demond and Nick mixed together
0:16:22 > 0:16:27smoothies on the £100-plus machines to set our smoothness benchmark.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32- It's very, very well blended. Cheers, everyone.- Cheers.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36- Mmmmm!- Mm.
0:16:36 > 0:16:38- THEY LAUGH - Cool.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41Unsurprisingly, all four performed pretty well.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46So let's see if four machines costing less than 50 quid can match them.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49It looks very appetising(!)
0:16:49 > 0:16:55First up, the £29.99 Sport2Go from Kenwood.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Can we just listen to the noise that is making as it comes out?
0:17:04 > 0:17:06- Thick.- Yummy.
0:17:06 > 0:17:08Not too bad, but you do have to chew.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12Will the 30 quid Breville Blend-Active do any better?
0:17:15 > 0:17:18- Kale.- It's not good.
0:17:18 > 0:17:19No, it's not. Yeah.
0:17:19 > 0:17:22'So the Breville didn't break down the kale.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26'How will the £40 Salter Nutri Pro 1000 do?'
0:17:28 > 0:17:30- It's completely different.- Mm.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32- That tastes like a smoothie. - It's a lot better.
0:17:32 > 0:17:34The flavours are blended together. That's really good.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37- Yeah, I actually like that one. - That tastes more like it.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41Like you say, the consistency really affects the flavours that come out. So...
0:17:41 > 0:17:45'At last, a silky smoothie from a budget blender.
0:17:45 > 0:17:46'But will our final option,
0:17:46 > 0:17:51'the £40 Tefal Fruit Sensation, also punch above its weight?'
0:17:56 > 0:17:59- This could be the worst one. - HE LAUGHS
0:17:59 > 0:18:02I don't know if it's you or if it's the machine.
0:18:02 > 0:18:05'Unfortunately, it's the machine.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10'The drinks from this one are perhaps the lumpiest of the bunch.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13'So, what's the verdict from our expert nutritionist?'
0:18:14 > 0:18:16Which was your favourite?
0:18:16 > 0:18:18I'd have to stay the Salter, because of the price,
0:18:18 > 0:18:22but also the similarity in quality with the very expensive blenders.
0:18:22 > 0:18:24Yes, in terms of smoothness of drink,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27this budget blender really does impress.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29So if you are looking for a New Year bargain,
0:18:29 > 0:18:33the Salter Nutri Pro 1000 is a bit of a slam-dunk.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36Kenwood say that their 2GoSport blender is
0:18:36 > 0:18:38perfect for anyone aiming to achieve their five-a-day,
0:18:38 > 0:18:42fitting seamlessly into an active lifestyle.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45Breville told us that the Blend-Active range has many positive reviews online
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and that it remains confident it offers ease-of-use,
0:18:48 > 0:18:50good performance and value for money.
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Tefal say their machine is a blender/grinder/chopper
0:18:52 > 0:18:56and wouldn't be expected to outperform single function products.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58It says changing ingredients, blending time
0:18:58 > 0:19:00and accessories would improve results.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11More money-saving cheats from top professionals now.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13This time, florists.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18I'm Mairead and here we design flowers for corporate events
0:19:18 > 0:19:20and weddings and film and TV.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23Sometimes roses can just droop.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25It's not because they're old,
0:19:25 > 0:19:27it's because they've got air bubbles in their stems.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31So, you cut the stems at an angle, dip them into boiling water,
0:19:31 > 0:19:33leave it there for about ten seconds
0:19:33 > 0:19:35and then dip it back into cold water.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Leave it alone for a while and eventually it will revive.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42My name's Joanna Rhodes, we have designed the flowers for
0:19:42 > 0:19:45high profile events and even historic royal palaces.
0:19:45 > 0:19:50If you've got slightly taller vase and shorter stem flowers, don't fret.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53Use the cellophane from the flowers that you've bought,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55insert it into the vase,
0:19:55 > 0:19:59push it all the way down to the bottom, like so...
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Add some water on top, then literally just
0:20:03 > 0:20:05place your stems on top of the cellophane.
0:20:07 > 0:20:09Perfect.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11Don't put flowers next to fruit because fruit produces
0:20:11 > 0:20:16an ethylene gas. Ethylene gas causes flowers to grow old quicker.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Similarly, take any old flowers out of the vase,
0:20:19 > 0:20:21because they produce the same gas.
0:20:21 > 0:20:24If you get pollen on your clothes, don't worry.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28Blow off all the excess pollen, get a little bit of Sellotape,
0:20:28 > 0:20:30roll it around your hands
0:20:30 > 0:20:33and literally dab the garment to lift the excess pollen.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37A really simple way to prevent your clothes from staining.
0:20:46 > 0:20:49Next, we've asked top product designer
0:20:49 > 0:20:53and inventor Tom Lawton to take apart some toasters to find out
0:20:53 > 0:20:57what the extra money gets you when you buy top of the range.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So, this is the cheapest toaster I could find.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03At £9.99, it's pretty cheap and cheerful. But it makes toast.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07This one is at the other end of the scale. 265 quid.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09So, it's 27 times more expensive.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14So, is the toast you get that much better?
0:21:14 > 0:21:17Tom starts by testing the sliced bread on each
0:21:17 > 0:21:19timer setting on each machine.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25This is my time versus darkness comparison.
0:21:25 > 0:21:27On the bottom here, I've got the budget toaster.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31Along the top, I've got the more expensive toaster.
0:21:31 > 0:21:35You are probably already observing that the results are pretty similar.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38So, what are you paying the extra money for?
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Are the components more advanced, longer lasting
0:21:41 > 0:21:43and altogether more durable?
0:21:43 > 0:21:46So, we're under the bonnet of the expensive toaster here.
0:21:46 > 0:21:49You can basically see that it's like
0:21:49 > 0:21:52two toasters which have been put together.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Inside this, we've got the heating element,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58which is a nichrome wire that heats up tremendously.
0:21:58 > 0:22:02That is shielded behind these mica plates that make sure that the heat
0:22:02 > 0:22:06goes onto the toast as opposed to heating the room around it.
0:22:06 > 0:22:10The budget toaster uses the same nichrome wires to produce the heat,
0:22:10 > 0:22:15uses the same mica plates to project that heat onto the toast.
0:22:16 > 0:22:18It's basically the same inside.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23We extended this test across 18 popular toasters at different prices
0:22:23 > 0:22:27and discovered that the majority have almost identical heating mechanisms,
0:22:27 > 0:22:31with the only major difference being how many lines of nichrome wire there are.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35So, what does the extra money get you?
0:22:36 > 0:22:40It does bagels, cheese toasties, it defrosts your toast,
0:22:40 > 0:22:42it elevates the toast when it's ready.
0:22:42 > 0:22:45It gives you LED feedback and makes a ding when the toast is ready.
0:22:45 > 0:22:46DING!
0:22:46 > 0:22:50The housing is much more impressive on the more expensive model.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52It's got a really good build quality to it.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55But really, it's just a couple of motors that allow
0:22:55 > 0:22:58the motion to go up and down, present your toast.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00It has all sorts of sensors and electronics to it.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03There is some LED panelling behind here,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06but does it really justify 27 times the price?
0:23:06 > 0:23:07It's a really nice design.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Some of the extra features are really quite neat.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12So, if you can afford it, by all means go for it.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Do you really need your device to do lots of other things?
0:23:16 > 0:23:18If you don't, then you may as well just go for the cheaper option
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and you could save yourself some money.
0:23:21 > 0:23:25Back at the Olympic Park, Team GB triathlete Lucy Hall is
0:23:25 > 0:23:29helping us work out if the kind of fitness monitoring offered by activity trackers
0:23:29 > 0:23:34and sports watches can be replicated by free health apps.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36Thus far, it's neck and neck.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39Our trip up the Orbit proved all three are useful
0:23:39 > 0:23:42when measuring steps and distance, if a little inaccurate.
0:23:42 > 0:23:47But what if you want more detailed analysis of your workout?
0:23:47 > 0:23:50Can the free apps really compete with the wearable devices?
0:23:53 > 0:23:54I'll meet you there!
0:23:57 > 0:23:59First up, we hit the Aquatic Centre to see how well
0:23:59 > 0:24:02they analyse a workout in the pool.
0:24:02 > 0:24:06I'm wearing Fitbit's £120 Charge HR Activity Tracker,
0:24:06 > 0:24:12while Lucy has the £210 TomTom Multisport Cardio GPS.
0:24:12 > 0:24:17We're pitting both against the most popular free swimming app. Hello.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20- Hello.- Fancy meeting you here!
0:24:20 > 0:24:23But straightaway, a major snag for the apps.
0:24:23 > 0:24:26So, we want to track our activity in the pool.
0:24:26 > 0:24:28Obviously, we can't bring our phones into the pool.
0:24:28 > 0:24:32And perhaps surprisingly, it's the same problem for my fitness tracker.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35It isn't waterproof, so I can't bring it in.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38So I have to enter my activity manually afterward, which is
0:24:38 > 0:24:41a bit of a faff. No such problem for the sports watch though.
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I can wear mine in the water, it's waterproof.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46When I'm swimming lengths, it tracks that.
0:24:46 > 0:24:49It also syncs to my devices on my iPad or laptop.
0:24:49 > 0:24:51- Ready?- Let's go.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55All these devices store their data on the internet
0:24:55 > 0:25:00but whilst the watch uploads it automatically, with the apps and
0:25:00 > 0:25:05tracker, we have to input how far we swam and for how long afterwards.
0:25:05 > 0:25:09- How many laps did you do?- 28 lengths. - I did not do that many, I did ten.
0:25:09 > 0:25:11Or thereabouts.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13Not ideal if you haven't really been paying attention as you go.
0:25:13 > 0:25:16So that's one up for the sports watch.
0:25:16 > 0:25:21Next, to complete our mini triathlon, the bike.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24All three measure duration of ride, calories burned
0:25:24 > 0:25:26and can track distance using GPS.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30The apps and tracker using your mobile and the watch having it built in.
0:25:30 > 0:25:34Unlike the apps, the wearable devices can also measure your heart rate.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42After a few laps around the Olympic Park,
0:25:42 > 0:25:44we've built up plenty of data,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48so it's back inside to meet sport scientist Freddy Brown to see how
0:25:48 > 0:25:52the free apps have fared overall against the devices you have to buy.
0:25:52 > 0:25:54First up, Lucy's sports watch.
0:25:55 > 0:25:59For the distance against me, the duration and again with the heart rate.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03It's all really good stuff and it's also accessible for nutritionists
0:26:03 > 0:26:06and all the other support team I've got round me, so that's great.
0:26:06 > 0:26:10Add that to the extra detail like speed and elevation,
0:26:10 > 0:26:14the data analysis offered by the sports watch is a good bet for athletes.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17But for us non-Olympians, who just want to monitor health
0:26:17 > 0:26:20and progress, do we need that kind of detail?
0:26:20 > 0:26:22What does the Fitbit tell us?
0:26:22 > 0:26:24Let's have a look at the data.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27We've got an accurate measure of distance from using
0:26:27 > 0:26:32the GPS as well as the duration of your exercise. So quite basic.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35To be honest with you, I don't need any more information than that.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38That's a general overall idea of my health.
0:26:39 > 0:26:43But the big question is, were the free apps able to do the same
0:26:43 > 0:26:46job as either my tracker or Lucy's watch?
0:26:47 > 0:26:51It gives you very similar data in terms of the distance that you
0:26:51 > 0:26:55covered, the duration of exercise, the calories that you burnt off.
0:26:55 > 0:27:01Considering that's nearly £100, this app really does do the same job.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05That's great for you, but I think in terms of performance for an
0:27:05 > 0:27:08elite athlete, it really is the watch that does the best job for me.
0:27:08 > 0:27:12So whilst wearing a tracker is a useful way to motivate yourself,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16if you just want to keep across general daily activity
0:27:16 > 0:27:19and even the odd workout, on this evidence, the apps
0:27:19 > 0:27:23are an equally good and totally free alternative.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26But if your training regime is a bit more serious,
0:27:26 > 0:27:29then the sports watch is fantastic.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32And could potentially carry you to the Olympics.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35THEY LAUGH You, not everyone.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38In response, Fitbit says their device gives a fuller exercise picture,
0:27:38 > 0:27:42phones can be forgotten, but a tracker is a constant reminder to keep active.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45It says it's easy to wear, offers instant data access, an online
0:27:45 > 0:27:49community to share progress and the heart monitor will appeal to all.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52TomTom points out that its latest sports watch does now
0:27:52 > 0:27:54offer 24/7 activity tracking.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57It says it will appeal to both the non-competitive person
0:27:57 > 0:27:59and those with serious training in mind.
0:27:59 > 0:28:03Next week, the expert ground staff responsible for the fabulous
0:28:03 > 0:28:06gardens of Osborne House road test cordless lawnmowers
0:28:06 > 0:28:10and tell us if it makes sense to pay for the most expensive models.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13It's the best mower, has the best finish, the best cut.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Don't think it's worth the extra money.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18Naga heads to Paris to find out if we pay more for our cosmetics,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22and we'll have more money-saving tricks of the trade.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25To bring your wrinkly lemons back to life,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28boil them in water for a few minutes and leave them to cool.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30They will be as good as new.