Trespass Walsenberg Waterproof Jacket Review

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Spring and Summer means more time to get out and about with the family, whether that’s for picnics in the parks or strolls through the Peak District getting outside is good for you! Unfortunately the good old British weather is often less than obliging and likes to throw random rain, hail, sudden cloud and unexpected sun into the mix. That means getting your outdoor clothing right is nothing short of crucial! Ultimately you want to be comfortable and that demands a coat which can stand up to most conditions that the skies can throw at you. For the past few weeks my husband has been testing out a new jacket which we hoped would do just that so here’s our Trespass Walsenberg Waterproof Jacket Review. walsenberg

The Jacket

Trespass says, ‘The Walsenburg men’s waterproof jacket is ideal for those who demand more from their outdoor clothing. This jacket benefits from high technical specs, which will keep you warm, dry and protected in the worst weather.’ Waterproof to 10,000mm Breathable to 5000mvp Windproof Taped seams Pockets include 3 heat sealed water repellent zip pockets for keeping valuables dry walsenbergback

The City Test

My husband wore his Walsenberg jacket to work every day for several weeks and through very weather. He found it kept out the wind and rain which kept him warm and comfy during those early morning commutes. He often travels on public transport which can be quite a stuffy situation but the jacket is very breathable, it even has zips under the arm pits to help it aerate further! dogcoat3

The Country Test

We have a nutty Dalmatian who likes to get out and about no matter what the weather man says. They walked in sun, rain and even some sleet but he came home dry and content every time.

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Final Thoughts

This jacket really lives up to its description. There were several occasions when trousers and shoes (not protected by the coat) were drenched, by comparison any clothing underneath the jacket was bone dry. On a somewhat superficial note the jacket is really well designed and doesn’t scream walking attire, Trespass have really thought about the overall look as well as practicality which I think is a huge bonus. I would highly recommend the Walsenberg jacket whether you’re looking for walking clothes or something to keep you comfy on the commute, it’s a great all-rounder.

Could the Jacket be improved in anyway?

Not really an improvement as such but it’s worth noting that the design of the hood isn’t the most practical if you’re going to be pulling the hood down often (such as entering shops). The zip is designed to go higher than a standard coat which means it’s super protective against wind and rain but that leaves a smaller face opening so you can’t just pull the hood down with speed. As I say this is a deliberate design consideration because this jacket is meant to keep you dry and it will, but worth noting for anyone unused to such a protective hood.

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The Walsenberg Jacket has an RRP of £199.99 but is currently available on Trespass.com for £61.99 >www.trespass.com/mens-walsenburg-03431 Available in Black or Pine Sizes XXS – XXL (we found it ran true to sizing on the website).

This product was provided to me free of charge for review purposes. However the opinions expressed in this review are independent and my own.

My Dream Bathroom! Plus make a bath out of cake!!

I love relaxing into a warm bath in the morning, those few moments of quiet solitude can set you up for a wonderful day. But my bathroom is not quite the sanctuary it should be.

My bath tub has quite a few chips, it’s old and has held up very well but it’s time has most definitely come. My sink suffers from a similar affliction and just looks generally tired. The toilet on the other hand, well that is quite the comical fellow with a handle that only works if it’s attached upside down!

The truth of it is that my bathroom is old, tired and in need of a little lot of love! When it is finally made over I promise I’ll show you all it’s awful faults, so you can marvel at it’s transformation 🙂

For now though I’ll have to console myself by dreaming of my future haven of tranquility. I’d love a large deep possibly clawed bath under the window. The sink and toilet would also follow traditional lines with glinting taps and Edwardian style elegance. Think this bathroom suite from Bathshop 321, it’s called the Hamilton (even the name sounds elegant!). I suppose if we’re dreaming then my bathroom would never need cleaning and would always smell of fresh linen. Maybe I need an Edwardian maid to match my scheme, probably a butler as well because… well because having a butler would just be amazing! I may or may not be humming the theme tune to Downton Abbey as I type ;P

Of course the very best way to illustrate my vision would be through the medium of cake! It may not be as good as the real thing but at least it’s a bit of tasty consolation! So here I am languishing in my gorgeous new bath, filled to the brim 🙂 The foot shaped bathmat is essential!

If you’d like to make your own Bathtub cake below are intstructions for how I made mine 🙂

Step 1

Bake your favourite cake in a loaf tin. I made a madeira cake as I find them easier to carve.

When cooled use a knife to round the corners of your cake until it looks bath shaped.

Step 2

Spread a thin layer of buttercream over your bath.

Step 3

Roll out some ready made white fondant and cover the cake. Next I sprayed the cake lightly with a silver cake decorating spray, this gives an enamel finish to your bath.

Step 4

Cover a cake board with fondant, I made mine slate grey. Then using something long and thin (such as a ruler) lightly press lines into the fondant to create tiles. When finished pop your bathtub onto the board.

Step 5

Now the fun begins, using fondant make a rubber duck (one larger ball pinched at one end for the tail, plus one smaller ball for the head) paint his eyes on with a tiny bit of food colouring.

Then make a bathmat, mine is foot shaped yours could be square or circular etc. I used a cocktail stick to make tiny dots all the way around to simulate sewing marks. Then paint ‘Bath’ on your mat using colouring.

The tap is created out of sausage shapes, one large sausage for the centre bent over slightly. Two smaller sausages on either side, with teeny tiny crosses for the top. I dusted then with edible gold shimmer.

The person is actually just a head and two arms. The arms and made by rolling sausage shapes, one end is flattened slightly then use scissors to snip the fingers. Place into the bathtub on either side.

The head is made by rolling a ball shape, add a smaller ball for the nose and shape using your fingers or tools. Make little indentations for the eyes and mouth (these are painted on using food colouring). There is an ear either side made by rolling a ball shape. Place this onto the bath end.

The hair is made by rolling out fondant very thin, then use a sharp knife to create strands, attach these from the base of the head layering up to the crown.

Step 6

Now to fill the bath, I used buttercream but royal icing would also look good. Mix a little blue colouring into your icing, I didn’t mix it fully to leave a slightly mottled colour. Using a small knife spread this over the top of your bath. Once finish add your rubber duck.

Voila one bath cake 🙂