Awards 07 issue: Boiling Points | |
| Need a cup of tea but don’t want to leave your van or car? Take a travel kettle. We test five on ease of use and how quickly they boil |
Keeping a travel kettle in the car is useful for when you are in need of a refreshment break. They are compact and can easily be stored inside the car and it saves rummaging through your caravan for a kettle when everything is neatly packed away. The only trouble is your stop may not be a quick one as some of these little boilers take 20 minutes to reach maximum temperature. Still, it gives you time to break out the sandwiches.
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| WAECO WASSERKOCHER CAR KETTLE |
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Price £25.85
Tel 01305 854 000
Web www.waeco.co.uk
Boiling time 10 minutes
The fastest boiler in the group, the Waeco model is also the most expensive. It's good value though. It has
a one-metre cable so it can
be safely used away from the electrics, and the handle has
soft grip pads for comfortable pouring. The lid is easily lifted making it safer to check the progress of boiling and as it is able to hold 750ml of water there should be enough for a few hot drinks in one sitting.
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| SUMMIT 12V CAR JUG KETTLE |
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Price £12.99
Tel 01327 312 233
Web www.roadpro.co.uk
Boiling time 18 minutes
Holds 550mk - enough for 2 cuppas. It has a wide sturdy handle and a well fitting lid with 2 deep groves for easy removal. It takes 18 minutes to boil, so it's not ideal for a quick stop, and the cable is quite short so it would have to be placed on the floor of the car.
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| THE ORIGINAL BIG BLUE KETTLE |
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Price £24.99
Tel 01327 312 233
Web www.roadpro.co.uk
Boiling time 12 minutes
As the name suggests this isn't quite travel-sized but the Original Big Blue is a good choice for a family on a quick stop. With a one-metre cable for safer use, it boils in 12 minutes and can hold up to 1.5 litres of water. The filtered lid is easy to twist off and the bold colour will cheer you up on a dull day.
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Price £15.95
Tel 0870 60 900 70
Web www.towsure.com
Boiling time 17 minutes
The smallest of the bunch, this is compact enough to be tucked away in the glove box. It also has a cable tidy and comes with two plastic cups, which neatly fit inside when not in use. It takes 17 minutes to boil and has a capacity of 450ml so you may have to settle for a small cup if sharing or argue over who has the first one.
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Price £15.99
Tel 01327 312 233
Web www.roadpro.co.uk
Boiling time 20 minutes
The clear plastic makes it easy to see when the water is boiling, though you may want to find something else to do as it takes 20 minutes to boil. It does come with a long cable and a bracket to attach the pot to the glove box, but it has no spout, making pouring a bit hit and miss.
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