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Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Telegraph
Canon Pixma TS8750 review: Why this cheap printer surprised me
This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. Score: 8/10 We like: Excellent quality printing Affordable Easy setup We didn't like: Cartridge system means pricey ink £109.64 Buy now Price at John Lewis What is the Canon Pixma TS8750? For those with relatively modest printing volumes, the Canon Pixma TS8750 is an astonishingly capable printer that's also surprisingly affordable. With an RRP around £150, it isn't the cheapest printer you'll come across, but it's miles ahead of most budget models in terms of print quality, ease of use and useful features. The printer is a multifunction inkjet model, which means it can copy and scan, as well as print. It uses six replaceable ink cartridges, including a special pigment black for longer-lasting, smudge-free black and white prints. For printing in colour, it adds a grey for subtle shading to the usual mix of black, cyan, magenta and yellow inks. Cartridge printers are rarely the most cost-effective when it comes to replacing ink, but for its type, the TS8750 isn't too costly. JUMP TO How we test I tested the Canon Pixma TS8750 by using it just like a regular consumer would. First, I set it up, following the supplied instructions, so I could use it to print from a Windows computer. As I followed this process, I noted any quirks and foibles and judged how straightforward (or otherwise) the process was. I also jotted down all of the printer's alternative connection options at this stage. Once the printer was up and running, I printed a standard set of documents that I always use when testing printers. This means I can easily compare the quality of its printing with models I have reviewed before, and get a good idea of where it sits in the hierarchy. While printing these, I tested a range of other features, from scanning to copying, to see how easy the TS8730 was to use. Throughout the process, I'm also looking at the overall design and general usability, making notes on what works and what doesn't. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice. Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Setup Score: 10/10 While most wireless printers push you into setting up your device from a computer, smartphone or tablet, the Canon Pixma TS8750 lets its onboard screen lead the way. This is an appealing proposition, since the printer keeps good track of where you are in the installation process and the large, colourful display provides plenty of information and feedback as you go. Installing the ink cartridges is a case in point. Cartridge-based systems like this aren't difficult to refill, but the screen shows you how to lift the cover and install them. What I particularly appreciated is that as you pop each of its six cartridges into place, a coloured square appears underneath the image on the screen to let you know that you've installed it correctly. It's a little thing, but it's this kind of attention to detail that gets Canon a 10/10 score for setup. I also enjoyed the job of aligning the print heads, which is a sentence I never expected to write. Most printers produce a printed sheet of results and ask you to compare the alignment of several lines or blocks of colour and decide for yourself which ones look best. Here, Canon prints the sheet for you, then you pop it on the scanner bed, and the printer figures out the rest. Connectivity Score: 8/10 As with most printers, you can connect to the Canon Pixma TS8750 by attaching a USB cable to a computer. More useful, however, is the ability to connect the printer to your home Wi-Fi, which makes it available to any device connected to your network. It means that you and your family can print from anywhere in the house. Though, without a Wi-Fi extender, you may struggle to connect from your car on your driveway. There's another slot on the front of the printer, into which you can insert an SD memory card. If you have a digital or instant camera that uses this type of storage, it's a useful additional printing option. You aren't left out if you take photos on your smartphone, either. The free Canon Print app for Android and iPhone enables you to print almost anything from your smartphone, as long as you're on the same Wi-Fi network as the printer. Design and features The black plastic of the Pixma TS8750 looks smart, and it's reasonably compact. The printer's footprint is barely larger than the A4 scanner bed that sits on top, though the paper input tray does extend out the front, taking up a bit more space at the base. There's also a rear tray, into which you can feed alternative paper types such as envelopes or photo paper. There's no automatic document feeder on the scanner, though, so you'll need to manually copy multi-page documents one sheet at a time. When you switch the printer on and send it a print job, the paper exit tray automatically pops out of the front, which keeps it nicely tucked out of the way until you need it. Unfortunately, it doesn't retract when you turn the printer off, but that does stop you from dumping documents onto the floor if you forget to remove them first. I loved the large colour screen, which makes operating the printer easy, even before you get particularly familiar with it. I also appreciated that this printer can print on both sides of a sheet of paper automatically, by reversing the paper from the exit tray and flipping it to the second side for printing. Print quality Score: 9/10 Canon has been making capable photo printers for decades, and this is no exception. Its six-colour cartridge system adds a lighter grey tone to its repertoire of photo-printing colours, and it seems to have a beneficial impact. In my test photos, the images were dark where they needed to be, but subtle shades such as pale skin and light blue skies weren't oversaturated. Shadows maintained some detail to them, rather than being drenched in darker ink. I was also impressed with the TS8730's printed text, which comes from a larger black cartridge that holds pigment rather than dye-based ink so that it doesn't soak into the paper. Even at standard print settings on plain paper, the letters are crisp and sharp on the page, and remain legible even at small print sizes. Draft mode, which prints faster and uses less ink, is equally impressive. The main difference is reduced black coverage, so the letters appear slightly greyer, but there's no reduction in sharpness. Business graphics, such as blocks of colour on charts and graphs, are just as notable. Ink costs Score: 6/10 The downside of a cartridge printer is that the cost of printing each page is higher than you'll get from an ink tank or laser printer. If your printing requirements are relatively modest, this shouldn't be a big problem, as printers with more affordable ink refills tend to be more expensive to buy. That means you will need to print a lot of pages before a more expensive printer with affordable ink becomes better value. Having said that, the TS8730 isn't terrible value when it comes to individual prints. Mono prints work out at 4.6p per page when taking into account Canon's ink yield information and current cartridge pricing. Colour prints are 9p each. That isn't bad value for a cartridge printer. If you print a lot, it's easy to argue the case for a model with a more attractive price per page. However, if you look at our top-rated ink tank, the Epson ET-2830, it costs £65 more than this Canon model, and doesn't have useful features such as the screen and double-sided printing, which are usually reserved for pricier options in Epson's tank range. In raw printing terms, though, you'd need to have printed 1,413 mono prints on the Canon at 4.6p each before the more affordable ink of the Epson printer starts making a financial difference. Technical specifications Below, you'll find the tech specs of the Canon Pixma TS8750 compared with our overall best printer, the Epson EcoTank ET-2850. Both have similar basic specifications, but the cartridge-based Canon printer is more affordable to buy, while the Epson ink tank printer is significantly cheaper to run. Should you buy the Canon Pixma TS8750? There's a lot to love about the Canon Pixma TS8750. The quality of the prints and the ease of use, particularly during setup, are extraordinary given the low cost of entry. It's a scanner and copier as well as a printer, has an easy-to-operate screen and includes sophisticated features you don't find on many similarly-priced models, such as the option of automatically printing on both sides of a sheet of paper. There are some caveats, particularly if you're likely to print a lot. Ink tank printers can churn out pages for a much lower cost, and you would still be using the ink that came supplied with a tank printer, such as the Epson EcoTank ET-2830, after you've changed the cartridges on the TS8750 several times over. Still, for those with a modest printing requirement, particularly those who also like good quality prints without spending too much money up front, this printer is ideal. Yes, if: You want high-quality prints You need to print both documents and photos Copying and scanning functions are important No, if: Canon Pixma TS8750 FAQs How good is the photo print quality from the Canon Pixma TS8750? In my tests, I found the photo prints to be exceptional. The six-ink system lifts the quality of the colour above and beyond the quality you get from a traditional four-ink system. Subtle colours were reproduced well, and shadier areas contained lots of detail. How much ink does the Canon Pixma TS8750 use? The five dye-based cartridges (magenta, cyan, yellow, black and grey) come in 8.2ml capacities and cost £14.99 per cartridge. Together, they print on average around 500 colour A4 pages or 208 4x6 inch photos. The black pigment ink cartridge is used for printing monochrome text documents and produces 400 pages from an 18.5ml cartridge, which Canon sells for £18.49. Is the Canon Pixma TS8750 easy to set up and use with various devices? I found the Canon Pixma TS8730 extremely easy to set up. The printer itself can be set up independently of devices, using the screen to guide you through the process. If you use a computer or mobile device, elements such as your Wi-Fi password will be passed to the printer automatically. Setting it up with further devices is a simple matter of downloading the app and connecting to the same Wi-Fi network that the printer is on. What types of paper can the Canon Pixma TS8750 handle? The TS8730 can accept a broad range of paper types up to A4 in size. Plain paper should be between 64 105 grams per sq metre, while card and photo paper can go up to 300 grams per sq metre. The printer can print directly onto envelopes up to DL size (the ones that can take an A4 sheet, folded into three). Does the Canon Pixma TS8750 have multiple paper feeds? Yes. The front-loading cassette can hold up to 100 sheets of A4, while the rear feed can hold 20 sheets. How good are the scanning and copying functions on the Canon Pixma TS8750? In my tests, the scans were of good quality. It's capable of scanning at resolutions up to 2,400 x 4,800dpi in 16-bit colour. That should be plenty for most home purposes. Copying was quick and easy to perform using the large screen. I found that copies lost a little of the clarity of the original, but were good overall.
Telegraph
26-06-2025
- Telegraph
Epson EcoTank ET-2830 review: I tested an affordable printer with enormous ink capacity
This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. £249.99 Buy now Price at Amazon What is the Epson EcoTank ET-2830? The Epson EcoTank ET-2830 is a four-colour multifunction tank printer. That means that it has four large refillable containers, otherwise known as 'tanks', with one for each colour (cyan, magenta, yellow and black). They can also hold significantly more ink than a regular cartridge-based inkjet printer. The multifunction element is a flatbed scanner, which is built into the top of the unit. It gives the printer the ability to scan and copy documents and photos, as well as print them out. Ink is supplied in bottles rather than cartridges, and you have to pour it into the tanks yourself. Each bottle holds enough ink to print thousands of pages, and this model can print up to 12,000 in total, which is around three years' worth of printing. A word of warning, however. Tank printers like the EcoTank ET-2830 tend to be a bit more expensive to buy than regular inkjet printers, but you shouldn't let the initial outlay put you off, as they counter this with their affordable ink supplies. JUMP TO How we test The best way to test a printer is to set it up and start printing things on it. I followed the supplied installation instructions for the Epson EcoTank ET-2830, installing it on a Windows computer and noting any particular strengths and weaknesses as I went along. I look at the different connection options during this phase of testing, including wireless and wired modes, as these usually come into play during setup. Once installed, I printed a series of documents and photographs that I use across all the printers I test, so I can compare the results that each printer produces. These printing results are stored in a library of test prints, so I can compare and contrast them to other printers at a later date. As I worked, I tested the various features and functions that the Epson offers, with most of these relating directly to the tests I perform. Elements such as the design feed into my analysis of how easy the printer is to use and when my tests are completed, the product sample I received for review was returned to Epson. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our tech experts continuously conduct in-depth, independent, real-world tests, scoring devices against pre-set testing metrics and industry benchmarks, so we can deliver definitive and comprehensive buying advice. Telegraph Recommended reviews are never shared with product manufacturers before publication, we don't accept payment in exchange for positive reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Setup and ease of use Setting up the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 is incredibly straightforward. You can choose whether to install from a PC or a smartphone, depending on which device you're likely to print from the most. Both options work well, offering step-by-step guides within the software that carry you through the process. If you set up on one device, you can still use the printer with other laptops, tablets and smartphones. If you haven't done it before, the idea of pouring ink from a bottle into your printer might sound daunting. Don't panic. Epson has made this process as painless and mess-free as possible. The necks of the bottles are molded into a colour-specific shape, so it's impossible to get the wrong colour into the wrong tank. Of all the manufacturers of ink tank printers, Epson's refill system is the best. Connectivity Score: 7/10 The easiest way to connect to this printer is by Wi-Fi. During setup, the Wi-Fi password is automatically transferred from your laptop, PC, smartphone or tablet directly to the printer, so you don't need to enter it manually. Having the printer connected to your Wi-Fi network means that you can access it from anywhere, and all your family's devices can be set to print to it directly, as long as they're connected to the Wi-Fi network. If you would prefer not to connect the printer to the Wi-Fi network, you can instead opt for a USB connection instead, though you'll need to supply your own cable. This option limits the printer to producing documents from the device it's plugged into. Design and features Score: 6/10 The Epson EcoTank ET-2830 has a relatively compact and paired-back design. The footprint isn't that much larger than its A4 scanner bed on top, though there's a thin strip at the front that holds the control panel. This is a bank of buttons and lights, which let you perform functions such as mono and colour scans. The downside here is that there's no screen to offer menus of options or explain what's happening when things go wrong. The front extends out a bit more to catch the paper on its way out, and the ink tanks are located on the front right, which makes them easy to access for refilling, though remember you might not have to do this for several years. Paper input is basic. There's no concealed paper-in tray to hold a ream of paper, just a single rear feed that can take up to 100 sheets at a time. It also means there isn't enough room to house the mechanical gubbins needed to flip a sheet of paper and print on both sides automatically, but double-sided printing can be performed manually if you wish. You just need to make sure to stick close by the printer as it's doing its thing. Print quality Score: 8/10 The Epson EcoTank ET2830 isn't the best printer you'll ever use when it comes to any individual printing element. However, it's good enough at most things to make it a decent jack-of-all-trades printer, capable of handling whatever you throw at it. For example, I was perfectly happy with the way printed text looked when produced on cheap copier paper using the printer's standard settings. If you get a magnifying glass out and start examining the fine detail, then flaws start to appear, such as ragged edges on letters and a lack of detail on smaller fonts, but few people will inspect your printing in such detail. It's a similar case when printing in colour. The four colour system used here is never going to outclass the prints you get from a more sophisticated model with additional ink colours, but its photo prints were surprisingly subtle. Blocks of colour in our business graphics test were bright, bold and free from alignment problems. Ink costs Score: 10/10 When you eventually have to buy new ink for this printer, you'll find that it's vastly cheaper than cartridge-based systems. Replacement ink costs £9.49 per 65ml bottle. A bottle of black ink will print 4,500 mono pages (which works out to 0.2p per page), while a trio of coloured ink bottles will print 7,500 coloured pages (0.4p per page). That falls in line with the price per page of most four-colour ink tank printers. Although printing costs are low, the price of the printer is relatively high for what you get. You could certainly get all these functions and more from a more affordable printer, but it would have to be a cartridge model. In case you're wondering whether it's worth the upfront cost, I've calculated that you could print 1,413 mono prints at 4.6p each on my current Best Value printer, the £149.99 cartridge Canon Pixma TS8750, for the £65 difference between the price of the two printers. Technical specifications Below, I've compared the tech specs of the Epson EcoTank ET-2850 with my Best Value printer, the Canon Pixma TS8750. Both have similar basic specifications but the Epson tank printer is more expensive to buy while the regular inkjet produces pricier prints. Should you buy the Epson EcoTank ET-2830? The Epson EcoTank ET-2830 is a finely balanced printer. Although it doesn't have the luxurious features of some of its rivals, such as a flashy colour touch screen and lots of paper storage, it's a good value workhorse that comes with enough ink to keep you going for years. When it finally runs out, replacement bottles are extremely affordable. The downside is that some of those missing features might be sorely missed, such as the ability to print automatically on both sides of a sheet of paper. Yes, if: You like affordable ink You want a good all-round printer Copying and scanning functions are important No, if: Epson EcoTank ET-2830 FAQs How much ink comes with the Epson EcoTank ET-2830? The ET-2830 comes with enough ink to print 4,300 mono pages and 7,300 colour. Epson claims that, for an average user, that's around three years worth of ink. Is the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 easy to set up and refill the ink tanks? Yes. Epson has an easy to follow setup process, whether you choose to use it with a PC, laptop or mobile device such as a smartphone. The ink comes in bottles that don't let the ink out until they're correctly positioned over the tanks. You can't get the wrong bottle onto the wrong tank, either, with each colour having a unique moulded design on the neck, so they can only be connected to the appropriate tank. What is the print quality like for documents and photos on the ET-2830? The ET-2830 is a decent all-rounder that's good at printing both photographs and documents. The four colour system does a surprisingly good job of reproducing photos, with subtle shading and plenty of detail. When it comes to documents, both mono and colour prints came out well in our tests. Under close examination using a magnifying glass I noticed that the edges weren't as sharp as with other printers, when printing on plain paper with standard settings. However, you have to look closely to notice this. Does the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 have automatic double-sided printing? No, to print double-sided on the ET-2830 you have to collect the paper from the out tray and refeed it back into the tray at the rear, making sure to get it the right way up. How much ink does the Epson EcoTank ET-2830 use? When it comes to refilling the ET-2830, a complete set of four replacement ink bottles can print 4,500 mono pages and 7,500 colour pages. That's slightly more than the initial set of inks because some ink is consumed during the setup process. What are the main limitations of the Epson EcoTank ET-2830? Ink tank printers tend to be more expensive than regular inkjet printers, though they're much more affordable to run. The Epson EcoTank ET-2830 has a lower price than most ink tanks, but it doesn't have all the features that higher-end devices have. One key limitation is the lack of a screen, so you have to rely on buttons to control the printer and lights to get information when there are errors. Another is the printer's inability to perform automatic double-sided printing, which some people may want as it helps reduce the amount of paper used.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
6 Rude Things People Can't Stop Doing at the Grocery Store
This article may contain affiliate links that Yahoo and/or the publisher may receive a commission from if you buy a product or service through those links. The grocery store is my happy place. I know I know, but it's true. As soon as I push through the revolving door, there's a sense of calm that comes over me — like the door is a gateway from the chaotic outside world to the pleasant predictability that lives inside my grocery store. Things there are just how I like them: the temperature is spot-on, the music is playing at the perfect level, and I'm surrounded by glorious stacks of delicious food. It's a good spot for me and my mental health, at least most of the time. Recently I've noticed an influx of people seeking to destroy my happy place, doing things they obviously don't find disrespectful (or think twice about). I know many of them aren't doing it out of spite, but nonetheless, it's time we address the concerning behavior and hopefully squash it. The people who work in the produce section of my grocery store are amazing. They create the most beautiful displays and work constantly to ensure the shelves are stocked. It has to be rough watching customers aggressively grab, squeeze, shake and even peel it all with what feels like reckless abandon. I have witnessed several people peel off corn husks and leave them on the floor (ditto for onions and lettuce). Rather than piling things on the floor, take a few extra moments to pick out your produce. If you're looking for that perfect avocado and you think it's buried under all of the others, don't wreck the tower so that you can find it. On that note… I really dislike food waste, so when I see someone pick up a perishable item and then set it down in a totally different part of the store because they changed their mind, it bugs me. Just a few weeks ago I found a big package of meat someone must have ordered from the butcher counter just sitting in the refrigerated section by the cheese. Yes, it was at least refrigerated, but regardless, once that meat leaves the counter, it can't go back, so it's wasted. Let's not contribute to the food waste problem any longer. Stick with what you ordered and if it's produce or any other packaged food, put it back where you found it. This one might not annoy everyone, but it bothers me. The scenario goes like this: The cart offenders leave the cart, centrally placed in the aisle. They travel to the shelf and then stand in front of it to look closer. Meanwhile, everyone else in the aisle is left to wait for those shoppers to either make a decision or move their cart. We all need to move and get around so that we can go home and unpack our groceries. Please make that easier by moving your cart to a less-trafficked spot or wait until the aisle isn't so crowded to grab what you need. I get it, you need the 'tea' from Macey, but couldn't it wait until after you're done shopping? I can't imagine that you want to spend more than 15 to 20 minutes in the store and I bet the gossip is better when you can actually focus on what your friend is saying. If you need to have that call, do it somewhere in the corner away from everyone else (and definitely don't use speaker phone). Manners go a long way and having a conversation on a phone while — especially when someone is ringing up your groceries — is rude. Why not greet the person working in the aisles and talk to them instead? I've learned so much from the employees stocking the shelves and working the registers. You could too. I think it's fun that my grocery store also sells wine and beer that you can sip while shopping. But just like driving a car, you need to drink responsibly. It's not okay to attempt steering one-handed with a full beverage in your other hand. This makes your moves erratic and unpredictable, which can lead to accidents with fellow shoppers, workers, and even inanimate objects like end-cap displays. My advice? Take a sip every once in a while, choose to do it in a place where you won't be in the way. Oh yeah, and please take your glass back to where you got it. You're done shopping! Yay! The next best move is to leave your cart in a random spot in the parking lot or push it close to the cart corral, but definitely not in it! All kidding aside, I bet you have a few extra minutes to put your cart away. Or, if you need assistance it's perfectly OK to ask a fellow shopper or store employee for help. Everyone wins when you're a team player! Got any grocery shopping dos and don'ts to share? Tell us about it in the comments below. Sign up for The Weekly Checkout to get the most up-to-date grocery news, tips, and highlights. Subscribe to The Kitchn! Why People Are Ditching Their Seltzer After a Disturbing Study The One Cookware Brand That Gordon Ramsay Can't Stop Talking About Ball Just Dropped the Most Beautiful Mason Jars for Its 140th Anniversary ("So Iconic!") Sign up for The Kitchn's Daily newsletter to receive our best recipes, posts, and shopping tips in your inbox.
Times
13-06-2025
- Times
9 of the best sleeper trains in Europe
There's something special about a sleeper train — it can actually make the prospect of getting from A to B an appealing part of the trip. It comes with a romance that you won't find attached to overnight flights or coach journeys, rocking you to the rhythm of wheels on steel while you watch the sun drop outside the window. You'll avoid a stiff neck from trying to sleep upright — a sleeper train offers a bed that's properly, 180-degree flat — and there's ample chance to go for a wander without worrying about seatbelt signs or narrow aisles. What's more, the boarding experience is more relaxed than the cattle-herding so familiar to those using airports, and often you'll alight at your desired final destination rather than at an airport an hour away. As you head to the dining car, or have a picnic in your cabin, read in your bunk or chat with a fellow passenger, you'll know too that you've chosen a greener way to go. Whether you're travelling on a budget or with the purse strings fully undone, sleeper services across Europe offer a range of options, from the pampering to the functional. Most services include compartments with cabins for two to four people and dormitory-style couchettes (seats that convert into sleeping berths) for six, as well as economy seat carriages. Here are the continent's best sleeper trains. This article contains affiliate links, which may earn us revenue Newest to the tracks — and sprinkling some serious stardust along the way — is the Britannic Explorer, run by luxury heritage rail operator Belmond. The train, which has two dining cars, a wellness suite and an observation car with art deco-styled bar, offers comfort of the highest order. There are five journeys to choose between, each departing from London Victoria: three-night trips to Cornwall, the Lake District or Wales, or six-night trips featuring Wales and either Cornwall or the Lake District. As well as enjoying some of the country's choicest inland and coastal scenery, you'll make stops for several off-train excursions along the way, from art galleries in Cornwall and hikes in Wales to a meal in the two-Michelin-star Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in the Cotswolds. There are 18 classy suites, top-quality food and impeccable service. And, as you'd expect, whichever trip you choose, it will cost you a pretty penny. • Best places to visit in the Lake District• Best things to do in Wales The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is the grand dame of sleeper trains. After being featured in Agatha Christie's best-known novel, it's become the byword for yesteryear elegance and is one of the few surviving chariots of the golden age of travel. The interior has wood panelling and lush drapes, antique lamps and art deco mirrors, and a pianist in Bar Car 3764. Twin sleeper cabins have banquettes that are converted to beds after dark, while cabin suites have a pair of loungers. Splash out on one of the six grand suites for marble en suites, butler service and as much champagne as you can glug. The Eurostar will take you from London St Pancras to Paris where you'll join the Orient Express for the overnight leg to Venice. The following day, enjoy a lavish three-course lunch created by chef Jean Imbert, as well as afternoon tea, all served by liveried stewards. • Best affordable hotels in Venice• Best things to do in Venice The Caledonian Sleeper is not only a civilised way to travel between London Euston and Scotland but — if the moon is high — one that promises sweeping views of stately castles and remote Highland wilderness as night falls. There are several routes: the Lowland Sleeper service travels to Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Highland Sleeper to Aberdeen, Inverness and Fort William. Accommodation options include the en suite Caledonian Double (with double bed; breakfast included), the en suite Club room (twin bunks; breakfast included), the Classic room (twin bunks and shared bathroom) and a seated coach. There are accessible double and twin rooms. Classic and contemporary dishes with a focus on Scottish fare are served in the Club Car, and when morning comes the menu features everything from porridge to a cooked full Scottish breakfast. Room service is available, cabins come with complimentary sleep kits and there's wi-fi throughout — these are new trains that provide proper 21st-century comforts. • Most luxurious hotels in London• Best hotels in the Scottish Highlands This option presents the chance to ride a train and a boat at the same time. The night train to Sicily departs Milan in northern Italy in the evening, heading south through the hours of darkness. Eat a small breakfast of coffee and a sweet and savoury snack in your cabin while admiring the coastal views around the toe of Italy's boot, before the train is divided into sections of four carriages and shunted on to a special ferry that takes you across the Straits of Messina to Sicily; you'll reach Palermo late that afternoon. Choose from four-berth compartments with couchettes (which can be converted to seats during the day) or one, two or three-bed compartments (with basins) in the sleeping car. The journey takes the best part of 20 hours; there's a trolley service with snacks and drinks, but no bar or restaurant car, so take provisions and fill up at the ferry café if you're running low. • Best hotels in Milan• Best hotels in Sicily Linking London Paddington and the West Country, the Night Riviera Sleeper runs back and forth between the bright lights of the capital and the beaches, fishing villages and wild corners of Cornwall. Services leave London shortly before midnight, taking a little over eight hours to reach the end stop at Penzance, where you can stroll across to the tidal island of St Michael's Mount. Trains the other way leave earlier in the evening and get into Paddington at around 5am, but cabin guests can remain on board until 6.45am, so you needn't rise with the lark. The train has a slick lounge area complete with art deco-style bar where you can stock up on snacks and drinks. Cabins have washbasins and are available in singles and twins; bookings include breakfast and access to first-class lounges (with showers) at Paddington, Truro and Penzance. Pets are welcome on board. • Best places to visit in Cornwall• Best hotels in Cornwall This route links two of Europe's grandest, most romantic cities. Taking just under 15 hours, the train leaves Vienna in the early evening and reaches Rome at the civilised hour of 10.05am, giving you the whole day to explore the sights. Book a sleeper compartment (single, double or triple) — either standard or Comfortline (the former with basin and the latter fully en suite); or there are four and six-berth couchettes (shared bathroom), including a female-only option, and seating carriages. You'll be served either a Viennese breakfast of a roll with ham, or choices from a more substantial à la carte menu if you're travelling in a sleeping car. There's a bistro too, where you can buy snacks. • Best affordable hotels in Vienna• Best Airbnbs in Rome Although built just 40 years ago, the Royal Scotsman is already a legendary train, with lacquered wood and plush fabrics that evoke an earlier, golden age of travel. Today, it whisks you from Edinburgh into the romantic wildness of the Scottish Highlands, with a series of experience-led itineraries ranging across two-night trips focused on food, four-night journeys into the world of malt whisky, and week-long extravaganzas taking you on a looping tour right around the Highlands. Choose an ensuite twin cabin, or properly splash out on a Grand Suite, complete with personal butler service and a complimentary treatment at the onboard spa. The two mahogany-panelled dining cars offer haute cuisine that focuses on fresh Scottish produce, together with a selection of more than 50 whiskies. Prepare yourself for ancient castles, rugged landscapes and a dram or two of Scotland's finest. • Best affordable hotels in Edinburgh• Best restaurants in Edinburgh This is a double-decker train that charts a 12-hour northward course from the capital of Finland up to the heart of Finnish Lapland. The night journey takes you above the Arctic Circle, offering a chance to see the midnight sun or the northern lights (depending on when you travel) as well as meet Father Christmas at his village in Rovaniemi, where most passengers alight. There are cabins that sleep up to two and three passengers, and pairs of '2+2' connected cabins downstairs for groups of four. All cabins have bunk beds; those on the upper deck have en suite bathrooms. Cabins on the lower deck share facilities, but can be a better bet for families due to the adjoining rooms. Accessible and pet-frieldy cabins are available. The cheapest ticket is simply a seat only and there's a restaurant carriage that sells snacks and drinks. • Best northern lights igloos• Best northern lights tours Take an 11-day journey gliding through nine countries to tick off some of the world's most historic cities, including Ljubljana, Sarajevo, Belgrade, Skopje and Sofia. Most nights are spent aboard your hotel on wheels: the Golden Eagle Danube Express, which is firmly in the five-star category. Choose between deluxe (twin beds) and superior deluxe sleeper cabins (king-size doubles), each with wood-panelled rooms for relaxing during the day that are converted to bedrooms come night time. The restaurant serves up fine dining and you can enjoy a digestif in the bar lounge car, where a pianist plays in the evening. This is an inspiring, high-end trip with a price-tag to match. • Best affordable hotels in Istanbul• Read our full guide to Istanbul
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask review: I now use this genuine blackout sleep aid every night
This article contains affiliate links. The products or services listed have been selected independently by journalists after hands-on testing or sourcing expert opinions. We may earn a commission when you click a link, buy a product or subscribe to a service. What is the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask? If you've been thinking about adding one of the best sleep masks to your bedtime routine, you'll probably have stumbled across the Drowsy Sleep Mask when scrolling through social media or online. It's plush, padded and fully adjustable, comes in 18 elegant colours and at £69, it's one of the top luxury options currently available. Silk pillowcases and sleep masks are lauded for their skin and hair benefits as the gentle fabric is said to leave hair less frizzy. Drowsy goes further by claiming its face masks enhance skin, target fine lines, wrinkles and dark circles, and benefit your sleep, of course. So, does it live up to its buzzy reputation? And is its '100 per cent blackout design' something you can rely on night and day, and on your travels? Here's everything you need to know about Drowsy's bestselling design – and why, of the 12 sleep masks I tested, this one got a perfect score. JUMP TO: How we test sleep masks To identify the best sleep masks, I assessed not only how comfortable and secure each one was, but also how soft and breathable the different fabrics felt against my skin. I've tried everything from satin to silk, cotton and velvet, filled with everything from memory foam to polyester. I've also tried massaging options like the Therabody Sleep Mask, ones with headphones and ones with contouring. In each case I considered whether or not I was happy to wear it for eight hours a night, and judged whether the mask positively or negatively impacted the quality of my sleep. I also wore each mask out in broad daylight to test their blackout credentials, an important factor for those hoping to nod off during the day or on a train or plane, as well as with a dim night light on and in complete darkness. This helped me ascertain just how much light could really seep in. After all that, and out of all the sleep masks that I tried, this is the one that I continue to use night after night. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best sleep product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. Fabric Score: 10/10 Silk is fast becoming the sleep fabric of choice for beauty fans with its promise of fewer fine lines and smoother hair. The fact that it won't absorb your expensive skincare like cotton would is a big plus, too, and a growing number of brands are developing silk sleep masks as a result. While Drowsy has done clinical research into its mask's skin-enhancing properties, only 30 people took part, so it's worth approaching with some scepticism. But it's made with mulberry silk which is some of the highest quality available and is known for its softness, strength and hypoallergenic qualities. I certainly found it buttery and breathable against my skin when I wore it at night. The sign of this sleep mask's quality is its momme (the unit of measurement for the fabric's weight and density) with a higher number indicating silk that's heavier and more premium. At 22 momme, the Drowsy Sleep Mask has one of the highest ratings on the market. Finally, despite silk's somewhat high-maintenance reputation, I found it easy to clean; I hand and machine washed it, and both methods left it looking and feeling just like when I first took it out of the box. Design Score: 9/10 Even though this mask doesn't have raised eye pads (Drowsy sells another, more expensive version that does), my eyes felt cushioned throughout testing. In fact, my entire head did. Its cloud-like padding and nose cut out provided a great fit. And it doesn't hurt that it's also one of the more attractive designs that I tried. I picked the Lavender Haze colourway but there is a wonderful array of shades to choose from, including bolder hues like Royal Blue and the dusky Damask Rose. Neutrals are available too, making it easy for everyone to co-ordinate their mask to the rest of their sleep set up. It's also worth mentioning its rather iconic Breakfast at Tiffany's -inspired design, which can elevate things further (for an added £10) with a gold trim and embroidered eyelashes, making it a thoughtful gift idea for fans of the classic movie. Or if you want something lavish, consider the Swarovski encrusted style for £129. Whichever one you pick, however, each sleep mask comes in a well constructed storage box to keep it pristine when not in use. Fastening Score: 9/10 Most sleep masks are one size fits all, so the fastening can make or break how well it fits and how comfortable it is. Thankfully, Drowsy's Velcro wrap means you can tailor the mask to your exact needs for a snug but cosy fit, which is exactly what I was looking for. Because I was completely in control of how tight or loose it was, it didn't dig into my head or face throughout the course of the night, or leave me with any marks or creases in the morning. This meant it didn't impact my sleep in the slightest either. The Velcro itself is good quality, and as part of my testing I opened and closed it repeatedly to ensure that it didn't catch or lose any of its fastening power. It dependably and easily secured in place every time that I wrapped it around my head before bed. Blackout properties Score: 10/10 One of the most important attributes of a good sleep mask is how well it blocks out light, and this one comes with the bold claim that it's 100 per cent blackout. I was happy to discover that it completely blocked out any and all light. I did my best to move my eyes around in every direction to see if any slight glimmers would seep in, but thankfully none did. It's down to the close yet cosy fit achieved by the adjustable strap and the cut out around the nose, which lets the mask nestle completely against your cheeks and block out any light from seeping through. Meeting this criteria is a lot rarer than you might think; quite a few of the biggest sleep mask brands failed to fully keep light out. So, if you're looking for a sleep mask to take on your travels or block out the summer sun early in the morning, this is the kind of design you need. Performance Score: 10/10 Until I started using the Drowsy Sleep Mask with its excellent blackout qualities I assumed my bedroom was dark. But it made me realise how many minor light sources distracted me when I rolled over on my mattress or briefly woke up during the night. Wearing the sleep mask also stopped me from checking my phone and the time every few hours, which can only be a good thing and was a habit I was hoping to break at some point. Its positive impact was reinforced by my Fitbit sleep trackers, which showed that when I wore the mask I experienced less disturbance to my slumber overall. The soft, padded and slightly hefty feel added a relaxing weight to my eyes, enveloping my head so pleasantly that after the first night, I didn't notice that I was wearing it. I couldn't feel the strap against my face, even when pressed into my pillow. While other, less well-fitting sleep masks would slip around on my head, either because of a loose elastic strap or slippy material, but neither issue arose with the Drowsy Sleep Mask. Instead it helped me to enjoy a less interrupted sleep than I was used to without it. It's why this is the mask that I kept aside and have continued to use since my testing ended. Technical specifications There are lots of silk sleep masks to choose from, with some priced at less than £20 or incorporating additional features like contoured eye pads. One of Drowsy's biggest competitors is SilkAddict, which also made my list of the best sleep masks. Even though they look somewhat similar, how do the two compare? Should you buy the Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask? The Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask is a significant investment, but a good night's sleep is hard to put a price on, and this is one of those instances where you truly get the quality you pay for. Yes, if: You want a fully blackout design You're on the lookout for a luxe silk sleep mask You want a choice of timeless colours No, if: Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask FAQs Is it okay to wear a sleep mask every night? 'Wearing a sleep mask every night is generally safe and can actually be beneficial,' says Dr Nora Jaafar, Cosmetic and Medical Dermatology Doctor at Rejuvenation Clinic. 'It blocks out ambient light, which can help regulate your body's melatonin production and support deeper, more restful sleep.' And silk sleep masks in particular 'can also help reduce friction around the delicate eye area, which may minimise the risk of fine lines, puffiness or creasing. Unlike cotton, silk doesn't absorb skincare products either, so your expensive eye creams stay where they're meant to – on your skin,' she continues. Why is my vision blurry after wearing a sleep mask? 'Blurry vision after using a sleep mask is usually temporary and can happen if the mask is too tight and applies pressure to the eyes or the surrounding tissue,' says Dr. Anna Andrienko, Board-Certified Dermatologist at Dr. Ducu Clinics. 'This pressure can slightly distort the shape of the cornea or temporarily restrict tear film distribution, both of which affect clarity.' This might mean your sleep mask is too tight or perhaps the material is too weighty. 'Switching to a lighter, looser-fitting silk or cotton mask and ensuring it doesn't press directly on the eyes,' could help with this issue, Dr. Nora advises. But if the blurriness persists or is accompanied by any pain, it's best to stop using the mask immediately and speak to an eye care professional or ophthalmologist. How do I wash a Drowsy Sleep Mask? The Drowsy Silk Sleep Mask can be washed by hand or popped in the washing machine, depending on your preference. In either case, wash it cold or below 30°C. And in the machine, if you have a delicates wash bag, this can also help to keep it looking its best for longer.
