Hmmm this one I feel is probably still a work in progress. First impression was "ooh, nought to Darth Vader in 5 seconds flat" and it was pretty difficult to get beyond that.

So, first up, the vanity issue - as a woman who neither resembles Elle Macpherson's grace nor Paula Radcliffe's stamina, you can feel pretty self conscious when you go running.  When you add to that feeling of self awareness the blatant staring of passersby, it becomes a tad unnerving.  At its worst, it becomes a health and safety issue - I was running in Green Park and a woman was so transfixed by staring at me like I was Osama Bin Laden or Josef Fritzl that she didn't move out of my way and I had to leap sideways to avoid crashing into her.

Then the practical/coordination issue hit me.  I like to drink a lot of water while I run.  Problem is, I had this device stuck in my chops.  So, I had to coordinate running with my legs, removing the Purebreathe with one hand, inserting water bottle with the other, then swapping back... well, if you've read any of my other reviews, you will have a fairly comical picture in your head about now.  I struggled.  My idea of a running aid, this was not.

Anyway, I think the theory behind it is brilliant, so I persevered and tried it out in places where there were less people. After all, it is designed to combat both pollution and allergies like hay fever.  I am an asthmatic and hay fever sufferer, and was off to New Zealand for a break over new year so figured I would give it a go in some of that lush countryside.  There I hit less of the vanity problem and one that is far more practical.

The Purebreathe is designed to be super-lightweight so that you hardly notice you're carrying it with your lips. If you are trying to run in strong winds, and heaven forbid they are cross winds, it is very hard to hold onto with the force of lips alone.... whilst you are also trying to continue running.

The upshot?  I love the idea, but what they have presented me with won't work for me in its current format. Would I recommend others to give it a go?  Yes, actually, I would.  The vanity thing doesn't affect everybody, and there are a lot of places you can run that don't involve human traffic.  The shock factor of its visual appearance will probably fade as more people take it up and the sight becomes more common-place. Just be prepared to have to hit the brakes if people are gawping!

Available for £29.99 from www.purebreathe.com