I bought the Rachel Allen RA-HM1 300 W Hand Mixer having compared it with other products at Amazon and on the internet.
The deciding points for my choice were that it had 5 speed settings, beaters and additional dough hooks and a turbo button. The stainless steel beaters/dough hooks would make it possible for them to go in the dishwasher giving them a good clean and not ever starting to rust. Also, it is a good price.
Although this mixer does what it should, I would say the following: Whilst other makes/models might start off at setting one like a family car and collect speed with the increased speed settings this one seems to go off like a sports car on a turbo, far too fast for a first setting. With my past mixer I used this setting to fold whipped cream into cheese masses, or whipped egg white into cake doughs to make a French buiscuit base/cake. On this mixer this is not possible as it whips out all the air being too fast. Also, it is quite noisy to use.
Aesthetically the form is a little too square - although it is easy to hold. The matt plastic casing makes it look a little tatty rather than racy.
Would I buy it again? Most likely no as I find it too noisy for the amount of times I use it and the fact that it lets itself down on the lower speed settings. As an accomplished baker/cook I definitely need those. However,for occasional use and mixing for straight forward doughs/cakes/desserts this will be alright.
