You'll always come across nifty little items that you simply must have. Oh, you probably have no use for them, but you have to have them. Well unlike that dust-gathering book embosser, that brass gimbaled globe of the earth made from shell, or the shale imprint of a trilobite you picked up who knows where, the items I've picked below are — by and large — gadgets and gizmos that actually serve a purpose. They're also really neat.
Water Safety
This was originally invented for boaters, and has evolved into a safety mechanism that anyone with a child who goes near water should have. The Autotether is a two-part unit: an unobtrusive sensor the child wears, and a 105-decibel alarm you mount on a wall. Sensor submerges, alarm howls. Range is from 100 to 150 feet, battery life 100 hours and then some. You'll need three AAA batteries for the sensor and six for the alarm. The good part? You can take it wherever you travel. MSRP $259 from Autotether, 888-593-4181; www.autotether.com.
Only You Can Open It
This may not fall into the "gotta'-have" category, but if you carry anything in your wallet that you need to ensure no one can get at, Dunhill's virtually indestructible Biometric Wallet will open only with a touch of your fingerprint. It can also be linked via Bluetooth to your mobile phone, sounding an alarm if the two are separated by more than 15 feet, providing a warning if pickpocketed or misplaced. Made from carbon fiber, it's said to resist all but the most concerted effort to open it. The interior features a leather credit card holder and a strong stainless steel money clip. It doesn't come cheap — MSRP is $825. From Dunhill, 212-753-9292; www.dunhill.com.
Fresh Air Incentive
With the childhood obesity problem getting worse and worse almost every day here in America, here's a nifty idea. Get a GeoPalz — a pedometer that keeps track of how far the kids have walked. The incentive? They can log on to their computer (later versions won't even need that step), log in their mileage and swap it for points, which in turn can be swapped for activity-based prizes and more (future plans call for the prizes to be redeemable locally). The incentive might just get that future carpal tunnel sufferer off the keyboard and out into the fresh air. MSRP is $19.99 from GeoPalz, www.geopalz.com.
No, You Really Don't Need a HeadCase...but You Will Want One
It's a rubberized hard cover for your iPhone. Big deal, you say? Well, the HeadCase comes with a stainless steel bottle opener on the back and a special app that logs in the number of bottles opened! It also has a can tab opener that opens letters, can play your favorite song or sound, or display a pic whenever you pop a top, plus it can record custom sounds and songs. A genuine conversation starter; available in pink or black. The iPhone 4 model MSRPs at $24.99, the 3G & 3GS at $19.99. The app is free. From Be a Head Case, 407-610-8103; www.beaheadcase.com.
Look! Up In the Sky, It's A...
Many of us look at birds and dream of moving through the earth's rivers of air, but few of us get a chance to do it. Well, if you've got $100 grand lying around, instead of investing it, buy a Jetlev. The Jetlev carries its propulsion engine and fuel on a separate vessel tethered behind the jetpack you wear and uses water sucked up by the engine as the propulsion medium — i.e., a waterjet you can fly at about 30 feet altitude! Flight time is around an hour at about 22 mph. Plans are to make the unit available at select vacation venues, but no word yet if that will include the East End. A US dealer is located in Dania Beach, Florida. Jetlev, e-mail: info@jetlev.com; www.jetlev.com.
Power Up
We don't like to bandy around the ubiquitous "e" word too much, but here's a power solution for your portable electronics that really is environmentally conscious. The PowerTrekk Fuel Cell won't be ready for the summer, but look for it in the fall — assuming this Swedish company can ink a deal with a US distributor. Using a fuel cell technology, the PowerTrekk converts hydrogen to electricity — instantly and for as long as you have a tablespoon of water and some air around. It emits water vapor as a byproduct. There's a bit more tech to it, but, essentially, that's it. MSRP is expected to be around $200. From MyFC, e-mail: sales@powertrekk.com; www.powertrekk.com.
Waiting On The Jitney?
Yes, we know it always comes on time, but sometimes you're early, and there's not always a place to sit. Enter the Walkin' Bag. Available in the usual carry-on suitcase size, this one has a surprise: an integral seat is part of the rolling luggage's frame. The seat will hold up to 300 pounds, and the extended handle is rigid and strong enough to really lean on. Made of ballistic nylon, in green, orange, black and red, wheels do a 360° swivel, the Walkin' Bag retails anywhere from $125-$170, depending on the model. From Swany America, 800-237-9269; www.walkinbag.com.
Smart Move
Here's another one that won't help you weekenders this year, but will probably come in handy next. Called Frogboxes, they provide an answer to a simple problem; moving. You order the recycled plastic boxes, they get delivered to your door, you pack and move, and they pick up the empties. No looking for used dust laden cardboard boxes where the bottom might fall out at any time, and it's environmentally friendly. Prices depend on the number of 2.4-cubic-foot boxes needed and the length of time you keep them, but 25 boxes with a dolly costs $79 for a week. And if you're really smart, you'll grab the local franchise for Frogboxes — the closest one to us is in Halifax, Nova Scotia! From Frogbox; www.frogbox.com.
Two Wheeler Transport
So you want to haul your megabuck road bike out east for the weekend, but throwing a $3500 bike in the luggage hold of the Jitney is giving you the willies, right? Check out the Biknd Helium travel case. It's the capo di tutti capi of bicycle transport bags, utilizing helium bladders to protect your carbon fiber investment. Whether in the hold of a bus, plane, or boat, if you want your twowheeler to get where you are in the same condition it was before it headed out, this is the case you need. The external case is 900-denier ballistic nylon and 1200-denier polyester Oxford, with solid thermoformed plastic ends, pumps, bladders, protective covers, etc. included. The ultimate in bike transport. MSRP is $599.95 from www.biknd.com.
