Summer Gadgets Worth Stocking Up for the Warmer Months

Jennifer Jolly
| Special to USA TODAY

I usually test about 30 products to find the handful that make it into one of my live segments on the Today Show.

Some of the best ones I’ve shown over the years have come from recommendations from friends, phone calls from gadget makers, and media product offers. But I usually search the world for truly hidden gems that solve everyday problems.

Each product also has to meet the show’s requirements: everything has to be $100 or less, we can’t have anything that’s been on the show before, and it has to live up to expectations or risk losing the hard-earned trust of millions of viewers. No pressure, right?

With all that in mind, check out my latest picks for summer, on the Today Show and for you.

The best gadgets for the beach, the trail or your own backyard

There are a million portable power banks on the market, but I don’t leave home without the small but mighty Nimble CHAMP ($59.95). It’s smaller than a deck of cards, but holds up to three days of power (10,000 mAh) and can charge two devices simultaneously. It’s also made from 90% recycled plastic, so you can feel good about using it. It comes in five colors and works with iPhone, iPad, Android devices, headphones, wearables, and Bluetooth speakers – all the stuff!

Speaking of small but mighty, the new LG XBOOM Go this is a huge deal – and secondly, I might accidentally (on purpose) drop it in the pool while my family looks on in horror, not knowing it’s IP67 waterproof. It also packs powerful sound into this palm-sized speaker, perfect for summer adventures of all shapes and sizes. Plus, you can use the Boost EQ for chest-shaking bass, and the small built-in drawstring makes it super easy to attach it to your handlebar, backpack, or even the side of your tent.

TIKI’s Bitefighter Outdoor LED Lights ($129) are another must-have for your patio or yard, especially if you’re like me and mosquitoes find your blood a delicacy. The lamps have bright, year-round LEDs and small containers containing insect repellent liquid. As the liquid disperses, it acts as an invisible shield against mosquitoes. I hate spraying myself with insect repellent, so these lights are an absolute revolution.

If the daytime temperatures get a little too high, I’ll reach for the Torras COOLify 3 Cyber ($279) – a true, portable personal air conditioner – and relax…literally. At first I was a little worried that this around-the-neck gadget just looked too silly, but I realized that sweating crutches while gardening was even more absurd. Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s worth every penny if you’re suffocating in the heat (and having hot flashes at the same time)!

Hey, 1982 called and wants his paper luggage tag back. The Knog Scout Travel Tag ($59.95) is the next generation luggage tag, tracker and alarm. You can pair it with the Knog app, add your contact information, and then add it to the “Find My” app on your iPhone the same way you do with AirTag. This allows you to “see” or locate it on the map. If something goes missing, you can turn the entire Apple Global device ecosystem into your own personal search party. This is also a luggage tag. If someone finds it, they will scan the QR code on the back to get your digital contact information.

But wait, that’s not all! This key-sized keychain also comes with an 85-dB motion-detection alarm that you can arm using the app or the button on your device. You can set it to be super-sensitive, so if you put your backpack down and someone tries to steal it, the alarm will go off on the keychain and on your phone. It’s also rechargeable and lasts about two months if you arm it daily. The app sends you a notification when the battery is low.

Think out loud? Why did everyone suddenly stop using headphones in public?

For cold snacks on hot days

It’s safe to say that the kitchen has always been one of the most technologically advanced rooms in my home, and in 2024, that hasn’t changed. No, I don’t have a fridge that automatically reminds me when I’m out of milk, but I do have an ice cream scoop that warms itself. That’s right, you heard me.

Now, I’m not the type of person to look down on you if you’re still using the old “hold a metal spoon under hot water for a minute” technique, but I will say that the ScoopTHAT! Radii Heated Ice Cream Scoop ($29.95) is pure magic. It’s one of those gadgets that you don’t know you need until you use it, then you’ll never look back. The liquid inside the handle of the thermal core transfers body heat to the head of the scoop and it slides through the frozen ice cream like butter. It’s amazing and creates perfectly round scoops every time. Its only drawback is that it’s not dishwasher safe.

If I really want to wow my summer guests, I’ll dump perfectly scooped ice cream into a Cruz BlenderCap ($149), add some oat milk and fresh berries, cap the blender, and swirl something that looks like it came from an ice cream shop.

The high-tech mixing cap screws onto most wide-mouth bottles, such as HydroFlask or Stanley, and even small peanut butter jars. The set also includes a vacuum-insulated bottle that keeps your drink cold for 24 hours.

Load the ingredients, screw on the cap, turn everything upside down, and the ultra-powerful blender will work its magic anywhere, anytime. The entire device is rechargeable and has about a week of power, depending on how often you use it.

At 1.5 pounds, the blender attachment is a bit heavy to stash in a purse or backpack, but I currently travel with one and it’s great. Plus, it’s a small investment, but it’s easy enough to use that I can easily justify it, especially when you compare the price to other high-end blending gadgets.

Even my dog is getting in on the summer gadget action this year with the Petlibro Capsule Dog Water Fountain ($59.99). It’s a great solution for pet owners who want convenience without the mess! The Capsule holds 2.1 gallons of water. It’s whisper-quiet, sleek, modern-looking, and designed to keep water from splashing on your floor. It also has an always-on, five-layer filtration system that removes hair, heavy metals, unpleasant odors, and even helps stop bacteria from growing, so water never turns “yuck, I wouldn’t drink that” gross. It does need to be plugged in, but it stays charged for 16 hours if the power ever goes out.

Even more fun in the sun:

The HOVER Air x1 ($349) is the simplest and easiest-to-use personal photo and video drone I’ve ever reviewed. It has built-in stabilization features and crash prevention algorithms that allow it to fly, following you and recording your every step. The cool factor increases the more you play with it. While cruising, it can target a specific object or look for gestures that allow it to be controlled with simple arm movements. The camera records incredibly sharp HD videos and can stay in the air for up to 10 minutes.

The Chill-N-Reel Fishing Can Cooler ($15) is a Shark Tank favorite “fun find.” It’s a beverage koozie that keeps a can of soda or beer at the perfect temperature while you fish with its integrated hand reel. That means you can sip and fish with the same tool at the same time. #Funded

PoolCandy has already created some of the best pool gadgets and toys this summer, but boy, have they upped the ante this year with the Motorized Tube Runner Pool Float Collection ($149). These are the world’s first motorized Flamingo and Unicorn pool floats and they are fantastic.

Each float comes with a joystick controller that sits at the front of the tube. Just press a button and a small fan-shaped propeller moves you through the water, moves in any direction – you can spin it 360 degrees – and even lets you play with toy cars if you have more than one.

The propellers run on D batteries, so you don’t go fast, but they’re great for cruising around the pool or lake. Each pontoon supports up to 250 pounds.

Jennifer Jolly is an Emmy Award-winning consumer technology columnist and radio correspondent. The views and opinions expressed in this column are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected]