Gear up with the Latest Gadgets

Written by | Lifestyle

Gadgets you need to keep in touch, ways to keep everything safe and well-charged, and an app that tells you where to look for the next big party.

Photo courtesy of Tylt.

Photo courtesy of Tylt.

Want to make the most of the parades, events and parties this Pride season? You’re going to need some special gear to keep connected and on the go, and we’ve got all the tech you’ll need to power through your summer.

IF YOU WANT… to bring all your favorite gadgets.
YOU NEED… the Tylt Energi+ Backpack (pictured above), which goes way beyond anything you ever slung over your shoulder in school. It’s designed to seamlessly thread cables from a battery pack to 13 padded pockets that cradle your gear — including a rigid padded compartment for phones and sunglasses and sleeves for tablets and laptops. If you’re flying, the Energi+ helps you breeze through TSA checkpoints by opening flat to easily slide through X-ray screeners. Plus, it’s designed to connect easily to rolling luggage when you need to take a load off. ($149.99, tylt.com)

Photo courtesy of Samsung

Photo courtesy of Samsung

IF YOU WANT… to not be stuck staring down at your phone while the parade passes by.
YOU NEED… the Samsung Gear S2 (pictured), which gives smart-watch wearers Dick Tracy–style connectivity: it makes calls and gets notifications even without being tethered to a phone. The Gear S2 Classic has the look of a sleek, traditional watch and lets you navigate apps and notifications by swiping across its face or turning its bezel. Adjustable vibration helps when you can’t hear over the surrounding din. (starts at $299.99, samsung.com)

Photo courtesy of myCharge.

Photo courtesy of myCharge.

YOU WANT… to never leave you or your friends out of juice.
YOU NEED… the myCharge Hub Ultra (pictured), which offers stellar power capacity — equivalent to about 90 hours of power or enough to charge an iPhone 6S six times. Its built-in charging cables — of both the lightning (Apple) and the micro USB (everything else) varieties — mean you’ll never have to fumble around for the right cord. Plus its charging cradle fills up the battery about 50% faster than most chargers and offers a USB port to deliver power to a third device while charging the battery. ($149.99, mycharge.com)

nearify

YOU WANT… to be in the know on the go.
YOU NEED… Nearify, an app (available for iOS and Android) that helps you discover nearby activities based on your current location, and can even learn organically which events will appeal based on your preferences and the parties you’ve previously attended. Meetups, movies, concerts and venue suggestions are all on the menu, so you can instantly get the lay of the social landscape even if it’s your first time through town. It’s perfect for finding out where to take the party when the official events are over. (free, nearify.com)

Last modified: July 5, 2018