The best gadgets to have this summer

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

Some of the best I’ve shown over the years come from recommendations from friends, cold calls from gadget-makers, and media product pitches. But usually, I scour the world over to find the truly hidden gems that solve everyday problems.

Each product must also meet the show's requirements: Everything has to be around $100 or less, we can’t have anything that’s been on the show before, and it has to live up to the hype or I 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, for the Today Show, and for you. 

Best gadgets for the beach, trail, or your own backyard

There are a million and one portable power banks out there, 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 (10,000mAh) and can charge two devices simultaneously. It’s also made from 90% recycled plastic, so you can feel good using it. It comes in five colors and works with an iPhone, iPad, Android devices, headphones, wearables, Bluetooth speakers — all the things!

Speaking of small but mighty, the new LG XBOOM Go XG 2T ($79.99) is my current wireless speaker of choice for a couple of reasons: First, it’s built to withstand high temperatures – and if you’ve seen weather reports lately, that’s a huge deal – and, secondly, I can accidentally (on purpose) drop it in the pool while my family looks on in horror, not knowing it’s IP67 water resistant. It also packs enormous sound into this palm-sized speaker, perfect for summer adventures of every shape and size. Plus, you can use the Boost EQ for ribcage-rattling bass, and the small built-in drawstring cord makes it super easy to attach to handlebars, a backpack, or even the side of your tent. 

TIKI’s Bitefighter outdoor LED string lights ($129) are another patio or backyard must-have, especially if you’re like me and mosquitos consider your blood a delicacy. The light strings have bright all-weather LED lights and little pods that hold bug-repellent liquid. As the liquid diffuses, it acts as an invisible shield against mosquitos. I hate spraying myself with bug stuff, so these are an absolute game-changer.

If daytime temperatures soar a little too high, I’ll grab the Torras COOLify 3 Cyber ($279) – a real, wearable personal air conditioner – and chill … literally. At first, I was a little worried that this neck-worn gadget was just too silly-looking, but I realized that sweating bullets while I’m doing yard work is even more ridiculous.  Yes, it’s expensive, but it’s worth every penny if you’re sweltering in the heat (and having hot flashes at the same time)!

Hey, 1982 called and wants its paper luggage tag back. The Knog Scout Travel tag ($59.95) is a next-generation bag tag, tracker, and alarm. You can pair it with the Knog app, add your contact details, and then add it to your iPhone’s “Find My” app the same way you do with an AirTag. That lets you “see” or locate it on a map. If something goes missing, you can turn the entire Apple Global device ecosystem into your own personal search party. It’s also a luggage tag too. If someone finds it, they scan the QR code on the back for your digital contact info. 

But wait, there’s more! This key-sized tag also comes with an 85dB motion-sensitive alarm that you can arm through the app or with a button on the device. You can set it to be super sensitive, so if you put your backpack down and someone tries to steal it, the alarm blares on the tag and on your phone. It's also rechargeable and lasts about two months if you arm it every day. The app sends you an alert when the battery gets low. 

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

For cold treats on hot days

It’s safe to say that the kitchen has always been one of the most tech-heavy rooms in my house, and that hasn’t changed in 2024. No, I don’t have a refrigerator that automatically reminds me when I’m out of milk, but I do have an ice cream scoop that heats up on its own. That’s right, you heard me. 

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

If I really want to wow my summer guests, I’ll toss that perfectly scooped ice cream into my Cruz BlenderCap ($149) bottle, add some oat milk and fresh berries, screw the blender on and spin up something that looks like it came from the ice cream shop. 

The high-tech blending cap screws onto most wide-mouth bottles like HydroFlask or Stanley or even small peanut-butter jars. It also comes with a vacuum-insulated bottle that can keep your drink cold for 24 hours. 

Load up your ingredients, twist the cap on, turn it all upside down, and the ultra-high-powered blender works its magic anywhere, anytime. The whole unit is rechargeable and holds about a week’s worth of battery power, depending on how much you use it. 

At 1.5 pounds, the blender cap is a little heavy to stash in your purse or backpack, but I’m currently traveling with one, and it’s been great. Also, it’s a bit of an investment, but it’s so easy to use that I can easily justify it, especially if 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). This is a considerable problem-solver for pet parents who want convenience without a mess! The Capsule holds 2.1 gallons of water. It’s whisper quiet, sleek, modern looking, and designed to keep water from splashing out on the floor. It also has an always-on five-layer filtration system that clears out fur, heavy metals, bad smells and even helps stop bacteria growth, so the water never gets “ew, I wouldn’t drink that” gross. You do have to plug it in, but it stays powered up for 16 hours should the power ever go out.

For even more fun in the sun:

The HOVER Air x1 ($349) is the most straightforward and easiest-to-use personal photo and video drone I’ve ever reviewed. It has built-in stability features and crash prevention algorithms that let it fly itself, following you around to capture every step. The coolness factor rises the more you play with it. While cruising, it can lock onto a specific subject or watch for gesture controls that let you command it with simple arm movements. The camera shoots ultra-sharp HD video and can stay airborne for up to 10 minutes.

The Chill-N-Reel fishing can cooler ($15) is a Shark Tank favorite “funny find.” It’s a drink koozie that keeps a soda or beer can at the perfect temperature while you fish using the integrated hand line reel. That means you can sip and fish using the same tool at the same time. #Funded. 

PoolCandy already made some of the best gadgets and pool toys of the summer, but boy, did they step up their game this year with the Motorized Tube Runner Pool Float Collection ($149). These are the world’s first motor-driven Flamingo and Unicorn pool floats, which are fantastic.

Each float comes with a joystick controller that nestles into the front of the tube. There’s a push-button thrust, and a little fan-like propeller zooms you through the water, drives in any direction – you can spin it around 360 – and even enables you to play bumper cars if you have more than one.

The propellers run off D batteries, so you’re not going fast by any stretch, but they’re great for cruising around a pool or lake. Each float holds up to 250 pounds. 

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