I scoured stores and websites for the best gadgets to help you shape up, eat well, and stay hydrated all summer long. Here’s to a safe, healthy summer!
Yonanas Frozen Treat Maker ($49.95 at yonanas.com or Bed Bath Beyond)
This clever machine turns frozen bananas and other nutrient-rich fruits into a soft serve dessert. The creamy product contains about 100 cals per ½ cup (similar stats to most light ice creams and frozen yogurts). It’s an all-natural treat and a great non-dairy frozen dessert option for people with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance.
Fire Wire Flexible Kebabs ($19.99 for set of 4 at qvc.com)
I love kebabs because you can load them up with veggies and lean proteins like chicken and shrimp on the grill…and the Fire Wires are a smarter, less messy version of traditional skewers. They’re made with flexible stainless steel wire, which makes it possible to marinate the kebabs in a round bowl or ziptop bag. Their bendable construction also enables you to efficiently use grill space, and they’re over-sized to accommodate large volumes of food to feed a crowd. Perfect for summer BBQs!
Cast Iron Garlic Roaster ($15.00 at Sur La Table)
I love roasted garlic for its rich flavor and health benefits. This tool enables you to easily make roasted garlic on the grill or in the oven. Simply slice off the top of a whole head of garlic and pop it into the roaster. Then spray the cut side with olive oil, season as desired, and roast for about an hour. Soft, sweet roasted garlic is a tasty addition to pasta dishes, turkey burgers, hummus, salad dressings, and marinades.
Adidas “ClimaCool Ride” Sneakers ($90.00 at adidas.com)
The perfect summer shoe for runners, these kicks are made with a specially ventilated fabric that helps keep your feet cooler and drier…and may even help prevent stinky feet! Lightweight and flexible, these sneakers come in more than 25 different vibrant color combos for men and women.
The North Face Stow-n-Go High Impact Sports Bra ($35.00 at thenorthface.com).
The North Face claims this bra was inspired by their customers who were tired of storing junk—everything from bagels to battery packs—in their undergarments. Their solution? This specially designed bra with an outer pocket in the front-center for storing keys, fuel, cash, credit cards, iPods…you name it!
SPIbelt ($16.95 and up at spibelt.com)
For those of you who weren’t digging the bra, here’s another convenient way to store your stuff while working out. The SPIbelt is a smaller, sleeker version of the frumpy fanny pack of the ‘90s. It’s available in adult and kid sizes in a variety of colors, and it stretches out to handle a lot of gear. Water-resistant versions are also available—great for the beach, pool, or water parks.
Rubbermaid “Filter Fresh” Water Bottle ($9.99 at rubbermaid.com)
With the hot summer months in full swing, it is essential to stay hydrated. This brand new bottle from Rubbermaid has a filter built into the cap to remove chlorine and other large sediment particles from tap water. Carry this BPA free-bottle with you to ensure you’ll have great tasting, refreshing water from almost any location, including dingy water fountains and sinks at parks and campsites.
Nike+ SportWatch GPS ($199 at nike.com)
This high-tech, full-featured gadget is geared towards serious runners who are willing to splurge. Utilizing GPS technology, the watch records distance, pace, elapsed time, elevation and calories burned during your run. Here's the cool part: After your workout, connect the watch directly to your computer’s USB port to upload your stats to nikeplus.com. You can even share your runs on Facebook and Twitter so friends can cheer you on!
Aquasana Shower Filtration System ($67.99 at aquasana.com)
Here’s another practical gadget to consider (especially if you’ve been relying on 3-a-day cold showers to beat the heat). The Aquasana system removes up to 91% of the chlorine and reduced synthetic chemicals in your shower water, in addition to enhancing pH balance. Using cleaner, fresher water that’s low in chlorine may help you achieve softer skin and hair.
Katadyn MyBottle Purifier ($49.95 at katadyn.com)
The MyBottle incorporates a highly advanced water filtration system that removes microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, and reduces chemicals. Unlike the Rubbermaid, this unit makes untreated water from natural sources like streams and lakes SAFE for consumption. It’s also the only EPA registered bottle purification system available. A smart investment for hikers, campers, and outdoorsmen!
Sherpani “Meta 4” Gym/Yoga Bag ($79.95 at sherpani.com)
This large, roomy duffle bag comes in fun color combos and provides ample space for all your workout gear. One of my favorite features: an interior “wet pocket” for damp, sweaty gym clothes, so they don’t mucky up your clean items. It’s definitely a splurge, but it could be a great gift option for the hardcore gym rats in your life.
Yonanas Frozen Treat Maker ($49.95 at yonanas.com or Bed Bath Beyond)
This clever machine turns frozen bananas and other nutrient-rich fruits into a soft serve dessert. The creamy product contains about 100 cals per ½ cup (similar stats to most light ice creams and frozen yogurts). It’s an all-natural treat and a great non-dairy frozen dessert option for people with dairy allergies or lactose intolerance.
Fire Wire Flexible Kebabs ($19.99 for set of 4 at qvc.com)I love kebabs because you can load them up with veggies and lean proteins like chicken and shrimp on the grill…and the Fire Wires are a smarter, less messy version of traditional skewers. They’re made with flexible stainless steel wire, which makes it possible to marinate the kebabs in a round bowl or ziptop bag. Their bendable construction also enables you to efficiently use grill space, and they’re over-sized to accommodate large volumes of food to feed a crowd. Perfect for summer BBQs!
Cast Iron Garlic Roaster ($15.00 at Sur La Table)
I love roasted garlic for its rich flavor and health benefits. This tool enables you to easily make roasted garlic on the grill or in the oven. Simply slice off the top of a whole head of garlic and pop it into the roaster. Then spray the cut side with olive oil, season as desired, and roast for about an hour. Soft, sweet roasted garlic is a tasty addition to pasta dishes, turkey burgers, hummus, salad dressings, and marinades.
Adidas “ClimaCool Ride” Sneakers ($90.00 at adidas.com)The perfect summer shoe for runners, these kicks are made with a specially ventilated fabric that helps keep your feet cooler and drier…and may even help prevent stinky feet! Lightweight and flexible, these sneakers come in more than 25 different vibrant color combos for men and women.
The North Face Stow-n-Go High Impact Sports Bra ($35.00 at thenorthface.com).
The North Face claims this bra was inspired by their customers who were tired of storing junk—everything from bagels to battery packs—in their undergarments. Their solution? This specially designed bra with an outer pocket in the front-center for storing keys, fuel, cash, credit cards, iPods…you name it!
SPIbelt ($16.95 and up at spibelt.com)For those of you who weren’t digging the bra, here’s another convenient way to store your stuff while working out. The SPIbelt is a smaller, sleeker version of the frumpy fanny pack of the ‘90s. It’s available in adult and kid sizes in a variety of colors, and it stretches out to handle a lot of gear. Water-resistant versions are also available—great for the beach, pool, or water parks.
Rubbermaid “Filter Fresh” Water Bottle ($9.99 at rubbermaid.com)
With the hot summer months in full swing, it is essential to stay hydrated. This brand new bottle from Rubbermaid has a filter built into the cap to remove chlorine and other large sediment particles from tap water. Carry this BPA free-bottle with you to ensure you’ll have great tasting, refreshing water from almost any location, including dingy water fountains and sinks at parks and campsites.
Nike+ SportWatch GPS ($199 at nike.com)
This high-tech, full-featured gadget is geared towards serious runners who are willing to splurge. Utilizing GPS technology, the watch records distance, pace, elapsed time, elevation and calories burned during your run. Here's the cool part: After your workout, connect the watch directly to your computer’s USB port to upload your stats to nikeplus.com. You can even share your runs on Facebook and Twitter so friends can cheer you on!
Aquasana Shower Filtration System ($67.99 at aquasana.com)
Here’s another practical gadget to consider (especially if you’ve been relying on 3-a-day cold showers to beat the heat). The Aquasana system removes up to 91% of the chlorine and reduced synthetic chemicals in your shower water, in addition to enhancing pH balance. Using cleaner, fresher water that’s low in chlorine may help you achieve softer skin and hair.
Katadyn MyBottle Purifier ($49.95 at katadyn.com)The MyBottle incorporates a highly advanced water filtration system that removes microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses, and reduces chemicals. Unlike the Rubbermaid, this unit makes untreated water from natural sources like streams and lakes SAFE for consumption. It’s also the only EPA registered bottle purification system available. A smart investment for hikers, campers, and outdoorsmen!
Sherpani “Meta 4” Gym/Yoga Bag ($79.95 at sherpani.com)
This large, roomy duffle bag comes in fun color combos and provides ample space for all your workout gear. One of my favorite features: an interior “wet pocket” for damp, sweaty gym clothes, so they don’t mucky up your clean items. It’s definitely a splurge, but it could be a great gift option for the hardcore gym rats in your life.
