Summer technology: recommendations for gadgets, equipment and gadgets

Despite all the ills and disruptions that 2020 brings, there is at least one thing we can celebrate: Summer is here. And while your favorite sports team may be on hiatus, your vacation trip may be canceled, and your family reunion may have to wait, there are still things to enjoy and ways to relax. The staff of The edge has come together to recommend some of your favorite gadgets, devices, and gadgets to help you have the best summer possible.

Sitting indoors all day means that even the simplest and shortest outdoor visits can seem magical and otherworldly. It’s fun for me to take my camera, the Olympus E-M10 Mark II, for a walk so that I can see and capture small moments of beauty in the world before going back upstairs to my home. I would normally do this during any summer, but I find it especially helpful to do this during this quirky one.

Cameron Faulkner
Writer

Photo: Quad Lock

If you are using a bicycle to get around, then a phone holder is a great investment. You can use it to turn your phone into bicycle satellite navigation, allowing you to get your bearings without having to constantly stop on the side of the road to check directions. Personally, it is essential for me to get anywhere on time when I’m on two wheels.

For the past six months, I have been using the Quad Lock mounting system to connect my Pixel 3 daily driver to my bike. You get a small mount point that connects to your bike (there are a couple of different options here, but I have one that mounts directly to the stem of my bike), and then you also get a phone case that has a mount socket built-in is back. It’s easy to hold, and once it’s there, I’ve found that it stays fixed, regardless of whether I’m riding on asphalt, pavers, or gravel.

The only potential problem with the system is that it works best when you have a phone for which Quad Lock sells a dedicated case. (These include iPhones, as well as Samsung Galaxy, Huawei, and Pixel phones.) There is a universal fit kit, which you can stick on the back of other phones or cases, but it sticks out a bit more from the back of your phone, and it can reportedly be a bit annoying.

Otherwise my Quad Lock has been an incredibly useful little upgrade to my bike, allowing me to go anywhere anytime instead of planning routes ahead of time.

Jon Porter
International journalist

Image: Lumos

The good news: US bicycle sales are on the rise, and people looking to improve their COVID-inspired cabin fever are getting two-wheelers in record numbers. The bad news: The cars have returned, too, with many drivers exploiting the less congested streets to recklessly accelerate. As always, safety is paramount, so when you go out riding, you should always wear a helmet. As Tracy Jordan would say, “You have to protect your mind grapes.” But why settle for any piece of plastic and hardened foam when you can get something a little smarter?

There are a growing number of bicycle helmets that include integrated LED lights. Lumos is a popular brand, with three LED modules that allow motorists to see you from most angles. I had a chance to test the Matrix at NYC Bike Expo last year, and I’ve been looking forward to the next Ultra. Cycling experts like it to be lightweight and well ventilated, making it perfect for those long summer rides. I like the fact that it looks great while keeping me safe (hopefully) from inattentive drivers.

Lumos is doing a Kickstarter for the Ultra, and hopes to start deliveries in November. The Ultra’s headlights provide additional illumination, and the taillights can even display left and right turn signals. And at just $ 99, the Lumos Ultra is cheaper than other options on the market. For example, a high-quality helmet and bicycle light set will easily cost you $ 200.

Andrew J. Hawkins
Senior reporter

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Amazon’s Kindle Paperwhite e-reader is a great device that allows you to read books outside without having to worry about things like loading a thousand-page tome or dealing with the potential of wet pages. Paperwhite’s E Ink display is highly visible outside (unlike most phone displays, which can be more difficult to see in bright sunlight), and the new Paperwhite is waterproof, meaning that You should be able to safely handle a splash or even a short dip in the pool. Happy reading.

Jay Peters
News editor

Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

The Apple Watch is not an exclusive device for the summer, but it is one that I will carry with me almost every day this summer: damn tan lines. By running competitions with my long distance friends, it keeps me motivated to exercise several times a week while staying connected with them. Given the added rarity of a summer during a pandemic, it’s a bit more of a spur to go out for a short walk every day.

Kaitlin Hatton
Social media manager

Photo: flexible hose

If quarantine makes you cultivate an aggressive backyard garden, an expandable hose is a nice and much lighter alternative to a traditional heavy rubber hose. It triples in length when full of water, but collapses into a nice coil that can store in an old pot when empty. This comes with a good sprayer nozzle with a range of flow settings for different pots and gardens.

Helen Havlak
Vp

Photo: Ultimate Ears

Portable Bluetooth speakers are essential devices for the summer, and Ultimate Ears does its best. They sound great, they look great, and they’re waterproof and weatherproof wherever you carry one. If you need a bigger partner, Boom 3 or MegaBoom 3 are the best, perfect for adding your favorite music to a picnic in the park, a day at the beach or a barbecue in the backyard. Do you prefer something a little smaller and cheaper? Wonderboom has the same benefits but in a quieter, more portable package.

Chaim Gartenberg
News editor

Photo: DJI

Summer is a great time to take on new hobbies, and learning how to fly a drone can be really rewarding and fun! DJI’s Mavic Mini is the perfect beginner drone for new pilots. The features you get with this little drone (249.5 grams) are impressive. I’ve had flight times of around 25 minutes depending on the weather, and the gimbal and camera are great. I love taking this little boy to the nearby lake and taking some great videos of sunsets over the water. Actually, you can even use it handheld if you want a stabilized gimbal shot but don’t have one on hand – just turn it on and start recording without taking off! I highly recommend the Mini Combo for the extra $ 100 if you have money to spare, as it includes a box, three batteries, and extra propellers in case it damages yours.

Grayson Blackmon
Senior Motion Designer

Sean Hollister / The Verge GIF

I was hoping to return the Leatherman Free P2 after giving it a quick spin, but with five minutes of practice, it made me a believer. I rarely have both hands free, and the P2 is the first multi-tool I use that doesn’t need Both: All tools (pliers, scissors, screwdrivers, wire strippers, etc.) can be opened and removed with one hand, thanks to a combination of lightly spring-loaded locks and magnetic latches that hold handles that would otherwise rotate freely . When I need to quickly cut a zip tie on my son’s new scooter, cut it into a grilled chicken breast to test if it’s ready or take out those pliers or conductors without letting go of the item you need to handle, it’s super easy and flip The Butterfly knife-shaped handles are a good distraction for my constantly restless hands. The more expensive P4 also comes with an extra knife and saw blade, but be aware that early units didn’t have the P2’s pocket clip.

Sean Hollister
Senior News Editor

Photo: OXO

For me, summer means cherries and cherry tart. After many frustrating (and probably dangerous) years of surgically removing the cherry pits with a knife, I finally gave in and bought one of these cherry pitters. It makes cherry bites less difficult and allows me to bake again. Other benefits: It’s inexpensive, doesn’t take up much space in my little kitchen, and is incredibly easy to use.

Mary Beth Griggs
Science editor

Photo: Mac Sports

My sister swears by this folding cart for camping trips. It is ideal for campsites where the parking lot is within walking distance of your tent or for beach trips or picnics when you have a lot to carry. It is very light and folds down to a compact enough size to fit into your car or store in your apartment.

Helen Havlak

Photo: Wise Owl Outfitters

I recently bought a hammock, and will never go back to any other way to relax in a park during the summer. It’s super portable, super easy to set up, and perfect for taking a lazy Sunday, reading a book, and watching the clouds go by.

Chaim Gartenberg

Photo: Quik Shade

I haven’t camped much in the past few years, and my front yard is so small that most squirrels scorn even looking at it. Still, it’s nice to sit outside with a book and something to drink, greet the neighbors (at a suitable distance, of course), and listen to the occasional birds. While I don’t have room in front of my house for a permanent lawn chair, I can take this folding chair out anytime I want and enjoy some summer relaxation at home.

Barbara Krasnoff
Opinion editor