Published February 11, 2011 12:00AM
Power Tools
Whether you need to capture, connect, or just sit back and relax, the newest portable gadgets are ready to serve.
Bose IE2 Headphones
EARPHONES
It makes us happy to see high-end earbuds that cater to athletes. BOSE’s IE2 ‘phones boast ergonomic silicone tips that keep them from popping out while you’re running (or headbanging) and are comfortable and light enough to wear for hours. The sound quality? Dude, they’re Bose. $100; bose.com
Rugged Cell Phone
Dunked your smartphone in the creek? There’s no app for that. The latest of CASIO‘s insanely rugged cell phones, the G’ZONE RAVINE, meets military standards for water, shock, and extreme temps and throws in seven basic, outdoor-friendly (if elementary) apps like a compass, thermometer, stargazer, and tide chart. Compromises are the tiny screen and dated feel. $150 with Verizon contract; casio.com
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Helmet Cam
A lot of lightweight cams shoot hi-def 1080p video. The CONTOUR GPS throws in three big perks: a GPS chip that captures your location and speed, idiotproof editing software, and laser pointers that help you level the lens. $350; contour.com
Music Player
We aren’t sure the sixth-gen APPLE IPOD NANO really needs to be this tiny, but the runners among us rejoiced at the feathery weight, Nike+ compatibility, pocket clip, and ability to add a strap to make it a stopwatch. The only downside: no more video camera. 8GB, $149; 16GB, $179; apple.com
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Satellite/Cell Phone
It might look like an old BlackBerry, but it talks to the future. The world’s first cell-phone/satellite-phone hybrid, the TERRESTAR GENUS shifts from cell to sat automatically when it can’t find a tower. Bummer: It currently works only in the U.S. (excluding Hawaii) and the Caribbean. $800 with AT&T contract; terrestar.com
Tablet
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SAMSUNG‘s GALAXY is a worthy, if more diminutive, rival to the iPad: what it lacks in Apple intuitiveness it makes up for with Google’s suite of services, two cameras (there’s one on the front for video chats), and a 13-hour battery for long trips. The other tradeoff: while it’s half the weight of an iPad, it’s even less type-friendly. $400 with Sprint contract, $600 unlocked; samsung.com
Smartphone
Addicted to watching YouTube ski videos on your phone? The HTC HD7 has one of the largest screens among smartphones (4.3 inches), the easy-to-use Windows Phone 7 operating system, and a kickstand on the back that lets you set the phone upright on your airline tray table. It’s big but doesn’t feel bulky in your pocket. $199 with T-Mobile contract; htc.com
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Sport Watch
Program in your stats, take a preset fitness test, and then let SUUNTO‘s M5 heart-rate monitor become your personal robo-coach. It’ll set up daily cardio or weight-training workouts (with time, intensity, etc.) and even suggest pace changes on the fly. Bonus: Connect the M5 to Suunto’s higher-performance accessories, like its GPS tracking device ($170) and you can download workouts from its fitness community site, Movescount.com. $190; suunto.com
