The Goods: August 2012's Hottest Gadgets

A dozen great ideas in gear

By Bjorn Carey, Joanna Foster, Laura Geggel
August 20, 2012

In honor of this month's theme, the future of sports, try out some great running gear. Once you're done, kick back at a barbecue like a pro with a high-tech grill monitor.

Click to launch the gallery.

Sound Cushion
The P3 conforms to the listener's ears better than other headphones. Designers cushioned the earcups with memory foam, which molds to the ears and creates a seal that helps keep out ambient noise. Bowers & Wilkins P3 Mobile Hi-Fi Headphones $200Courtesy Bowers & Wilkins
Music Master
The VAMP iPhone amplifier doubles listening time while improving the quality of compressed audio. Users connect the lithium-ion-powered case to an iPhone 4 or 4S's 30-pin port. The system processes digital audio files to sound more like the original recordings. V-Moda VAMP $650Courtesy V-Moda
Grill Tracker
The CyberQ grill monitor prevents barbecue pits from fizzling out. It's equipped with a set of heat probes, which track temperature, and a fan, which automatically turns on to act as a bellows when heat drops. BBQ Guru CyberQ Wifi $395 (fan and adapter)Courtesy BBQ Guru
On Stable Ground
The firmer a golfer's stance is, the more likely his shots will fly straight, so designers at Adidas created the most stable golf shoe yet. Taking a cue from barefoot-style sneakers, they widened the forefoot and thinned the sole, which gives toes room to wiggle and grip the ground. Adidas Puremotion $120Sam Kaplan
Wireless Weigh-In
The Aria scale tracks the weight changes of up to eight people. Synced with the Fitbit website over Wi-Fi, the scale saves each user's weigh-ins and calls up his progress when it senses a number close to his last reading. Fitbit Aria Wi-Fi Smart Scale $130Courtesy Fitbit
Running Buddy
The Kenmark Sports Armband Water Bottle is the first to double as a smartphone case. The 6.4-ounce band holds both a 16-ounce bottle and a phone or MP3 player in a protective sheath. Kenmark Sports Armband Water Bottle $30Courtesy Kenmark
Finger Saver
The FreeKey ring won't pinch a user's fingers when they're adding a new key. Instead of prying apart the rings, users pinch a hinged lever on the outer edge of the steel spiral, popping the ring open to slide keys on. The spiral snaps itself securely shut. FreeKey $4.50Courtesy FreeKey
Blow Light
The LuminAID lamp can light up an entire tent and compress to the size of a billfold. Campers inflate the one-quart polycarbonate bag and turn on an LED to create a 35-lumen glow. LuminAID Light From $15Courtesy LuminAID
Square Power
The 2.3-inch, three-watt NuForce Cube is the smallest, loudest portable speaker available. The speaker driver is controlled by a high-strength neodymium magnet, which prevents the entire housing from shaking at high volumes. NuForce Cube $119Sam Kaplan
Quick Switch
Most Bluetooth keyboards can pair with only one device at a time; the Logitech K760 pairs with three. The solar-powered keyboard's shortcut keys can each remember a different device, so users can switch between typing on their laptop and iPad with a tap. Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K760 $80Dan Nosowitz
Power Spot
Handymen no longer need to carry a separate flashlight along with their 12-volt power tools. Craftsman engineers added six LEDs to the bottom of their new battery pack, so users have a spotlight when they need one. Craftsman NEXTEC 12V Extra Capacity Battery with Light $35 (available Oct.)Sam Kaplan
Road Ready
The K-30 is the only consumer DSLR built to weather sandstorms, downpours and other extreme conditions. Pentax designers backed the 16-megapixel camera's seams and lens mount with dense, water-repellent foam so that dust and moisture can't get inside. Pentax K-30 $900Courtesy Pentax

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