Fall-breaking ballz:I think it fair to say we're in the drop zone now. Not a reference to the activities of the Troika, but the honeymoon period is over for all those iPads, Kindles and Android tablets that were given at Christmas.
We’re treating them less gingerly and the occasional one is coming a cropper. iBallz are here to help you stop making a balls of it, so to speak.
Attach a shock-absorbing rubber ball at each corner of the tablet and tighten the drawstring; it’s simple, even if it looks slightly inelegant.
Steve Jobs wouldn’t have had them on his shopping list, I’m sure. Still, your tablet is pretty well-protected from casual drops, though needless to say nothing is totally secure. (My laptop screen cracked despite being wrapped in clothes deep inside a large hard-shell Samsonite case.) But if you have young kids around or are inclined to the odd slip yourself, perhaps it’s a little peace of mind.
iBallz Protection in dark grey, blue and pink £20 from monsterstuff.co.uk
Three-legged brace
Joby’s Gorilla grips are an essential in the vernacular of camera and personal electronics accessories these days, especially their bendy, wrap-round versions. The GorillaPod Micro 250 is a stiff-legged cousin in comparison, but smart and tough. In effect, it offers you a pose-anywhere mini-tripod that actually stays folded under your camera at all times. So it’s always there to help line up that tricky self-portrait or to steady a low-light shot. The three legs auto-fan out in one movement. These are a tough-but-light coated zinc alloy tipped with grippy rubber feet and an aluminium ball-joint at the camera base for 360 degrees of movement all round. The 250 in the name refers to the weight of camera; this is designed for compacts. There’s a Micro 800 for larger models.
GorillaPod Micro 250 €20 from joby.com
Ski boots with lift
These won’t be out until later in the year, but Teva’s Lifty boots are sure to become a popular option for regular skiers, with their two-boots-in-one concept. Liftys are hybrids, a resilient snow boot on the outside to take on wintry wastelands, and a removable bootie slipper inside to stay cosy back in your chalet or apartment. And though the sound of a “bootie slipper” doesn’t exactly sound like macho adventure gear, these are for men and women.
The lace-up winter-boot part is waterproof, with thick, sticky-grippy soles and 3M’s ubiquitous Thinsulate insulation, which uses trapped air to keep the heat in. Inside, the removable liner boot is soft and snug with a rubbery base. And both parts squish down to make these compactable hybrids highly packable skiwear.
From $150; see teva.comfor availability