Gadgets

Whistle 
There's so much wearable technology around, with smartphone-paired hardware like Jawbone's Up, Nike's FuelBand and Fitbit's Flex, it's almost been relegated to being the last big thing rather than the next. Here's another take on it. Whistle is the latest wear-around tech to help you track and monitor activity, and share photos and experiences. For your dog. Yep, this is canine kit. Simply clip Whistle to your pooch's collar and you have high-end remote monitoring updates on your dog delivered to your smartphone via its own app, wherever you are. $129.95 from whistle.com

Bobble
Hot Travel Mug Building on the back of Bobble's filtered water bottle success comes its so-called Hot Travel Mug. Don't know about you, but I'd usually expect a mug to have a handle: this seems more bottle. The idea's old as the hills: its double-walled construction leaves an insulating layer of air. Add in what they claim is a spill-resistant cap for safer sipping and Bobble's familiar colour range, and it's an obvious move away from traditional travel mugs. Ones with handles. Watch though: its 8cm diameter could be too wide for some car cup-holders, which seems like bobble-headed thinking. €13 from firebox.com

Bang Bang solar- powered tent
A simple bit of product detailing from UK tent maker, Bang Bang Tents sees it cueing up an innovative point of difference. It's added a pocket to the tent wall with a window out to hold a 5W solar charger and associated lithium battery so personal electronics like phones, portable speakers or LED lanterns can stay powered up. It'd be perfect for festivals too if it weren't for the lazy industrial-scale littering that comes with widespread tent abandonment. €237 from bangbangtents.com
Tom Kelly