When I present a gift guide, it’s always based on some sort of theme or organizing principle timed to fit an event or a season. In the past several months, you could find gadgets on these virtual pages perfect to inspire gift giving around Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Graduations, Back to School and even sporting events like the return of football and the Ryder Cup.
The problem is there are unavoidably interesting gadgets that could appeal to any number of lucky recipients that fail to fit into a neat, timely category. Still, I find myself wanting to recommend them just to imagine the reaction of the “giftee.”
Related: Sweeten Sound of Autumn with Audio Gifts
I decided to do a gift guide for those gadgets unique enough to resist an easy category. We’re not talking Island of Misfit Toys, “Whoever heard of a Charlie in the Box?” type bizarro material here. These are legitimate, useful and fully functional gadgets that stray outside the norms of Bluetooth speakers, iPhone cases, backup chargers or any other classification.
So, here we go with your Anti-Cartegory Gift Guide. If it’s received well, I could see us doing this again. It could really open up the gadget pool we present around here.
The Unclassified Gift Gallery
Some gadgets defy an easy, seasonal classification – but they can still make great gift ideas for some lucky, techy friend.
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Leggage Massaging Laptop Case
This was one of the more bizarre inventions I came across. It sounded silly initially, but it's a great idea for a frequent traveler. The Leggage is an armored laptop case with built vibrating massagers. You tuck it under the airline seat in front of you and set your feet upon it. It relieves sore dawgs and aids blood flow during long flights.
MSRP: $79.99
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BerryBreeze
The science behind BerryBreeze says perishable items in your fridge will stay fresher and the air in there will smell better if the oxygen is activated. Most bachelor fridges could use it.
MSRP: $49.95
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Skylink Home Automation
We don't do a lot of home automation stories outside of CES coverage, but the technology behind Skylink is impressive. Whether it's automating house functions and conditions or monitoring home security, Skylink offers affordable, DIY options.
MSRP: Varies
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UCLEAR Sport Communicators
We do motorcycle coverage here, but not a ton of extreme sports gadgets find their way to us. UCLEAR works for those motorcycles, bikes, snowmobiles, ATVs, personal watercraft, etc. Any type of helmet can take UCLEAR's Bluetooth capability for music playback, cellphone calls and helmet to helmet communication.
MSRP: Varies
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Swann Home Security
Maybe we should do more home security stories around here — especially if you're filling your house with some of cool gadgets we put in galleries like this.
Swann Home Security specializes in multifunction home and small business systems that the buyer can install and monitor on his or her own. They've quickly become a leader in that field.
MSRP: Varies
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Leaf HDTV Antenna
In this age of cable, satellite, online TV and DVRs, it's easy to forget that there's still free TV out there flying around in open space. The Leaf HDTV Antenna draws in that digital local TV signal and sends it to your TV with the ease of cable.
MSRP: $69.99
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Recoil Automatic Cord WInders
There's no other way to say it. The Recoil Automatic Cord Winders automatically wind your cords. That's it. What more can I say? They're simply gadgets that use tension to wrap up any power or communication cord.
MSRP: $9.99 – $27.99
