Todd Bernhard

I travel a lot, and I usually carry my iPhone, various power packs, cables and converters, headphones, and more. But I don't want to lug around a backpack. The Axis Modular Waist Pack ($120) from Mission Workshop is a beautiful alternative, whether in basic black, gray, olive, or black camo. It's very well-made and worth the price tag if you appreciate well-made gear. You could even wear it like a messenger bag.

In previous iterations, Apple added cellular and GPS capability, plus waterproofing to make a compelling case to make the leap to a new watch. This year the new Apple Watch features fewer dramatic new features and more enhancements (64-bit CPU, bigger screen size, smaller bezel, thinner chassis, louder speaker, and better sensors.) But that doesn't mean the Series 4 isn't a dramatically different watch. Thanks to a built-in ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor, the Apple Watch Series 4 is a healthcare provider’s dream—and one that fits on your wrist. Let's go over everything you should know about the Apple Watch Series 4, including price, specifications, new features, and improvements.

Amazon keeps making its Echo devices better and better, but when it dropped the Tap line, customers lost the option of a portable battery-powered Echo device. The folks at NINETY7 have come to the rescue, with the SKY TOTE Battery Base for Echo 2 ($49.95). It adds a few inches of height to the Echo 2; but the Echo 2 is shorter than the original Echo, so it's fine. The exterior looks nice, next to the factory model, although Amazon offers a variety of finishes which will be hidden if enclosed in the SKY TOTE. The SKY TOTE's fabric lets the sound through and looks good at the same time.

I love my dog, but getting her to sit still for a photo is tricky, let alone for a selfie with both of us in the picture. There's just too much to coordinate. The folks at Model Citizen had the same idea, but they did something about it! They created the Woofie ($9.50). It's not a selfie-stick, but rather a snap-on attachment for your phone.The idea is to insert a dog treat in the top of the device so it gets your dog's attention. And it works!