Even though it's still winter across much of the U.S., spring is just around the corner with its longer days, warming temperatures, and the promise of outdoor adventures. And after what has been such an intense winter for much of the country, playing in the beautiful spring air probably sounds pretty good to many of you right about now. To that end, we've rounded up some of the best, must-have gear for your spring and summertime fun.

I've written often about Olloclip and their clip-on lenses for iPhones. Their latest batch supports both the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, using an insert for each phone. This is great if you have both types of phones in your household, or if you might upgrade later. We have a few iPhone 6 phones in the family, but might add a 6 Plus to the household, so it's always nice when accessory makers keep multiple devices in mind.

iPhone 6 has its improved battery life going for it, but who minds a few more potential electrons in the bullpen, or in this case (yes, I pun) more than double? The $99.99 ibattz Mojo Invictus Refuel (what a mouthful) slams another 125 percent charge on your 6 with its replaceable 3200 mAh case power pack. It's a bit quirky to install, but once it's ensconced, you will not be disappointed in the protection and extra power—with the unique option (and first I have seen) of replacing the case battery.

The UNU DX-6 ($79.95) is a fabulous looking (and feeling) iPhone 6 case that comes with a screen protector and a headphone extender cable. The tough and sturdy case can add up to 18 hours of talk time (or 63 hours of music playback or 313 hours of standby time) to your iPhone 6, at least according to the technical specs. The technical hype turned out to be quite accurate in my experience.

After scouring the sprawling sea of tech-gear that is CES, here's a compilation of the best of the adventure-proof, rugged gear that was on display. While not all of the items featured here are available for order quite yet, all of these products are expected to start shipping by Q2 this year, sometime around March most likely. Read on after the break to see what's coming in the world of heavy-duty gear for our iOS devices.

After a long week at the Consumer Electronics Show, it's time to reflect on what we just experienced. CES isn't really just a show anymore; it's a show of shows, each with its own theme. When I get back each year, my friends and family ask me what was "The Big Thing?" Because the show is so big, I've decided to break down the "theme" into multiple themes. This year, the different "big things" were as follows:

You might be asking yourself how a second screen on the back of for your iPhone 6 could possibly be advantageous. But, it turns out the popSLATE actually serves a variety of functions that justify the premium $129 price tag.

So, what kinds of things can be accomplish with the case? More than you may think.