Our top 13 electronics and gadgets to make your life easier
There are plenty of tools out there to help make your life that little bit less hard – just make sure you pick the right one.
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With plenty of winter still left (depending, we suppose on what Canada's cabal of groundhogs had to say), these 13 small and mid-sized electronic items should satisfy a wide range of wants and needs for the months ahead, from phone charging options, to bedtime, air quality and other realms. Take a look below.
INIU Portable Charger
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: This is one of our top sellers here at Shop The Weather, and given its substantial upsides, it’s not hard to see why. It sports a 20,000 mAh capacity, enough to recharge an iPhone 13 more than four times, and a Samsung S20 more than three times. It can charge up to three devices at a time, and includes a built-in LED flashlight. Plus, unlike other power banks, this one features its remaining capacity as a percentage value. There’s a lot to like here, which is why I use it for himself.
Xooparc Solar Battery Power Bank
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: Here’s a solar-powered option that’ll eliminate even the need to charge the power pack itself for longer trips (though it still has a plug-in charge adapter). With a 26800mAh capacity, it can charge up to two USB-C devices simultaneously, and features an in-built LED light for illumination if you need to fumble around in your tent or plane seat without switching your phone’s light on.
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LED Bluetooth Speaker
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: Some good tunes can get you in the right headspace for work or study, pump you up for one task or another, or just help you unwind at the end of the day. For that, you or a loved one will need something a little better than your phone or laptop’s speakers, which is why a bluetooth speaker is the way to go – and we like this one best for its flickering LED light, making your work area just a little cozier. You can also add it to the patio to set the mood as the sun slowly sets.
LEVOIT Air Purifier
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: We’ve still got a fair bit of closed-window weather ahead, and any number of irritants like dust, pet dander, mould spores or others can build up after a few months without being able to air your home out. A good air purifier can freshen things up in your home, and this option from Levoit is a good balance of function and price point. With a proper HEPA filtration system using three filters, it’s a good fit for any mid-sized home, and if you want a version that’s good for just a single bedroom, Levoit offers smaller models. Give yourself or a loved one the gift of clean air this winter.
Honeywell Mist Humidifier
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: Cold air is dry air – that’s not great for your sinuses, nor for your skin, either. As we stare down months of having to manage, now is a good time to take a look at what kind of humidifier options are out there, and we think this one is the best value for money, whether for yourself or as a gift. The mist will help keep those nasal passages clear, and those who ordered it from Amazon.ca report it’s silent enough not to interrupt your sleep. It’s priced well enough to afford more than one so you can cover each bedroom, too, which we think is a good investment.
ThermoPro Indoor Humidity and Temperature Gauge
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: Keeping track of the humidity in your home can give you some sense of control, or at least, some heads-up on when to deploy the humidifiers. This design from Thermapro won us over. Simple, sleek and inexpensive (and eminently giftable), it’s a runaway hit among Amazon.ca users, more than 100,000 of whom took the time to give it a review on the platform, and a good indication that Thermapro has done something right here.
White Noise Machine - Dreamegg Sound Machine for Sleeping and Relaxing
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: The thing about the holiday season and the new year beyond is that it’s a good time to check in a bit on how you do things and what might be out there to help you do them better. That includes sleeping – which is why now might be the time to take a look at a white noise machine if you struggle to snooze. This one from Dreamegg is our top pick, featuring a selection of white noises, fans, and relaxing nature sounds, along with a warm glow night light, a timer for various settings, volume control, and a convenient headphone jack.
Amber Night Reading light
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: While we’re on the subject of bedtime, a clip-on LED light can help you read in bed without disturbing your partner, but it’s important to avoid blue light, like that emitted by your phone or other electronic devices, so that your natural sleep patterns aren’t affected. This reading light gives off a warm, amber glow – I use it myself at night, and it’s like reading by candlelight. A great treat for you, or gift for the night-time reader in your life.
Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless 3D Eye Mask
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: If you or a loved one who want to greet the new year a bit better rested, a sleep mask can help, and we’re drawn to this one. Breathable memory foam allows you to mould the mask comfortably to your face while it blocks out 100 per cent of light, while also allowing you to play soothing music using Bluetooth. Great for a nap.
Sunrise Alarm Clock Wake Up Light
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: This sleep aid digital alarm clock is designed for everyone but is especially effective for heavy sleepers and kids. The sunrise simulation light helps sync with your body’s natural need for sunlight in the morning, and it also has eight kinds of sleeping music. For people who are, shall we say, flexible about wake-up times, it also comes with a built-in smart tap for nine extra minutes of sleep time.
4 in 1 Phone Camera Lens Kit
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: This time of the year can be a paradise for the keen-eyed shutterbug, and later model smartphones have astoundingly good cameras for their size. Still, to really capture the best of the season, you can take it a little further with lens attachments. If you’re starting out, we like this four-in-one lens set. Featuring a 22X telephoto, 235° fisheye, 0.62X wide angle & 25X macro, you’ll be all set to capture whatever kind of winter milieu you like, whether it’s a sweeping landscape, or a close-up. Simply attach your preferred glass to your phone with the included clip, and you’re off to the races.
Rechargeable Camping Lantern
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: This is billed as a camping lantern, but it’s a good addition to your home emergency kit as well. Extremely versatile, it doesn’t require AA batteries and features three different recharge methods: solar, hand crank, and USB cable. This lantern is also partly collapsible, taking up a minimum of space.
Plug-in Pest Repellent, 6-Pack
SHOP NOW on Amazon.ca: A warm home in the winter is a joy – unfortunately, pests like mice also agree. This plug-in pest repellents keep mice away using a specific sonic frequency, and it’s great for your house, cottage, garage, barn, or anywhere else that has a power outlet. It can effectively cover up to 120 square metres and is noiseless, odourless, and overall safe around children and pets. For an affordable price, you get six units so you can cover a lot of territory if needed!
With files from Nicole Hilton.
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Our trusted Product Specialists recommend high-quality items that we think will enhance your experience with Canadian weather conditions. Prices and availability of items are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
