Looking for buried treasure? A metal detector could be of great value to you! They look below the surface for interesting things so you don’t have to dig up so much. Even if you’re not looking for anything in particular, it can be fun to just go around with the detector and see what it picks up. Who knows? You might find an old airplane or something significant like that!

A very useful tool to have around the house is a leaf blower. These make many common tasks a lot easier. Blowing grass that gets on the driveway after mowing your lawn, blowing dirt off your sidewalk, and of course: blowing leaves. There are many different varieties available. I prefer having a battery powered one for low-power tasks such as blowing debris off the driveway because it’s nice to just be able to turn on the power and get to work. However, a battery powered leaf blower may not work as well for blowing around lots of leaves. For that, I would recommend a gas powered one because they have a little bit more muscle behind them to handle those larger tasks. However, that’s just one man’s opinion. Everyone will think differently.

These are really nice because they allow you to talk on the cell phone without having to hold it against your ear. Plus they are required in an increasing number of states if you want to talk and drive at the same time, because they are more safe than having one hand on the wheel. The headsets come in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and prices. They also don’t have to be used with just your phone: if your computer has Bluetooth, you can use it as a microphone for Skype and other calling programs. Generally, I recommend Plantronics because they’re comfortable and they have good quality.

For much of the United States, summer time also means severe weather. To help you be better prepared, consider getting a weather radio. There are a wide variety on the market at many different price points, but they all will keep you up to date with the latest information from the National Weather Service. If you pick one up, I recommend getting one that will sound an alarm and turn on when a tornado or severe thunderstorm warning is issued. That’s nice because in many cases you’ll hear the alarm go off before the sirens in your community. To learn more about weather radios, check out NOAA’s official site: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/nwrrcvr.htm

Ever been out in the winter and your car won’t start because the battery’s dead? This product could be your lifesaver! It’s a portable power source that when charged, can help jump start your car. But it’s not only useful for winter driving, it’s got a plethora of other features as well. There’s a regular AC socket on there, a 12v DC port, an air compressor to help you fill up tires, and a USB port for charging your iPod or something else that you’d normally need to plug into a computer. This is a really awesome idea because it is so versatile and has so many options.

This is really cool. It’s a light up bocce ball set. The balls all have little lights in them that turn on and blink when you twist the little cap. It’s very neat and allows you to play bocce ball at any time, even when it’s pitch black outside.

It’s hot out there during the summer. How can you stay cool while camping? This battery-powered portable air conditioner is a great solution! It should keep your tent nice and cool.

Are the mosquitoes biting you? Is sitting outside an event that leads to unbearable itching afterwards? I know this time of year they can be pretty bad. I’ve heard from a friend that Thermacell repellent works pretty well. It creates a zone 15ftX15ft that the mosquitoes will avoid. Even if it only works somewhat well, it’s still a nice aid in the fight against those wonderful little insects.