It’s back to school, so get out that list. Wait, you don’t have a list? No problem. Just enter your zip code on Walmart’s website to get shopping (free 2-day shipping on selected items and free in-store pickup). Amazon also offers students their Amazon Prime service that includes a free six-month Prime trial with a valid .edu email address. Students can then get Prime half off for up to four years.
Backpacks are always a must. Toddlers and preschoolers need small lightweight backpacks (no more than three-fourths of the child’s back) while older children’s backpack must be more versatile for extracurricular activities. Teen backpacks expand device pockets and phone pouches as these stronger students can carry more weight physically and mentally.
The Solo Everyday Max (hybrid) backpack lives up to the name with multiple ways to carry and contain items securely so they won’t get misplaced. The high quality materials hold up to rough wear and is ideal for students, outdoor adventurers, gamers, professionals, travelers, bikers, hikers, dancers, and many others. Users can fit a 17.3″ laptop with an interior pocket for iPad® or tablet. This 2.4-pound backpack measures 21″ x 13″ x 8″ and can fit under a plane set really well. This backpack is also great for overnight trips and can work like a duff, but not meant as a gym bag even though you can easily fit shoes in it.
AmazonBasics has backpacks for many needs including their backpack for SLR Cameras and Accessories.
The HP Envy 5540 Wireless All-in-One Photo Printer gives photographers freedom to quickly print their works. Users can even print from their smartphone or tablet using the free HP ePrint app.
Those backpacks need filled with the latest gear and this year that includes the ultra-thin yet durable WS63 Workstation with NVIDIA Quadro P4000 GPU – ideal for CAD graphic/engineering students. This laptop comes complete with the seventh generation of Intel® Core™ i7 processor and a 15.6-inch screen that makes displays available in 4K or full HD.
If a new phone is at the top of your student’s wish list, check this out:
The 32GB and 128 GB Pixel XL phones feature a 5.5-inch display, large capacity battery and come in quite black, really blue and very silver.
Keep your smartphones and tablets protected with NewerTech NuGuard KXs Cases for iPhone 7, 6 & 6s for iPhone/iPad. Available in several colors, the state-of-the-art military-grade XOrbing Gel Technology absorbs and evenly distributes kinetic energy to protect your devices. The one-piece design features a soft interior core
The Echo Dot hands-free, voice-controlled device is the ultimate academic assistant for alarms, messaging, communications, news updates, smart device control and music with play options for Amazon Music, Spotify, Pandora, iHeartRadio, and TuneIn.
The expanding features and apps include Domino’s pizza delivery.
When you’re on the move or want to record lecture classes, the SereneLife Clip-on Wearable Camera works well with high resolution images and video plus an ultra-light weight.
The tech wonder uses micro SD cards and features built-in WiFi to control it wirelessly when needed (free accompanying app).
Wearable cameras in static spots can be handy and even put a smile on your face. The Smiley Hidden camera/recorder is a very reliable, affordable option for extra security that can connect with Mac or PC computers plus mobile devices. It also functions as a web camera.
The GoPro Hero4 wearable camera is the ultimate wearable for active users. High quality, wide-angle 4K video and photo taking up to 30 frames per second functions are impressive. Use the GoPro app via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity plus new nighttime camera shooting options.
Storage media reaches new heights with SanDisk Extreme 128GB microSDXC card, which is ideal for GoPro camera use since these cards are waterproof and hold up to varying temperatures.
Want to record your fitness activity and more? Garmin’s Vivofit Fitness Band also monitors your sleep with a comfortable band you can wear all the time. You can also set daily goals and motivate yourself using the water resistant display options.
The Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch tracks your activity, maps your routes with GPS, PurePulse heart monitoring, and keeps you up-to-date with alerts and notifications from your email and apps (Facebook, Gmail, etc.).
I sure would have loved one of these in my dorm room back in the day.
Wakey wakey eggs and bacey are a dream come true for students with the easy-to-clean Elite EBK-1782BL Maxi-Matic 3-in-1 breakfast station. Toast up to four slices, make four cups of coffee and even make pancakes with the griddle on this wonderous cooking machine.
The dream of a clean thermos is also now a reality with the 16-ounce Zojirushi SM-SA48-BA Stainless Steel Mug.
The stainless steel base with non-stick coating features a tight sealed lid that can be disassembled for easy, complete cleaning. No more gross spots as you bring this sleek thermos close to your mouth.
I hope you enjoyed our look at these fun gadgets. They’re a great opportunity to explain to the younger generation that all we had was a paper and pencil that we carried in a paper sack while we walked to school in the snow — uphill both ways 🙂
*Note – this site is an Amazon affiliate. So, if you click from our links and buy this product (or any product on Amazon), we do receive a few pennies on your purchase. But feel free to shop around and get look for the best price or to buy the item locally if possible.
My favorite back to school trick was to start in September wearing an earphone telling the teacher, if asked, that it was a new hearing aid. Then at baseball’s world series time I simply attached it to the small radio in my pocket to listen to the games during class.
Mike, you are my hero.
I grew up in very different times.
For the first day of the new term, most of us had a new outfit. That was the favorite item for most of the girls. And, for most of us, those were the only new clothes we would have until Christmas or birthday. Dresses or skirts were required for girls, even in the Northern Illinois winters.
We did walk to and from school in the snow, and home and back for lunch. Elementary schools had no food service. A few students were allowed to bring their lunches if both parents worked, but that was rare. Junior highs and high schools did have cafeterias because they weren’t neighborhood schools.
Through 3rd grade, we wrote with pencils. But starting in 4th grade, we were allowed to use pencils only for arithmetic/math. All other assignments had to be completed in cursive, learned in 3rd grade, with a fountain pen. (To this day, I prefer fountain pens.) Starting in high school, term papers could be typed, but electric typewriters were still mostly in the future.
There were few computers. They were located at defense and university facilities. The phone was a land, party line, from AT&T, the only company.
I could go on, but I won’t ….
A nice sharp, yellow, No. 2 pencil. I went to school in the 50s and 60s and I wish I could have had some of the great tech stuff that kids get to take to school today. I went to my old high school’s website and I wish I could have taken some of the courses they are able to take now, particularly in biology. I’m not one to look at the past through rose colored glasses. School was often boring. Hated the school bus ride. Hated the stupid dress code. But I loved science. Ps pencils were good to chew on in moments of classroom stress.
I actually managed to get mild lead poisoning from pencil chewing. Not from the pencils, which were graphite by the 1970s, but because Mom bought a batch of big, fat, cheap pencils that were painted with lead paint.