Solid Gray BackpackIt does what it says on the tin: it's a solid, grey backpack. With a robustly architectural aesthetic, you can see why its Dutch designers cite the armadillo as an inspiration.
Aside from its armoured good looks, the Solid Gray Backpack is practical, too, with an EPDM rubber lining to protect your laptop. Inside pockets keep your stuff organised and a clip holds documents in place.
The pack's angularity comes from the fact that it's die-cut, scored and folded from a durable copolymer sheet. And seeing as there's no wimpy fabric to zip, it locks closed with a pair of clips. €119, solid-gray.com
Vuzix Wrap 1200 Video EyewearVuzix has been one of the main brands tipping away at TV-to-wear technology for several years. Its Wrap 1200 glasses are compatible with 2D and 3D video and, with 852 x 480 pixels, these are said to mimic the equivalent of watching a 75in TV from about 3m. And nobody can complain about the sofa-sized screen taking over the room: this just takes over your head.
As well as the usual (and usually untouched) brightness, colour and contrast settings, you can tweak the focus to suit you. Sound comes by way of a pair of integrated ear buds.
The wraparound styling disguises the hardware behind the shades, and the batteries are hidden in a control box. This also has the input socket for whatever's feeding your video, and Vuzix include a range of cables to tune you in, including a 30-pin Apple adapter, but no HDMI or VGA. There's a hefty enough price to be paid in wearing these, of course, and not just in hard cash: you might need a thick skin too. €449.99, vuzix.co.uk
Quik Shade Go Hybrid Backpack Canopy
A few years ago, a good friend decided to invest in an open-sided marquee. Some of us of little faith scoffed to his face, doubting how often he would need it. Well, quite a lot as it turned out – and even more so now that the rest of us borrow it for every sort of event, from family parties to church fetes. He may start pointing us at this: a portable canopy you can sling on your back and set up where you want. At about 2sq m (22sq ft), you won’t be holding a wedding under there, but the packability is impressive.
The canopy folds down into its own rucksack and weighs in at just under 7kg (about 15lbs). And it can be wrestled up and down by just one person. One person gifted in such matters, that is. Available in blue or lime. $79.99/€60, quikshade.com