Backyard Tech and Entertainment Must-Haves
Backyards are getting ridiculous. Last year, I couldn’t tell a pellet grill from a Wi-Fi router. Now every registry’s stacked with gadgets to turn a patch of grass into a tech festival. Sometimes it even distracts from the mosquitoes. Sometimes.
Smart Grills and Pizza Ovens
Alright, so let’s get this out of the way: half my friends still manage to torch burgers even though they own those fancy digital thermometers. But whatever, everyone’s obsessed with app-connected grills now, like the Traeger Ironwood XL. Supposedly you can tweak temps and check how raw your steak is from, I don’t know, a hundred feet away, unless your house is basically a Cold War bunker and the signal drops. I mean, yeah, smart pellet grills totally flip the script—scheduling, meat probes that text you like a needy ex, Alexa shouting from the patio and scaring the neighbor’s cat. Is it necessary? I don’t know, but it’s fun to watch.
Pizza ovens, though. The Ooni Koda 16? Food writers won’t shut up about it, and that one guy in every group chat who calls himself “a pizzaiolo” swears it’s the secret to happiness. It gets up to 950°F, which apparently is the magic number for those leopard-spotted crusts everyone posts on Instagram. The weird part is lugging propane tanks around—why are they so heavy? It’s supposed to be a chill hangout, not CrossFit. Food52’s guides say these pizza ovens are a “must-have,” but so are those double-walled wine tumblers and Bluetooth speakers that croak after two parties (https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/entertaining/best-gadgets-for-outdoor-entertaining). I mean, sure, if you’ve got the space and patience.
Fire Pits for Outdoor Gatherings
Everyone acts like cozy fire pits are the answer to everything. The Solo Stove Bonfire comes up at weddings like it’s required by law, right next to those towel warmers nobody uses. “Smokeless” is the big promise, but if the wind decides you’re the target, you’ll still smell like campfire on Monday—don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Tried to rescue a $350 pit from the rain and almost lost a shoe, so yeah, maybe don’t trust those perfect unboxing videos.
HGTV keeps calling fire pits “centerpieces,” which sounds great until you melt a tablecloth. Actual advice? Get the waterproof cover. Cleaning out soggy, ashy rainwater is a nightmare and nobody warns you. (https://www.hgtv.com/lifestyle/entertaining/best-gadgets-for-outdoor-entertaining). Also, citronella candles? Bugs don’t care. They’re coming for you anyway.
Luggage and Travel Tech for the Adventurous Couple
If you’ve ever been stuck at the airport with a suitcase that’s basically a rolling brick, you know the pain. Wish I’d gone for something smarter. There’s a tidal wave of travel tech now, and somehow it’s all expected on wedding registries? Couples want stuff that’s practical but also looks impressive at baggage claim, which is… a vibe, I guess.
High-Tech Luggage Picks
Every time I’m jamming a bag into the overhead, I remember Bluetooth-tracking suitcases exist. Even carry-ons like Away’s spinner—yeah, the one with the battery that charges your phone three times, allegedly—keep popping up on those “best tech” lists. The Visitag Snap Bag Tag is just a bright tag with a snappy closure, but honestly, I just want to spot my bag in the sea of black rollers.
Universal travel adapter with USB ports? If you’ve ever tried to charge a smartwatch, two phones, and a Kindle in a Rome hostel with one outlet, you know the struggle. Some luggage even “scans” itself for airline size—does that actually work? I’m skeptical, but part of me wants to believe. Security, durability, and that weird obsession with digital luggage scales—my friend Casey buys universal adapters and Bluetooth speakers and loses them every six months, so maybe don’t spend too much.
Gadgets for Honeymoon Experiences
Nothing says “I’m not hiking back to the room” like a tiny wireless charger. The Logitech Pebble comes in weird colors and somehow everyone thinks it’s cute. And now people are packing keyboards for honeymoon “work emergencies”? When did that become normal? Noise-canceling headphones—Bose, Sony, whatever, just block out the kid in 23B—are the real MVPs for long flights.
GoPro cameras just stare at you from registry pages, promising 5.3K videos you’ll never edit. GoPro Hero10 keeps showing up for couples who want to film beach dives or ski fails. I watched newlyweds bicker over a Bluetooth speaker once—romantic, right? Oh, and “smart” water bottles that remind you to hydrate? Both people ignore them after the first day. They’re probably too busy planning the next overpriced travel app download.