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Every year, WIRED staff submit their personal picks of essential items. From screens to scoops, wheels to waterproofs, here is our guide to the summer's 106 must-have objects of desire.
The classic camera brand's first rugged model, the X-U houses a Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH lens in a waterproof, shockproof and dust-proof body. The large 16.5MP APS-C CMOS sensor delivers exceptional brightness, colour and clarity, even in harsh or gloomy underwater conditions. £2,400
Create content for your Gear VR and Galaxy smartphone with this 360° dual-lens camera that takes 3,840p x 1,920p video and 25.9MP photos. Its single-lens mode will capture a wide-angled view in either video or stills, too. £tbc
This 10,000mAh battery pack comes with the highest possible ratings for waterproofing and durability with a 3.4 amp output and capacity to recharge your smartphone six times. $99.99
The world's first skateboard-cum-Bluetooth speaker has a water-resistant 50mm driver with passive radiator. It runs six hours of music per charge to provide the perfect soundtrack to your kickflips. $299
Capture stunning underwater photos with help from this compact housing kit for iPhone 6 Plus and 6s Plus. Pair with the Watershot app to share your snaps on social media - all while you're still submerged. $220
Packing an orchestra into a guitar, this MIDI controller's thin polymer pad attaches to the soundboard to open up thousands of instruments, samples, two slider faders and two looping channels. €269
Featuring two mains outlets and two USB outlets, this light recognises and prioritises charge delivery to your primary device. £249
The SuperSystem's solid walnut body contains a thoroughly modern stereo system including internet radio, Bluetooth and Spotify streaming. An 80W digital amp and 40W subwoofer deliver rich sound at high volumes. £550
This pocket-sized DAC/headphone amp is designed to fit 6- and 6s-model iPhones. It extracts audio from the phone's Lightning port, feeds it into a TI/Burr-Brown DAC and ramps it up to three times the original volume. £120
X.ai's "Amy" does the laborious work of setting up meetings for you. Sign up for the virtual assistant, copy her into emails and she'll do all the rest. Free beta
With a companion app containing a selection of nutritionist-designed meal plans tailored to precisely fit neat, leakproof modular containers, this lunch box takes some of the work out of desk-dinner preparation. From $70
Only Bond gets to drive a DB10, but the elegant DB11 is the next best thing. A twin-turbocharged V12 engine makes this Aston Martin's most powerful production car ever, with a top speed of 322kph. £154,900
Serving up high-quality streaming via Bluetooth aptX, this scaled-down Envaya is ideal for taking on your travels. NFC pairing means no digging around in tablet or smartphone settings. Plus you can pair three devices at once. £79
An eye-catching CrMo steel frame makes this electric moped perfect for city rides. With a charge time of four to six hours and a top speed of up to 45kph, it's a pleasing combination of retro form and eco function. €5,950
LED bulbs concealed in the spine of this mini hardback book make for an illuminating read, producing 250 lumens of ambient light diffused through waterproof Tyvek pages. An interchangeable coloured cover conceals USB ports. $125
Fashioned from heat-pressed polyester mesh using the same technology behind car-engine oil filters, Jin Kuramoto'ssimple, lightweight bowls are a stylish receptacle for keys, coins and knick-knacks. Available in two sizes and in a range of pastel colours, they beat a cracked saucer or old plate hands down. £tbc
BBC Music lets you search for tracks you've heard on the Corporation's stations and create playlists you can upload to streaming services. iOS, Android, free
Our handpicked gadgets from earlier in the series are featured below
Designed to do more than protect your tabletop, this solid soapstone coaster will help keep your drinks cooler for longer. There's no tech - just keep it in the freezer so it's ready to deploy next time gin o'clock happens to strike. €60
Byredo's handwashes are the latest addition to the grooming range founded by Ben Gorham in 2006. Suede features notes of bergamot and lily of the valley, and Vetyver features mate, angelica seeds and violet. £35
Coffee: it's often just too hot or too cold. This clever leakproof mug uses active heating and cooling to rapidly bring your beverage to your preferred temperature, and then maintain it at a precise heat level for up to two hours. $149
This cordless desk lamp provides 40 hours of glare-free lighting. Twenty-four degrees of brightness and three colour modes make it ideal for computing, reading and writing. $89
This stacking game has a digital twist. The plastic animals and object pieces also influence an environment in the game's companion app - until your tower tumbles. £15 for a single beast; £499 for a handmade edition. playfabulousbeasts.com
MEDIA: HTC 10: Why we love it: a 5.2in QHD (2,560p x 1,440p) screen; stunning audio with high-resolution headphones included in the box; 24-bit audio support; "freestyle" home screen where apps can be placed off the display grid. £570
DESIGN: Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge: Why we love it: the rear is curved using 3D thermo forming; screen size has bumped up to 5.5in - but it still feels good; the display curves right to the handset's edge; it's water-resistant. £639
EXPANSION: LG G5: Why we love it: modular capabilities include LG Cam Plus and LG Hi-Fi Plus - including a DAC tuned by Bang & Olufsen); plus dedicated accessories such as LG 360 VR headset, 360-degree Camera and LG Rolling Bot. £499
GAMING: Sony Xperia X Performance: Why we love it: its two-day battery life; Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 quad-core processor with 32GB of memory and microSD for expansion up to 200GB; and 3GB of RAM for slick gaming. £499
LIFESTYLE: Apple iPhone SE: Why why love it: the four-inch screen makes it ideal for on-the-go users who do not want a phablet - especially since Apple has squeezed the power of the iPhone 6s into this diminutive chassis. A mean feat of engineering. From £359
PHOTOS: Huawei P9: Why we love it: a dual-lens Leica camera; a 12-megapixel sensor on each lens; great in low light conditions; manual mode; wide aperture mode for shooting close subjects; full control over the ISO and shutter speed. £449
Who says the home cinema has to stay inside - or at home? This portable projector and sound system offers up to eight hours of 700 LED brightness. The 720hp projector delivers a 100-inch image 2.4m from the screen. $699
Jackfish's 11-piece arsenal is more useful than your penknife's fish descaler. A telescopic pen and hex drives provide handy utility, and a micro SD card-reader will store your travel documents. £69 jackfishsurvival.com
This extension converts tabs into a list of URLs, saving memory and speeding up your computer. They're also shareable. Firefox, Chrome, free
This thermal imaging camera for iPhone and Android devices can detect heat up to 550 metres away. Use it to track wild animals on your camping holiday or for identifying missing insulation in your loft. $299
Designed for versatility, these skis are wide enough at the tip to mow through powder, but their thin waist offers rip-sharp turns on hardpacked snow. KERS tech stiffens the tail as you exit each turn to keep edges locked down. £409
Take control of your personal soundscape - the N60 NC's active noise-cancelling clears out background conversations for total audio immersion. Bask in reference-quality acoustic reproduction for 30 hours per charge. £230
Compatible with Facebook Live video streaming, the Mevo camera offers real-time editing via a companion app, and the clever ability to zoom and pan across its 150-degree angle of view to create separate 4K video feeds. $399
With climate control, bottle warmer, auto-rocking, music and more, this buggy offers almost entirely hands-free baby care. Propulsion synced to your movements makes even pushing unnecessary. Seat $3,099; bassinet $3,199
Designed by Bembé Dellinger Architects, this Bavarian des res is made using exposed concrete with rough, board-marked finishes. Cantilevered decks provide views across a lake and create shade and privacy. House N is just one example of inspiring contemporary residential architecture in the Gestalten book Infinite Space. €44 (the book, not the house)
This hard-shell luggage folds down by 70 per cent when empty to 76mm thick. A digital weight scale in the handle and TSA-compliant locks make for easy check-ins. A GPS chip helps track stray bags. 90L bag £345; 38L cabin bag £328
Citroën's E-Mehari drops a 67hp electric motor delivering a top speed of 107kph and a range of 200km into a fun, open-top buggy. A full recharge of the lithium polymer batteries takes eight to 13 hours from a domestic socket. £tbc
Classic looks give an edge to SWIMS' highly functional top, which features a hydrophobic polyester material covering on its bottom third. Sling it on while wearing wet shorts and your shirt won't take a soaking. £60
This bipedial bot does more than just dance. Using the intuitive visual programming tool Bitbloq, kids can link Zowi's ultrasound sensor eyes, microphone, leg motors and internal speaker to create custom action sequences. £110
Anya Hindmarch's AW16 handbags take inspiration from classic 8-bit gaming, with blocky, pixellated Space Invaders details and trippy designs. Time to level up from high-street gaming fashion. £1,795
Inspired by lighthouse focusing systems, this catadioptric track light combines mirrors and refractive lenses to produce a controllable, highly concentrated light beam. £tbc
This will expand your mind as well as entertain. Play games by tilting or talking to your device - no screen-touching required. iOS, free
Hawaiian Blue, pictured here, is just one of a spectrum of bold colours from Vancouver-based People Footwear. Comfy rubberised foam EVA outsoles make for an incredibly lightweight range of summer shoes. $89
Unwilling to compromise audio quality for portability? The XDP-100R can play hi-res, WAV and FLAC files at 384 kHz/24-bit resolution, and DSD files at up to 11.2 MHz, or stream losslessly from Tidal and Apple Music. £499
Build a range of constructible rides that will see your child through from toddler to teenager. Sidestep the LEGO and Meccano, and teach them how to create a walker, scooter, tricycle, bicycle, go-kart, skibock and more. From €349
This connected digital photo frame can tune in to an event, hashtag or friendship group-specific photo channels from Dropbox, Facebook and Instagram. Browse through a photo stream and Favourite, Like or bookmark the current post. $199
The xDrive edition of BMW's 7 Series - available in the UK for the first time - means this long-wheelbase runabout can also handle off-road action. If you can bear the mud splashes, it's a smooth ride for rough terrain. £76,010
Capture all the warmth and ambience of your vinyl collection in high definition with this sleek digital turntable's DSD 5.6MHz-format audio conversion. Transferred by USB to your PC or Mac, and converted to WAV or DSD files, the fine nuances of your analogue favourites can be made available for on-the-go listening. It's also a cracking turntable in its own right. £449
A collaboration between designer Ruben Pater and composer Goncalo F Cardoso, Drone Acoustics explores our obsession with drones. Seventeen field recordings of drones, from military to consumer, are backed with an unsettling soundscape. LP £16; download £7
Japanese stationary brand Midori's latest pencil is made from cedar wood, aluminium and turned brass (the finish oxidises over time). Bullet-shaped when closed, its two-part design opens to create a full-length drawing tool. £15
Ideal for nursing plants in small spaces, Caroline Wetterling's clever little greenhouse measures just 14cm x 8cm, enough for a little soil and a seedling. The removable top features a lip for easy watering. £29.50
This wristband is a boon for anyone braving shark-infested waters this surfing season. It emits magnetic waves that interfere with the sea predators' electrical receptors, sending them swimming in the opposite direction. €70
This remote connects to key entertainment services and smart-home control systems. Access your digital channels, streaming services and lighting settings with a simple voice command or few taps of the touchscreen. $499
Outsmart the sommelier by scanning wine-bottle labels to match them against ratings from a community of oenophiles. iOS, android, Windows, free
Cold-forged from corrosion-resistant 316L stainless steel, its black diamond-like carbon coating is polished to a mirror finish - perfect paired with a bright strap. Oh, and it's also a pretty good smartwatch… From £479
The newest Kindle's odd wedge shape is, in fact, a genius idea - shifting the device's centre of gravity to one side makes the Oasis a pleasure to hold for long reading sessions. And yes, it automatically flips for lefties £270
Leaving aside its natty yellow-and-black finish, the Beecaster is the perfect podcast mic for budding audio fanatics. It has four sound pickup patterns - mono, stereo and wide or focused stereo - and the ability to produce high-res audio. €200
Still struggling with your new MacBook's sole USB-C port? This 45g hub expands your options to USB 3.0 and Micro and Micro SD card. It comes in silver, gold or space grey, to complete the camoufla€e. $35
Holy construction kits, Batman! This LEGO set harks back to the camp heyday of the 60s Batman TV series, and includes Bruce Wayne and Batman, Dick Grayson and Robin, Catwoman, the Joker, Alfred, the Riddler and the Penguin mini-figs. Slide down the hidden Batpoles in Wayne Manor's library and fight injustice with the show-accurate Batmobile, Batcopter and Batcycle. £230
Swapping LEDs for lasers, this Android-based touchscreen-controlled projector delivers an 80-inch, 1280 x 720 HD image from just 2.4m away. A 500-lumen brightness rating makes for a clear and sharp image. £tbc
This ingenious soundbar has two detachable wireless speakers - break them away from the main bar for surround sound. These moveable marvels can also act as portable Bluetooth speakers. £600
Available in sandalwood and jasmine, fig, and white tea and ginger, Meraki's natural room sprays leave spaces crisp and clean, without the lingering synthetic whiff of some lesser air fresheners. £13.50
This thin and adaptable A6 speaker produces spacious sound in any position, from wall to floor. A technical wool-blend fabric cover, created by Kvadrat, provides perfect acoustic transparency. £799
This adventure-ready camera is waterproof to 20 metres, shockproof to a two-metre drop and cold-proof to -10°C. A wide-angle lens captures up to 204° of 4K video; pick Narrow mode for a more natural 151° perspective. $299
Finished in cedar, cherry and fir wood over a recycled-foam core, this Texas-inspired 13.6kg stand up paddle board is ideal for speeding along on calm-water stretches. $2,300
Made from hand-blown borosilicate glass, this funnel sits neatly atop your wine glass or carafe, where its food-grade polymer filter will remove sulphites and sediment as you pour out your vintage. From $60
As slim as a smartphone, but with the ability to take stunning DSLR-quality photos, this portable camera captures shots of up to 52MP. Easy touchscreen navigation, built-in Wi-Fi and on-board editing tools seal the deal. £tbc
SkiLynx logs your activity to build a record across seasons and resorts. You can also arrange meet-ups using location-aware messaging. iOS, £2.29
The ENVY's 34-inch curved screen places you in the middle of the action. Its NVIDIA GeForce 960A card delivers sharp graphics and the six speakers are tuned by Bang & Olufsen. £2,000
Each of the 8.3 million pixels on this television's OLED screen can be switched off individually to produce deep blacks and provide powerful-looking contrast. A diode film is applied directly to the glass sheet for an ultra-thin profile. £tbc
The superb 12.9-inch model boasts Apple's most vivid Retina display to date and the highest resolution of any iOS device. Its 9.7-inch sibling has a 12MP iSight camera, and can record 4K video and up to 63MP panoramas. From £499
Perfect for small to medium rooms - including steamy bathrooms - this Wi-Fi speaker can play hi-res audio and be stereo paired. The Go Pack adds portability with a twist-on battery and Bluetooth. £199 (speaker); £79 (Go Pack)
Holy construction kits, Batman! This LEGO set harks back to the camp heyday of the 60s Batman TV series, and includes Bruce Wayne and Batman, Dick Grayson and Robin, Catwoman, the Joker, Alfred, the Riddler and the Penguin mini-figs. Slide down the hidden Batpoles in Wayne Manor's library and fight injustice with the show-accurate Batmobile, Batcopter and Batcycle. £230
If you want a break from all things WIRED, Mont-rebei Gorge has been uncrossed by road, railway or electricity line. Widely considered to be one of northern Spain's best hikes, the walls of the 500-metre-deep gorge, now a wildlife refuge, are at points close to within 20 metres of each other. The trail is an old bridle path carved halfway up the vertical wall - a head for heights is recommended.
Made from New Zealand merino wool, Allbirds' shoes wick away sweat, keep your feet warm in winter and cool in summer, and are soft enough to wear sock-free. They're even machine washable. $95
A toy that makes more toys? Has the world gone mad? Using templates on its app, this 3D printer can turn out goodies from jewellery to dinosaurs - and you can also design your own playthings. $299
No mere rubber duck, Edwin is packed with tech, from accelerometers to touch sensors and Bluetooth. He's a games controller, a night light and, thanks to an integrated thermometer, can monitor bath water temperature. $99
Smoke alarms are essential, but it's what you do once they go off that could save your life. The Saver Emergency Breath System filters out smoke, carbon monoxide and other toxic gases, and dust. From $69
Swapping the conventions of speaker design for the inspiration of architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bluetooth-connected Pavilion rests on a high-density concrete base that provides a solid vibration dampener. Inside, an attractive copper spiral boosts lower frequencies from a 20W full-range Tymphany Peerless transducer to produce clean and warm bass sound. $389
This "clean" dirt bike is powered by a 22Ah lithium polymer battery and has a top speed of 55kph. There's also an optional dongle to sync sensor information on battery level, speeds and torque to your smartphone. £3,500
This UK-made off-road trike is an updated version of the model that journeyed across the Antarctica to the South Pole in 2013. It has a heat-treated 4130 chromoly frame, a Rohloff XL 14-speed gear hub and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. £4,232
This micro drum-machine is a pedal pre-loaded with more than 200 patterns across 21 genres. Featuring live drum recordings, rather than synthetic beats, adds a realistic edge. And it's all controlled at the tap of a foot. $29
You want proper coffee outdoors? You got it. This rugged and rust-resistant brewer pumps out cups of coffee in three different sizes from K-Cup coffee packs in less than 90 seconds drawing on its 2.5-litre water tank. $250
Teach yourself to play the music on your iTunes playlist. Capo Touch identifies chords when you open a song; you play along at your own pace. iOS, £7.99
Tracksmith makes design-led running kit that looks the part whether you're pounding pavements or going into town. Colours are understated more than garish, but with plenty of technical know-how. Tops from $55
A classic style remodelled with luxury materials, the Royal has a Phylon midsole to house Nike's signature Max Air unit. A synthetic suede upper and leather heel wrap completes the iconic design. £190
Available in rhodium or gold, these reflective, UK-made cufflinks have a brass base which is electroplated using nanotechnology methods, a technique usually reserved for electronics. £140
Offering the protection of a briefcase with the flexibility of a bag, the Oxberry comes with a shockproof laptop sleeve. It is made from recycled bottles finely woven into a stylish, canvas-like textile. £129
This collection of receptacles from Stockholm-based agency Studio E.O aims to juxtapose geometric and organic forms. Still-pliable hand-blown glass vessels are married with cut marble, granite or onyx, then gravity determines the final shape. The designers say it creates "interplay between a fragile material and its solid counterpart". WIRED says they look rather nice. From €550
Thin LED strips enclosed in a traditional blown-glass envelope create the look and feel of a traditional Edison-style bulb with more than 100 lumens of warm light, while delivering over 90 per cent more energy efficiency. From £13
This electric kart has a top speed of 19kph and customisable bodywork, but its real selling point is its parent-friendly app, with speed control, geo-fencing and emergency stop button. $499
Designed by WIRED favourites Francesco Pellisari and Ron Arad, this Apple AirPlay and Bluetooth speaker looks as stunning as it sounds. Key features include three 125W amps, a carbon composite woofer and two silk dome tweeters. £500
This award-winning range of bathroom storage products comes from creative consultancy MAP Project Office. It's simple to install - just attach using wall mounts that are fixed with high-strength, moisture-resistant tape. From $20
Based on the modular aluminium platform used for the XE and XF, this is the first SUV in Jaguar's 70-year history. The car comes in at just 298kg, meaning its economy is superb in its class at 24.5kpl combined fuel economy. What's more, the F-PACE can hit 0-100kph in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 209kph.
The SUV has a number of new technologies, including an improved touchscreen InControl Touch Pro entertainment system. WIRED's favourite part, however, is the waterproof Activity Key: an RFID wristband that can be used to lock and unlock the vehicle should you wish to leave the keys in the car. From £34,170
This south London operation roasts sublime single-origin beans for mail-order subscribers. It also doubles as a social enterprise, employing homeless people to work in its roastery and shop. £7.50 for 225g
With three small holes for your brew to drip through, this filter slows things right down. The pot comes with a silicone heat seal and a bamboo lid to keep two cups' worth of coffee warm. 449 DKK
PAUSE invokes your body's in-built rest-and-digest response. Interact with an on-screen circle and improve concentration and relaxation. iOS, Android, £1.50
London's Chin Chin Labs serves the best ice cream in the UK. The flavours, such as burnt butter caramel and blueberry gin, lure us, but the fact that each ice cream is made to order using liquid nitrogen has the competition licked.
With an impressive 10ATM rating, this is the world's first action-sports smartwatch powered by Android Wear. It's particularly useful for surfers and snowboarders, as it comes with apps that deliver real-time wave and snow reports. £tbc
Featuring rubberised cotton with double-welded seams, silver buttons and hemp strings, the Stockholm is based on founder Alexander Stutterheim's grandfather's old raincoat. From £130
This smart and innovative piece of stationary has a rotating brass screw which allows writers to regulate lead and nib length with a simple turn of the unit - a technique borrowed from compasses used in architectural drawing. £33
As well as a rotating blade for cutting mint, coriander and parsley very finely, the Herb Mill also has a stripping mechanism for removing rosemary and thyme from tough stems and stalks. £22
The DX802 has a polished aluminium frame and fabric-covered 12-speaker soundbar that blends unobtrusively into a living room. The 4K UHD LED screen offers outstanding contrast. £tbc
A screen-free coding toy for children aged three plus, Primo's Cubetto has physical building blocks that can be put together like a jigsaw to help to teach Cubetto, a wooden robot, how to move from A to B. $225
This book surveys the work of Aaron James Draplin and his Draplin Design Co. Striking logos, campaigns and record covers are mixed with pithy advice and commentary on the 21st-century design scene. $40
Made from wood and silicone, these non-stick utensils are a cut above wooden servers. Choose from spaghetti server, basting brush, spoon, turner and ladle - all scratch- and heat-resistant. From €10
The traditional bicycle bell has typically been an obvious flaw in a bike's sleek design. The Oi abandons the bulbous shape for a simple band that wraps round the handlebars and produces a precisely pitched multi-tonal ring. $26 AUD
Portable speakers don't come prettier than this. Finished in Kvadrat wool and available in five colours, it features two 50mm Vifa units with aluminium cones and two 65mm sandwich cones to produce rich sound. €499
Land Rover's scale model of its off-road icon is the most faithfully constructed toy car WIRED has seen, right down to the mud flaps, running bars, spring suspension and a full braking system. £10,000
Suffering from bothersome builders or noisy neighbours? The Noise App makes it quick and easy to record auditory disturbance and report it. iOS, Android, free
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
