Spyglass app
Only available for Apple’s mobile OS at the moment (watch out for confusion with various Android apps carrying the same name), Spyglass is a powerful multi-function navigation tool for outdoor and off-road use. It squeezes data out of every feature of your iPhone or iPad, turning it into a gyrocompass, tactical GPS receiver, waypoint tracker, speedometer, altimeter, sun, moon and Polaris finder and more. And the nice graphic trick is you can overlay all the info on your device’s camera image. Just don’t forget your map if you’re off grid too. €3.59 from the App Store
Vessel portable shower station
First some translation: it’s a wash bag, but one with a clever innovation, albeit a forehead-smackingly obvious one. There are a pair of suction cups on the back, so you can stick it up on your hotel shower wall or mirror and get at everything easily. Ideal when the bathroom is of the boutique/teeny variety. Or you can fasten it to the shower rail thanks to press stud handle straps. $20 from quirky.com
Olympus Stylus TG-3
Another entrant to the compact digital toughie market, Olympus TG-3 is a travel camera. Small and robust, it’s waterproof to 15m (about 50ft), shockproof and yet has a 4 x optical zoom, 16MP sensor and a plethora of modes and filters. The TG-3 is built for sharing too, with wi-fi connectivity and a smartphone app for Android and iOS. Price to be confirmed, but about €350. Shipping begins this month, see olympus.co.uk
betweenideas.blogspot.com