Gadgets: Great tools for your yard

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

You would be hard-pressed to find a professional landscaper who doesn’t use STIHL gas-powered equipment, since it is the pinnacle in the industry. It's not a stretch to say that the company achieves the same status with its battery-powered handheld tools.

Case in point: the STIHL BGA 50, a 36-volt battery-powered handheld leaf blower set designed for homeowners. After using it for a few weeks in my medium-sized yard, I was consistently on the prowl, looking for debris to blow off. Sure, I was having fun with it, but the performance was second to none.

If I had to choose just one feature that made it stand out, by far it was the consistency of the battery power with the BGA 50’s intelligent electronics from the time it was freshly charged until the battery needed recharging. Similar devices from other brands experience power degradation as the battery's capacity decreases. The four-level power display on the back of the battery accurately let me know when it was about to need a charge.

If gas-powered is your thing, I get it. The power is there, but switching to batteries for home use is the way to go in my book. All you do is plug it in at the back of the blower, and you’re ready to go. There’s nothing else to do except carry the well-balanced lightweight tool around to where it's needed. The relatively quiet 4.8-pound blower has an on/off trigger under the soft-touch rubber handle. It’s also variable speed, controlled by how hard you press the trigger.

I haven’t used previous STIHL battery-operated blowers, but they tout this one as offering more than a 20% increase in blowing force over the previous generation, along with reduced weight and quieter operation. Having a battery-powered blower that starts and stops instantly is beneficial for daily yard work, but having it in seasons when leaves and buds litter your driveway and garage hourly is key.

Included with the BGA 50 set is an AK 20 battery, an AL 101 battery charger, and a blower tube. Purchasing an extra battery is always a good idea. STIHL is offering a $50 promotion through the end of June.

https://www.stihlusa.com/en/p/leaf-blowers-blowers-vacuum-shredders-bga-50-battery-powered-blower-1029003#bga-50-set-1029003. $249.99

The CableStay from TwelveSouth has to be the simplest, but most useful gadget you can get. Instantly, it solves the problem of finding a missing cable that slid off your nightstand, behind your desk, or wherever your charging station is.

Almost any charging cable -- a 5-foot woven USB-C cable is included -- slides under a groove of the weighted anchor. There’s enough room for smooth-glide cable movement either way, while keeping it in place so the charging tip can't enter the bottom-sided tunnel. Nothing but weight keeps it in place, nothing magnetic or friction.

The 1.85 × 1.22 × 0.39-inch CableStay is designed to sit on any flat surface and features a silicone top, a weighted polycarbonate base and a strong cable. The color-matched, strong, woven cable is rated to deliver up to 60 watts of power. Of course, you can use other charging cables besides the one included.

Color choices for the $29.99 CableStay include slate, dune, mint, and fuchsia. A color-matched cable wrap is also included.

https://www.twelvesouth.com/products/cablestay

TravlFi’s JourneyGo 5G Mobile Hotspot is the premier gadget to take with you on vacation this summer. The pocket-sized device connects to the strongest available signal across multiple major networks. This ensures you’ll be able to surf the internet from almost anywhere while staying connected for maps, directions and finding local restaurants, whether you’re traveling or relaxing at a remote campground.

The JourneyGO 5G Hotspot, ideal for those who have to work on the go, is about the size of a smartphone and features a 2.4-inch touchscreen. It’s IP54 waterproof-rated and supports up to 16 devices. Inside is a 5,000 mAh battery, good for up to 24 hours of use. The Wi-Fi range is rated for 75 to 100 feet and runs on 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax WiFi 6 - Dual Band 2.4 GHz + 5GHz. 5G speeds are listed as 25 to 150 Megabits per second and a 180 peak. For 4G 15 Mbps to 40 Mbps with a 75 Mbps peak.

The hotspot hardware is $299. There are a variety of month-to-month data, contract-free plans starting at $19 for a 2G plan and going up to unlimited for $129 per month, with options in between so you have what you need. A data estimator on the TravlFi site includes a 5-minute quiz to help you choose a plan that meets your needs.

https://travlfi.com