Welcome to our 2018 Back-to-School Guide. This year we have some fun and geeky products from laptops to speakers to fun dorm room accessories for you. Stick around to the end to see all the fun our writers have put together for you and their recommendations to get you through this 2018-2019 school year!
Electronics
Tapplock one
Price: $99.00
Tapplock One does away with the need for keys when locking up those valuables at school. Just scan your fingerprint and it unlocks in under 0.8 seconds. Sharing a locker with someone? The Tapplock one can store up to 500 fingerprints. You can even revoke, set limited or permanent access with the free app.
Altec Lansing AquaBliss Shower Speaker
Price: $19.99
For the college student who wants the tunes and the tones in the shower, let them never miss a call in the shower with the Altec Lansing AquaBliss Shower Speaker. With the “Just Ask” Siri or OK Google feature you they can use their virtual assistant in the shower without worrying about damaging their smartphone.
mophie powerstation AC
Price: $199.95
$200 might sound like a lot for a power station but to my student, it’s a godsend. There have been times when he needed to charge his laptop, phone, and his iPad on a road trip and he was thankful to have a charger like this on hand. The mophie powerstation AC can give your phone 100 extra hours, large table 21 extra hours, USB-C laptop 15 hours, and a DSLR camera 8 extra hours. All that and it’s 15% slimmer than most chargers.
Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible
Price: $289
For your middle or high school kids who need to work independently on projects like research papers and presentations, consider an Acer Chromebook R 11 Convertible rather than a more expensive laptop. Acer’s model swivels to work as a tablet for e-book reading or presentation. – Submitted by GeekMom Marziah Karch
Rocketbook Notebooks
Price: $16 – $32
Rocketbook Notebooks are physical notebooks, but with two geeky and highly useful features. For one, Rocketbook Notebooks are reusable (each in their own unique way). The other standout feature is that Rocketbook Notebooks work with an app so that notes can be digitized and even streamlined into the location of your choosing with built-in automation. – Submitted by GeekDad Skip Owens
Momentum Cori
Price: $58.00
I love the simplicity of setting up the Momentum Cori cameras and knowing I can trust to check in on my house while I’m at work. As a back to school item, this is great for parents of virtual students that have a regular job and need to check in on their student during the day. I have a camera on our desk so I can see my son and make sure he’s focusing on what he should be focusing on.
mophie Charge Stream Travel Kit
Price: $49.95
Have power will travel. That’s the motto of the Charge Stream Travel Kit by Mophie. It comes with everything you need to power your devices and in a neat little package. The kit comes complete with a stream pad mini, 2.4A car adapter, 4.9ft USB-A to micro-USB cable, and a 2.4 wall adapter. Apple users just need to toss in a lighting cable and you are good to go. Throw this in your backpack and you are set to charge anywhere.
Razor Power A2
Price: $199.99
Let your student get to school in style with the Razor Power A2 scooter. With a maximum speed of 11mph and a total distance of 6 miles on a single charge, its perfect for the beginner student to take to the sidewalk to get to class. It’s a kick-to-start system and even when it runs out of juice can still function as a normal kick-to-run scooter. The break is an integrated rear-fender system. It folds easily and is a decent enough weight to carry if needed.
myCharge HubMini
Price: $49.98
myCharge HubMini is the perfect charger for a student. Since it has an android and Apple charger built in, there’s no need to remember to pack a cable in that already busy backpack. This is a “there’s no excuse for your phone to not be charged” charger.
iFrogz Cocoon Earbud Charging Case
Price: $29.99
No backpack is complete without something to listen to your favorite tunes with. The iFrogz Earbud Charging Cocoon case is perfect for protecting and charging your favorite buds. On a full charge, the cocoon can charge your buds an average of 5 times!
InvisibleShield Glass+ 360° for the Apple iPhone X
$69.99
For the iPhone X users who don’t want to hide that beautiful look behind a case, check out the InvisibleShield Glass+ 360° for the Apple iPhone X You still get the sleek look of the phone with the full capability of the wireless charging all without a bulky case holding you down. Besides. Your backpack weighs you down enough right?
olloclip Mobile Photography Box Set for iPhone X
Price: $99.99
For the photography student lucky enough to have the iPhone X, set them up for success with the olloclip Mobile Photography Box Set. It comes with the ability to take micro, macro, and fisheye-style photos without more than a click and clip. The included carry clip doubles as a simple tripod.
olloclip slim case for iPhone X
Price: $29.99
Protect your student’s iPhone while also giving them the ability to take some amazing photos with the olloclip slim case for the iPhone X. The case works with the olloclip Mobile Photography Box Set (sold separately).
Bags
Spencer’s Has The Bag You Are Looking For
Price: Varies
Need a backpack with a bit more spunk than your traditional black on black? Maybe a child with a bit more personality than a minimalist artist with one color to their paintbrush pallet? Hit up Spencer’s Gifts for a unique bag that will get them noticed for their sense of coolness. My son gave their Exclusive Nintendo Cooler Backpack ($39.99) 10 out of 10 for creativeness when it arrived on our doorstep for his upcoming school year.
dB Equipment The Hacker Laptop Case 15”
Price: $159
For my MacBook Pro, I love to use my dB Equipment The Hacker Laptop Case. It’s as basic as it comes for grab-and-go times. The outer Essentials Case fits my power brick nicely and has zipper compartments that can also hold my keys or other small items as well. The Hacker comes in 15″ and 13″ sizes.
Incase Designs Corp. Path Backpack
Price: $79.95
Play it simple with The Path Backpack by Incase Designs this year. The 23.6L backpack can hold your 15″ laptop and is made of a durable abrasion resistant 840D nylon. This is the perfect minimalist’s bag for the college student who needs to keep it simple.
Nylon Accessory Bag
Price: $49.95
Keep your backpack organized with the Nylon Accessory Organizer from Incase Designs. It has a bi-fold compartment that will hold your phone, battery bank, cables, charging adapters, and more. Made of a mix of nylon, faux fur, and polyester.
ECOlunchboxes Furoshiki ECOsnacksack Kit
Price: $30.00
ECOlunchbox makes some fun and eco-friendly lunch box options for the whole family. The Furoshiki ECOsnacksack Kit is a fun little kit that includes two stainless steel snack containers and a bamboo spork that fit nicely inside the eco-friendly bag that was inspired by Japanese culture. What I like about this bag is that it’s small enough to be a reusable snack bag for sandwiches or it can be a lunch bag by itself.
ECOlunchette Splash Box
Price: $22.99
For those that need to hold a little more, ECOlunchbox makes the Splash Box, a leak-proof stainless steel box with a watertight lid design that can be tossed in your backpack without worry of it leaking all over those expensive books.
Solo Backpack
Price: $45.99
Back to school means a backpack. And the Solo Backpack holds plenty (although the side pouch isn’t big enough for a water bottle, so just be aware). Otherwise, it’s great. – Submitted by GeekMom Nivi Engineer
Ms. Bento Lunch Jar
Price: $30.00
For your high school student or responsible younger student. Give the gift of hot lunches from home with Ms. Bento Lunch Jar. Microwave and stack the soup and main course compartments in the morning, and they’ll still be warm at lunchtime. Or keep salads and dressings cold. – Submitted by GeekMom Marziah Karch
Clothing and Wearables
Casio EDIFICE EQB900
Price: $389
Casio makes quality timepieces and this one is no exception. The EDIFICE EQB900 is Solar-powered and relies on a Bluetooth connection to the phone for a few of the settings. For students who live in one time zone but have classes that submit in another, the bottom register gives you the option to see a second-time zone. This is a great tool to keep up with what time to get stuff in by.
Peace Frogs
Peace Frogs clothing helps to promote positive and optimistic thinking with peace-inspiring messages on their beachy style clothing. I’m in love with their Karma Full Zip French Terry Hood sweatshirt. It’s the perfect jacket for those days when it’s too hot out for a jacket but too cold inside not to have something.
http://www.peacefrogs.com/product/347/19 (SM).
Accessories
BIC Color Collection by Conte Felt Pen, Assorted Colors, 10-Count
Price: $9.96
From Art projects to Social Studies Maps and even some downtime sans electronics the bold,
the vibrant color of the BIC Color Collection by Conte Coloring Felt Pens unleash your students
creativity. – Submitted by GeekMom MJ Kaufmann
DrinKup Water Bottle
Price: $69
Keep track of your students hydration with the DrinkKup water bottle. The free app and sensor cap tells you how much they’ve had and how much they have left to go before they are properly hydrated for the day. Keep track of how much they reach their daily goal and what time of day they seem to be at their best when it comes to drinking up.
Titanium Bean Bag by Sumo Lounge
Price $479
Sumo Lounge has the college student in need of a comfy place for studying covered. The Titanium Bean Bag is large enough to relax or get some much-needed reading done and comes in 15 colors to match any room. I reviewed the Gigantor a few months back and love how comfortable it is.
Fully Adjustable Height Desks
Price: $159 +
Thinking of your student’s health and happiness with regard to their homework/work space,
Fully offers a wide range of adjustable height standing desk converters, full-fledged adjustable
height desks, and movement inducing seating options. The Cora, recently reviewed by GeekDad,
is an affordable standing desk converter. Couple that with a Tic Toc stool and your student will
love doing their homework! Well, maybe not… but they will at least enjoy their pleasant
workspace. – Submitted by GeekDad Ryan Hiller
No matter what products you use to survive the educational hurdles in front of you, we wish you and your student luck in this coming school year!
Disclaimer: Some of the items listed may have been sent to the writers who included them.
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