Our pick of the month’s smartest tech
…smart boots that keep your feet safe
Hiking boots, for the most part, all roughly follow the same rugged formula, leaving innovation to one side in favour of tried-and-tested durable construction. However, these new boots are looking to spice things up, or at least add as much spice as you can when it comes to hiking! Terrein hiking boots make it nearly impossible to roll your ankles, saving you from the sprains or injuries you can get from walking on a bumpy path. They do this with pistons that stabilise your foot when you start to slip, preventing a twist or tear in the joint.
Terrein Boots £170, terrein-footwear.com
…super-powered solar panels
Whether you’re living off-grid or preparing for an apocalypse, a good solar energy setup is a great investment. Even more so if it combines portability with storage capacity, This is why Jackery has created the 2000 Pro. It comes with six solar panels and a power station and is capable of charging 2,160Wh in just 2.5 hours (enough to power a projector for 15 hours, or an electric grill for an hour).
Jackery 2000 Pro $6,199, jackery.com
…wireless earbuds for audiophiles
Bluetooth is great for headphones, saving you from getting tangled up in wires. But as any audiophile knows, Bluetooth also stops you getting the full quality of your music. With its new NuraTrue Pro earbuds, Nura is looking to get around this by producing a lossless pair of earbuds. While they’re not cheap, this will be the first pair of Bluetooth earbuds able to receive CD-quality audio.
NuraTrue Pro £299, nurasound.com
…holograms in the home
Even the most jaded tech critics can’t help but get excited when it comes to holograms. While most successful attempts have been at concerts, Proto Hologram hopes to bring holograms into your home for video calls, medical scans and all sorts of other 3D experiences. It’s great in theory, but that’s all it could end up being, if Proto can’t nail the design.
Proto Hologram £TBC, protohologram.com
…a speaker like no other
If you’re bored of the same tired speaker design, this new model from Transparent could be just what you’re looking for. Modelled on the human ear, this made-to-order speaker looks closer to something you’d find in an art gallery. It has Bluetooth and a modular design that allows you to replace or upgrade parts of the speaker.
Acoustic Sculpture £2,350, transpa.rent
IDEAS WE DON’T LIKE…
…AN NFT MEMBERS CLUB
Just when we thought we’d seen all possible types of NFTs, comes a new one: NFT members clubs. Sho Group is a members-only club, restaurant and events scheme. It offers three levels of membership, Earth, Water and Fire, all in the form of NFTs starting at $7,500 and working up to $300,000. These include access to an exclusive restaurant, lounges, online ‘pop-ups’, educational events and a trip to Japan.
Sho Group NFT-based membership
From $7,500, shogroup.com
…A SMARTWATCH THAT’S ALL FLASH AND NO BANG
Making a smartwatch requires striking a balance between function and design to keep the price from reaching ludicrous levels. Louis Vuitton decided to make life easier by making a smartwatch that costs a whopping £3,245. You can’t download apps for it though, as its outdated processor can only perform five functions. So where is all your money going? 24 LED lights that animate the screen, of course!
Tambour Horizon
£3,245, louisvuitton.com