If you’re hosting a Canada Day party this weekend, attending one, or even spending a quiet day at home with the family, you might want to look for some cool gear to kick things up a notch. Whether it’s a solid rugged portable Bluetooth speaker for listening to tunes outside or a portable neck fan to keep you cool in the extreme heat we’ll get getting in some parts of Canada, we have you covered.
JBL Flip 7 Portable Bluetooth Speaker
I reviewed the JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker last year, even took it with me on vacation to Mexico. It’s ultra-compact so I easily threw it into my backpack as carry-on and we used it on the beach, poolside, and in the rooms while relaxing out of the sun. You get up to 16 hour of playtime. With Auracast, wirelessly pair two or more for even bigger sound. Use it at home out on the deck or to play background tunes for your fireworks show. It’s IP68 rated so don’t worry if it gets some splashes or even accidentally falls in the pool (I wouldn’t submerge it purposely, though). It sounds like it’s much bigger than it actually is.
Buy the JBL Flip 7 portable Bluetooth speaker is $189.98 but on sale for $139.98.
Blueair AlwaysCool Handheld Fan
Whether it’s while sitting on your porch in the heat, walking around an amusement park, or chilling at the beach or park, even at your desk, this handheld or desktop fan can come in handy. The Blueair AlwaysCool is powered by Blueair’s proprietary AeroSilent technology. It delivers a strong yet gentle airflow reaching over 17 mph, designed to keep you comfortable, even up close. Its 5,200mAh battery delivers over 32 hours of continuous use per charge. It also runs at a quiet 46dB, down to 23dB at its lowest setting. The lay-flat design and tilting head let you adjust airflow from 0–75° so you can cool at any angle. Personalize the fan speeds from 1-100 with an intuitive scroll button. The LCD shows speed and remaining battery life. You can easily carry the unit in your bag or hold it using the included wristlet.
Buy the Blueair Always Cool Handheld Fan is $83 in Cloud Linen, Arctic Sage, and Night Charcoal.
Coleman Chiller Portable Hard Cooler
If you’re taking the family camping or on a road trip, or maybe just want easy-access drinks outside for a party with neighbours, the Coleman Chiller portable hard cooler comes in various sizes. The Goldilocks model is 16 quarts, large enough to hold up to 25 cans. The TempLock insulation keeps drinks ice cold while the large grip handle makes it easy to carry one-handed. It’s great for fishing trips and picnic lunches, too.
Ultimate Ears Everboom Wireless Bluetooth Portable Speaker
While this portable speaker has an IP67 dust- and water-resistance rating, the company claims it can float in water. While you might want to be safe and keep it by the pool rather than in it, or toss it onto a floatie just in case while it plays tunes for the pool party, you can be confident that a little moisture won’t damage it. It offers 360° bass, customizable EQ, and up to 20 hours of playtime per charge. It has a long 180-foot range as well, so you can keep your phone on the deck while playing tunes wirelessly from itt in the pool.
Buy the Ultimate Ears Everboom Portable Bletooth Speaker for $229.99, on sale for $199.99.
JBL PartyBox Stage 320 Portable Party Speaker
Want bigger sound for a neighbourhood party? The JBL PartyBox stage 320 is a powerhouse outdoor speaker on wheels with a telescopic handle for easily bringing it from the garage to the backyard. Along with JBL Pro Sound, you get a light show and up to 18 hours of play time. Go ahead and set it up by the pool since it’s splashproof. There are even dual mic and guitar inputs for sing-a-longs and karaoke.
Buy the JBL PartyBox Stage 320 portable party speaker for $799.98, on sale for $599.98.
Samsung 55-inch M80H Mini LED TV
Planning to chill at home and watch the World Cup games? The Samsung 55-inch M80H Mini LED TV is a worthy upgrade for the living room, offering the colour and brightness benefits of Mini LED technology. You get Samsung’s AI Gen 2 processor, 4Kupscaling, Dolby Atmos sound, 144Hz refresh rate, and more, so the games will look stunning.
Buy the Samsung 55-inch M80H Mini LED TV for $948, on sale for $798. Go bigger with the 65-inch model for $1,198.
Shokz OpenFit Pro Open-Ear True Wireless Earbuds
If you’re planning to up your fitness game during the long weekend by working out at home, going to the gym (on days it’s open), or starting a morning run or walk ritual, you’ll want a good pair of earbuds. The Shokz OpenFit Pros really impressed me when I reviewed them earlier this year. What’s most impressive about them is that they have noise reduction technology that actually works, even though they don’t plug your ears. While it won’t rival a premium pair of in-ear noise cancelling buds, ambient sounds in a coffee shop, at home, even when walking outside are significantly reduced. These are great for someone who doesn’t like in-ears, secure from rigorous workouts and comfortable enough to wear for hours while on Zooms calls.
Yonanas Classic Fruit Soft Server Maker
Who doesn’t love ice cream in the summer? I do, but I also developed a sensitivity to dairy a few years ago, which means I can’t indulge as often as I’d like (maybe that’s a good thing anyway!) I bought this machine during COVID as a way to make sweet treats I could eat at home, but also as a healthier dessert alternative for my then eight-year-old. It works incredibly well, turning frozen fruit into a soft serve textured dessert that really does look and taste like ice cream. I buy frozen fruits or wash and bag fresh fruit before it goes bad, even bananas, to use. Cleanup is simple and six years later, the machine is still going strong. Use this for a healthy or dairy-free dessert the kids, maybe even mix strawberry yonanas with some vanilla ice cream for a Canada Day themed sweet treat for those who can have dairy.
Buy the Yonanas Classic fruit soft serve maker for $90.06, on sale for $73.76.
Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker
We have hosted countless summer barbecues, and without fail, I’d head to the grocery store the morning of to grab about 10 bags of ice to fill the various coolers outside. While we have a fridge with a built-in ice maker, it can’t produce that much. And the freezer is too full with other things to house pounds and pounds of ice. A portable ice maker like this one is a good idea for anyone who entertains, especially if you have a home bar. This one can make 26 lbs of ice in 24 hours, so you can set it the night before and have it going all day to refill coolers or individual drinks as needed. It has an auto-cleaning mode ad comes with a basket and scoop.
Spin Master 300-Piece Poker Set
My family loves to relax around the table with a poker game in the evenings while enjoying the long weekend. This set has everything you’d need to get a friendly family game going, including 300 professional weight poker chips, a deck of cards, a dealer button, two betting buttons, and five power die. It’s all stored in a durable case with a carry handle so you can bring it along to the house of the next person who hosts.
Ooni Koda 2 Gas Pizza Oven
I have the Pro model, which I reviewed last summer, but if you’re looking for make waves this Canada Day with something other than burgers and hot dogs, consider this machine. It works beautifully for making homemade pizzas in a minute using propane gas. It has a 14-inch cooking surface, delivers even heat distribution, and weighs just 35 lbs. Note that you’ll need a proper surface to place it on. Set up a pizza making station inside with dough, sauce, cheese, and toppings, and get a pizza assembly line going for homemade pies instead of the usual.
Buy the Ooni Koda 1 gas pizza oven for $649. The Ooni Koda 2 Pro model I have is $1,099.
Amazon Fire TV Stick HD Streaming Stick
Do you spend Canada Day at a family member’s house and they don’t have streaming service subscriptions? If this happens and you want to watch some favourite shows or a movie once the kids have gone to bed (or put one on for them while the adults do their own thing), a streaming stick like this one is easy to plug in and set it. You can tap into your accounts, but your login details aren’t saved on their TV. This one is simple and affordable to get the job done so the kids can watch some animated movies or the adults can binge episodes of The Bear.
Monkey Business Beanie Wine Stopper
This isn’t really a tech item but they are too darned cute not to include on the list. These wine stoppers, which the provider calls beanies but every Canadian knows are actually toques, come in a pack of two. The stoppers will preserve leftover wine for the next evening if the party ends before you’re able to finish the bottle. If they party host is a wine over, this would make a cute gift as well.
Shokz OpenSwim Pro Open-Ear Bluetooth Headphones
If you’re going to a pool party, these open-ear headphones are a great option since they’re fully IP68 water-resistant, which means you can wear them while swimming. They are uniquely designed to fit around the heat with a band and the buds sit overtop your ears and use bone conduction technology so you hear the tunes. Since Bluetooth won’t work under water, these have an MP3 mode: switch to this and you can listen to a library of songs you have downloaded to the buds. Use the app to go back and forth. They can store up to 8,000 MP3 music files and be submerged in up to two metres of water. I haven’t yet reviewed this, but I’ll be doing just that this long weekend, so stay tuned! I’m confident they’ll work well, though, based on the many other Shokz earbuds I have reviewed to date and the brand’s overall reputation.
Govee Outdoor Flood Lights 2
Set up a lighted path for guests to follow while going in and outside of the house during the weekend with these flood lights. Customize the colours for Canada Day to be red and white, controlling it all with the app. The great thing is that you can use these for other occasions, too, like with orange lighting for Halloween, red and green for Christmas (they are IP66 rated so it depends where you live and weather conditions), or maybe with your favourite team colours as you watch the World Cup games.