Back-to-school season usually doesn’t deserve a celebration, except by some parents, but it coincides with two other seasons — football and tailgating — with almost universal appeal.
So let’s celebrate in Parking Lot C with some equipment for the tailgater:
Pizzacraft Pizzeria Pronto
What: Portable pizza oven.
Price: $299.95.
Tailgate Tech Rating: 6
Comment: Grilled sausage? Avoid the tailgate cliche with this mini-pizzeria (26 pounds) that runs two hours on a 1-pound propane tank and preheats in 10 minutes. Reaches temperatures of 700 degrees, the type of heat the pros recommend for the perfect pizza. Cooks a pizza in five minutes.
Information: pizzacraft.com
Blacktop 360 Party Hub Grill-Fryer
What: Multipurpose grill.
Price: $249.99
Tailgate Tech Rating: 7
Comment: It sounds like something from a 1980s infomercial: The Party Hub has a grill, griddle and deep fryer. Menu can include an omelet, deep-fried wings or fries and a burger. Propane power, with electric pulse igniter. Maker says grill’s infrared-ceramic burner cooks 50 percent faster than charcoal.
Information: blacktop360.com
iDevices iGrill Mini
What: Bluetooth smart thermometer.
Price: $39.99
Tailgate Tech Rating: 8
Comment: The latest wireless thermometer from iDevices is its smallest, a 2-inch package with an LED display. Follow the cooking progress on the display or with the iGrill Mini app via iOS devices or a new Android version. Magnetic mount. Battery lasts up to 150 hours.
Information: idevicesinc.com
Ion Audio Block Rocker Bluetooth
What: 28-pound portable speaker.
Price: $199.99
Tailgate Tech Rating: 5
Comment: A big boomer that streams music via Bluetooth from a portable device. Includes built-in AM/FM radio to tune in the game in case the tailgate session extends into the first half. Lead-acid battery charge lasts up to 12 hours. High neighbor-annoyance potential: Sound travels, loud and reasonably clear, up to 150 feet with the speaker’s 8-inch woofer driven by a 50-watt amplifier (and highs from a 1-inch silk-dome tweeter).
Information: ionaudio.com
Dish Tailgater
What: Satellite television without a rooftop dish.
Price: $350 for Dish Network customers with compatible receiver or $499 for entire system.
Tailgate Tech Rating: 10
Comment: When the tailgating is so good, the Tailgater brings the game to the parking lot for satellite subscribers. Year-round Dish contract not required: Available with a pay-as-you-go plan. Not included: television.
Information: click here.
SunBrite SB-3270HD HDTV
What: 32-inch, all-weather television.
Price: $1,495
Tailgate Tech Rating: 8
Comment: Powder-coated, rust-proof aluminum exterior designed to protect internal components from rain, snow, dust, insects, salt air and tailgate condiments. Weighs 26 pounds.
Information: sunbritetv.com
Honda EU1000i
What: 1,000-watt portable generator
Price: $949.95
Tailgate Tech Rating: 9
Comment: Excellent compact gas-powered generator for tailgating or emergency use. This inverter weighs less than 29 pounds, runs close to four hours on a full load on 0.6 gallons of gas and is quiet enough (59 decibels) so it won’t disrupt TV viewing or your tailgate neighbors.
Information: powerequipment.honda.com/generators
Power Bacon
What: Pork-scented deodorant
Price: $12.99
Tailgate Tech Rating: 2
Comment: Bring the aroma of the BBQ into the stadium. Never worry about a stress-producing game with its 24-hour, bacon-scented protection. For the BBQ completist only.
Information: jdfoods.net
