Toys / Tools / Technology

LEGO SPEED CHAMPIONS // lego.com

Many young men dream of driving fast cars. Sports cars cost money, so they get jobs. Priorities change as they age. Great vehicles are measured in reliability, gas mileage, cargo space. Does it have the anchor hooks for a baby car seat?

The minivan might be inevitable, but you can still have your toys. In fact, you can still have a Bugatti or a McLaren. You just have to build it yourself.

The LEGO Speed Champions line features detailed models of famous sports cars. You can build a Ferrari, Ford, or Porsche out of LEGO bricks, then pretend you're racing to the finish line.

Serious racers only. LEGO Speed Champions kits start at $20.

DAD CAP // countdowncaps.com

We've all seen baseball caps that celebrate special events, like a birthday or wedding anniversary. Trouble is, they quickly become out of date. Do you really want to celebrate turning 40 until the cap wears out?

The makers of Countdown Caps had a great idea: make part of the cap removable, so you can use them over and over. The new baby is due in 3 months... 2 months... 1 month... overdue!

The Dad Cap uses the same system to display your current Dad Status. Are you driving the kids to practice? Mark yourself as CHAUFFEUR. Lighting the barbecue? Switch to CHEF. Going out for a run? Probably not, so mark yourself as OFF DUTY and settle into a comfy chair. Let's face it, that's the one you're going to wear out.

The Dad Cap goes for about $20.

PUNCHING BAG // amazon.ca

Stressed at work? Feel like punching something? Here's a suggestion:

The desktop punching bag from Tonyko attaches to a desk (or any smooth flat surface) with a giant suction cup. Once it's secured, you can relieve stress from the comfort of your office chair. The bag is strong enough to take a punch and bounce back, thanks to the heavy spring below. Bob and weave to your heart's content as you jab until your coffee break is over. The package includes an air pump to ensure that the ball is always inflated and ready for action.

The Tonyko desktop punching bag sells for about $25.

POP FLY // bugasalt.com

Forget your fly swatter. Put down the newspaper. Reach for Bug-A-Salt, the best way to kill a fly.

Bug-A-Salt lives at the intersection of hunting and pest control. Just load the gun, remove the safety, aim, and fire. Ordinary table salt becomes a hail of tiny projectiles that are lethal to flies and other bugs, at a range of up to 3 feet.

Bug-A-Salt is non-toxic, air-powered, and requires no batteries. It works without squishing or zapping, so dead bugs can be removed without any further cleanup.

Bug-A-Salt sells for about $45. Optional laser sight attachment sold separately.

COFFEEOMETER MUG // hammacher.com

Cold brewed coffee is a mystery to me. Is it hot coffee that's chilled before serving? Is it coffee steeped in cold water then warmed up to serve? Either way, cold coffee is not my cup of tea. If you like your coffee piping hot, this item is for you. The Coffeeometer insulated mug plugs into your car's DC power source to keep your java jolting. Perfect beverage temperature is displayed on the side in a nifty analog gauge.

The Coffeeometer mug is available in midnight black or candy apple red, with silver trim and non-skid rubber handle. It sells for about $25.

LOG HEAD REST // kikkerland.com

Log some quality nap time with this lightweight novelty pillow from Kikkerland. The outside cover is made of polyester and spandex. The inside is filled with tiny beads that move and mold to your neck as you put your weight on the pillow.

Sleep like a log. One pillow goes for about $20. To purchase a full cord, contact the manufacturer for an estimate.

HIDDEN BOOKCASES AND SECRET ROOMS // hiddendoorstore.com, hiddenpassageway.com

When I was a kid, my best friend lived in a house designed and built by his father. Each bedroom had a small door that opened to reveal a metal slide. Anything you dropped down the chute would land in the laundry room. If you dropped their cat, it would land on its feet. (You had to get it into the chute first.)

If you could build your own house, what cool feature would you include? A secret passage behind a painting? A revolving fireplace? A fireman's pole that leads to the garage?

These are not crazy ideas. For just a few thousand dollars, you can add something secret and special to your home. The Hidden Door Store and Hidden Passageway are two companies that specialize in this type of custom-built coolness.

For the right price, they can hide a staircase behind a bookshelf, mount a safe behind a painting, or reproduce the entire mansion from the board game Clue. The cat chute may be a little too sophisticated, but you can ask.

Hidden door kits start at $2,500.

KNOTS LANDING // animatedknots.com

Have you ever wanted to learn advanced string theory? Here's your chance.

Animated Knots is a web site that shows you how to tie dozens of different knots. Learn the best and most useful knots in several categories including climbing, boating, fishing, and scouting. They're all here: everything from the Boom Hitch to the Sheet Bend. You can also learn several ways to knot a necktie or bow tie.

Unless you're a boy scout or a sailor you may not be familiar with anything but the slip knot. Step-by-step animated instructions on this site will change that. Before long, you'll be able to turn any rope into a useful work of art. And who knows — you might finally get that Boy Scout merit badge. Check it out at animatedknots.com

DOUBLE CHARGER // anker.com

Frequent travellers know that a mobile phone is only as good as its battery life. The best seats in the airport lounge are the ones next to electrical outlets. You need one plug to charge your phone and another one to charge your battery pack.

Ah, but not anymore. The good folks at Anker have combined a portable battery with a charger, so you have one less thing to carry. Plug into the wall and it charges your phone while it's storing up another full charge for later.

Anker calls it the PowerCore Fusion 5000. You can call it yours for $40.

/ SANDY MCMURRAY writes about games, toys, and gadgets at funspot.ca.