Always be prepared. Even if it's not raining, toss one of these one-size-fits-pretty-much-everybody (they're 50" X 80"") yellow polyethylene hooded ponchos in the car, another in your backpack, a third in your coat pocket or purse. They're thin, emergency-type protection and come folded up in a packet about 3" x 5" x 1/2" thick. You get (3) because you just can't be too prepared.

This one's easier to toss, cuz it folds in half. Johnny Appleseed would have carried one of these if he'd had our web address. Our folding garden trowel is a 5-3/4" x 2-1/8" when inside its black canvas belt carrier, but opens and locks to 8-7/8" long. All stainless steel, so there are no rust problems for you itinerant gardeners.

Including bubbles as big as your grandmother. You get 2 oz of fluid; (4) straws; a mouthpiece; cubical, pyramid, star and round frames, 108" of yarn (for the bubbe-sized bubble); a tray and instructions for (11) kinds of bubble activities. For ages 5 and up.

Have a blast at the family picnic or your next traffic jam -- or when boating, coaching the soccer team, or calling the kids for dinner. This lightweight megaphone is only 8-1/2" long, with a 5-1/2" dia horn and a fold-down handle, but its 5-watt power output lets you project up to 165 yards. Volume control, on/off switch, voice/siren option, hi-impact ABS body that's shock and weather resistant. Use the nylon strap to hang it from your wrist or around your neck. Uses (4) "C" batteries (not included).

When the lights go out, and everything else goes with them, grab this dynamo light, radio, siren and power source. The am/fm radio has an antenna; the flashlight switches from (1) to (3) LEDs, all through collimating lenses; and there are both a 1/8" headphone jack and a 3.5mm power output jack, plus a 22" USB jumper cord. All this in a packable 7-1/2" long x 2" dia hand-crank flashlight-shaped unit with a recharging storage battery.

An exhausted physicist. Also this 3-1/4" dia camping lantern. Stands 5” tall with fold-down handles, but pull up those handles and reveal the super-bright, a whopping 600 lumen COB LED light inside. Turns on when you open it, and has a small compass on top so you can see where you’re going. Measures approx 7” open and will shine for approx (6) hours with a trio of “AA” batteries, which are included. In utilitarian gray ABS plastic.

Looks like an antacid tablet, a white disc 13/16" dia x 3/8" thick, but drop it in water and the rayon instantly expands into a 9" x 13" reusable wipe. Can you say handy? No mother should ever leave the house without a few in her purse and no glove compartment is complete without a handful.

How to shoot an azimuth for fun and profit: Get the ultimate direction finder, a lensatic compass. It has a 2-1/8" dia face marked in 5-degree increments, a 1/4" dia sight lens, 9/16" dia bubble level, and a 1-1/2" sight with crosshairs. Measures 3-1/4" x 2-1/2" x 1-1/8" when folded and comes with an 18" long cord and an olive drab belt pouch. For instructions, go to www.armystudyguide.com, click on "prep for basic" then "land navigation," then click on "determine a magnetic azimuth using a lensatic compass." Piece o' cake.

Camper alert: nothing says temporary water storage like this collapsible translucent PVC water jug. Holds 3-3/4 gallons (15L) and measures 11-1/2” x 10” x 9” when full, but flattens to cargo-pants-pocket size when empty. Includes a 3-3/8” handle, and a screw-on cap/spigot. Would also hold about a case-and-a-half of pinot grigio for bachelorette parties in the woods.

Go ahead. If you've got your glow-in-the-dark compass with you, you can find your way back without having to grope around trying to feel the moss on the north side of the trees. In brass, 2" dia x 1/2" thick, with a bezel with 2-degree increments and a 13/16" dia hook on top.

The Survival Bottle itself is an acrylic, 27-ounce water bottle with a screwcap and keeper. Inside is a compressed towel that magically expands to 23" x 11-1/2", a 52" x 82" Mylar blanket, a 3" x 1" magnesium fire-starting block with a 3" saw blade, a 5-function pen-knife/tool, and a whistle/thermometer/compass/mirror/magnifier/LED flashlight combo (phew!) powered by a couple of included coin cell batteries.

Special for bottlesquashers. This collapsible cup collection brings together your two favorite hydration intake problems for people on the go. Your cup of morning Joe and exercising on the go. Both are non-toxic silicone bottles. (In assorted colors) The water bottle starts out like a little squat barrel approx 5-1/2” x 2-3/4” dia, but pull up on the top and it rises to a full 9” tall. Flip cap has a screw-down lock, and there’s a carabiner near the neck to hang it from. Holds approx 17 oz. Our squishable silicone coffee cup looks like the takeaway cups you get at coffee shops, complete with the slide-up cuff that keeps your fingers from burning or freezing. Holds 10 oz and stands 5” tall x 3-1/4” dia at the top. Push on its head and watch it sink to just half its size. Must have for people on the move.

This digital stopwatch includes a clock, alarm clock and lap modes. Reading appears in a 7/8" x 7/16" tall LCD display, graduated down to 1/100th of a second. Includes a 16" neck cord. From United Scientific. In assorted, but dignified, coach-appropriate colors.

More compass than you usually get for the price, this transparent plastic, liquid-filled version is 1-15/16" dia with a black outer ring marked every 5 degrees and knurled for easy turning. Bottom has lines and an arrow for ease of plotting. On a 17" long neck cord.

What a bright idea! Our emergency blanket is reflective silver Mylar on both sides. Measures 68" long x 23" wide x a heat-sealing 1/16" thick. Comes with attached straps to roll it up and store it, plus a little carabiner to clip it to a pack. Keep it in the car and it might save your life. Or use it as a slim 21st century bedspread if you have a stainless steel bedroom.

Orienteerer alert. This compass has (3) scales and a 4X magnifier. Can be used to read topographical and tourist maps, and to determine azimuthal locations. Perfect for use with overhead projectors. The 2” dia compass is graduated from 0-360 degrees in 2-degree increments, has a liquid-filled capsule, declination correction scale and luminous points, and hangs on a yellow lanyard. Meridian lines help with accurate plotting of angles. Scales are in mm 1:25K, 1:50K. Measures 2.5" (60mm) x 5.5" (140mm).

Next time you hang an air freshener from your rear-view mirror, make it something your passengers will remember. These are all approx 4” to 5” long and bring a little something to the party that a paper pine tree can only dream of. You pick the creepy hairless cat in a Buddha pose, smelling of sandalwood; the bubblegum-scented rubber chicken; or the largest tardigrade (aka moss bear or water piglet) in the universe, redolent of green apples.

Four carabiners, no waiting. These are for keys and stuff, not for hanging around Mt. Everest. We'll pick a quartet of 2-3/4" x 1-3/8" carabiners in assorted vibrant anodized-aluminum colors, including black and polished silver. They open to a max of 5/8" and each has a complimentary 7/8" slip-ring at absolutely no extra charge.