The newest must-have dorm room gadgets

By Phil Hornshaw

It’s almost time to head back to school, and for college-goers, that often means dropping too much stuff back into a too-small dorm room. If there’s a saving grace of dorm living, it’s that it’s possible to seriously save space and effort with some awesome dorm gadgets.

New gadgets are popping up all the time that are worth college students’ consideration, and we’ve compiled a quick list of some of the newest and coolest ones you’ll want to snag before classes start up again.

Quick cooking

The folks over at Panasonic have recognized that the tools you use to cook with like kettles and toasters, while handy and great for saving space, are generally pretty ugly. That’s why the company has rolled out its new Breakfast Collection, which includes a kettle, toaster and coffee maker that all have a stylish look. With a heavy emphasis on stainless steel and cool colors, the Breakfast Collection offers college kids functionality that doesn’t have to be embarrassing to look at. You can find all three items at Amazon, for about $180 each.

Speaking of “food,” The Sharper Image recently added a great device for dorm rooms (provided they’re not alcohol-free, and you’re over 21): the Mini Keg Cooler with Tap. It comes in at just about $200, but college students are sure to appreciate this one. Parents, maybe not so much. You can also nab 8 percent Cash Back at The Sharper Image, to help cushion the blow to your wallet.

Tunes to tune out

Though living in dorms can be great for meeting people, it’s not always the best environment for studying. Lots of people living close together can get noisy, which is why you might consider snagging Mobile Mini Wireless Speakers by Bluetooth from Brookstone. You can play songs off your smartphone or other MP3 players, and the speakers are wireless – great for creating a sound bubble to help you concentrate. You also get 5 percent Cach Back at Brookstone, which is offering two speakers for $100.

If headphones are more your thing and you’ve got some spare cash, Brookstone also has Beats by Dr. Dre Executive Headphones. You’re sure to bother fewer roommates using those, if the $299 price tag doesn’t scare you off.