Build the ultimate escape pod from your significant other with these man-centric gadgets.
News flash: The so-called “man cave” is no longer a place where guys gather to make fire and beat each other with sticks – unless, of course, that’s what you and your buddies are into. Rather, today, it’s a spot where grown-up kids of all ages can put their most favorite toys, keeping them out of harm’s way or (eek!) the wife’s field of vision. The great thing about this special area is that it’s no longer an empty room with a La-Z-Boy and an old TV; as of late, it’s actually become a pretty high-tech hangout. But while furnishings such as a video game console, beverage center, and poker and/or pool table could be considered a given, here are a few not-so-obvious additions sure to get any gadget freak’s testosterone flowing:
Inada Sogno Massage Chair
Hitch your butt to this ride and you may never want to walk of your own volition again. The Sogno (pronounced “Sohn-yo”) doesn’t just give you a place to lounge. It actually measures your body type against 106 others to deliver a complete customized massage experience. Mimicking actual hand movements, the unit promises a quality rubdown, with up to 1200 square inches of coverage. Per usual, that kind of tender loving comfort doesn’t come cheap, though.
$5,999, www.inadausa.com
Inada Sogno Massage Chair
Open Air Home Screen
Here’s a blow-up toy that you won’t mind leaving out for all to see. Open Air’s inflatable theater screen measures a hearty 16×9 feet. If that doesn’t leave room for lounging, 12-foot and 9-foot sizes are also available. Don’t worry about damaging those atrophied lungs trying to inflate it either; this unit includes a blower fan for fast setup. Better still, once the weather gets warm enough, you can drag the thing out to the yard to establish an instant home base free of screaming babies or testy girlfriends wherever you need it.
Starts at $449, www.openaircinema.us
Open Air Home Screen
Lutron RadioRA-SR
You’ve snuggled in, the DVD is starting, but the lighting doesn’t seem quite right. Instead of fussing and fumbling, Lutron’s RadioRA-SR lets you capture the right mood from your comfy chair. This simple system can control one room or tie into the entire house, controlling lights, shades and drapes from various universal remotes. Existing dimmers and switches can be easily swapped out, and you can even add in a wall-mounted keypad or two. The vacancy sensor should scare the wife, girlfriend or dog out of your special space as well. In short, now you can create special lighting scenes for movies, gaming, reading, or resting – all with the touch of a button.
Starts at $850, www.lutron.com
Fisher & Paykel’s Cool Drawer
Nothing kills the fun like having to refresh a beverage. With Fisher & Paykel’s Cool Drawer, you won’t have to go very far to crack a cold one. This nifty invention packs a fridge or freezer into an ordinary drawer or cabinet. Just Stock it full of beers, pudding pops or cold cuts – the 36-inch unit can cool or freeze at the flip of a switch. If you want your stash of brews to look a little fancier, you can even add a stainless steel fascia for another $199.
$2,200, www.fisherpaykel.com
Fisher & Paykel’s Cool Drawer
Hunter Concert Breeze
We love anything that cools us down during those sweaty summer months. The Hunter Concert Breeze blows away all other ceiling fans, thanks to adding audio into the windy mix. Translation: Using 2.4GHz wireless technology, the unit channels sound up to 300 feet away. Just connect the Soundolier Maestro wireless transmitter to your iPod, TV, or other audio source, and great ready to rock. The unit is perfect if you don’t feel like adding speakers, or need a little extra sound to circulate (literally).
$449, www.hunterfan.com
Hunter Concert Breeze
Logitech Harmony 1100 Remote
We’d love to recommend Excalibur’s Monday Night Football remote. After all, it goes so well with our cheeseburger phone. However, we like our man cave to have a little more oomph in the control department. Still, that oomph shouldn’t be borne out of frustration. That’s the beauty of the Harmony; it looks a lot more complex that it is. The latest and possibly greatest includes a 3.5-inch full-color touchscreen, RF capabilities (with the optional RF Extender), and one-touch activity-based access. No more searching the couch cushions; this one is an easy way to replace up to 15 of your random remotes.
$499.99, www.logitech.com
Logitech Harmony 1100 Remote
AK Rock Box Gaming and Storage Ottoman
Video game instruments take up a lot of room. Enter the AK Rock Box Ottoman. Aside from spots for two plastic guitars, a foot pedal, and a microphone, there’s a special AK Drum Lift, which pops out a full set of gaming drums with one swift motion. When you’re done rocking out, you can rest your feet on it, too.
$199.99, www.dypce.ak.com
AK Rock Box Gaming and Storage Ottoman
Blue Ember 650 iQue
Not all man caves need to be encased in drywall. And the lure of tasty meat can make even the geekiest guy willing to endure sunlight’s hated kiss. This mouth-watering grill combines haute cuisine with high-tech, tapping into digital technology to rustle up good vittles every time. Aside from a grill, the unit includes a rotisserie, a smoker, independent temperature zones, a computer console, and a touchscreen keypad. Punch in your order, and the grill monitors heat and meat temperatures. Other features include lighting, a bottle opener, and an electrical outlet.
$1,000, www.blueembergrills.com
Blue Ember 650 iQue
LG BD300 Blu-ray Player
High-definition disc format Blu-ray – great for screening UFC fights and classic Schwarzenneger films – gives you yet another reason to never leave the room/house. However, this all-star player goes one step better, also saving you the trouble of getting off your worthless butt by beaming content wirelessly over. Essentially, the BD300 provides all of the beauty that Blu-ray has to offer, but adds instant streaming video access to your Netflix account (subscription required). Other features include BD Live, BonusView, and advanced audio format decoding such as Dolby TrueHD / Digital Plus and DTS-HD Advanced Digital Out. There’s also a USB Media Plus function, which allows you to play photos, music and video from any USB drive.
$399.95, www.lgusa.com
LG BD300 Blu-ray Player
Sonos Multi-Room Music System
Once in a while, the urge to rock strikes every red-blooded male. Thankfully, this system allows you to access music throughout the entire house without leaving the room or putting on pants. The compact solution can distribute music wirelessly through any abode, whether it’s coming from your collection or via Pandora, Last.FM or other online music sites. Different tunes can even be played in different rooms, or you can beam the same song (e.g. “Smells Like Teen Spirit) in all zones on-command. Added bonus: Units can also be tied synced with an iPhone or iPod touch for effortless control in case the dedicated controller accidentally disappears into the stinking crevasses of your couch.
Starts at $999, www.sonos.com
Sonos Multi-Room Music System
