The best gadgets for the beach and pool: Tech Support – Yahoo Canada Finance

Welcome to Tech Support, a segment where I, Dan Howley, serve as your intrepid guide through the sometimes confusing, often frustrating, world of personal technology.

Here, I answer all of your most pressing questions about the various gizmos, gadgets, and services you use in your everyday life.

Have a question of your own? Reach me on Twitter at @danielhowley or email me at dhowley@yahoofinance.com.

Now, on to your questions. This week's dilemma:

Its summertime, and if youre able to get to the beach, or just want to hangout at your backyard pool, there are plenty of gadgets that youll likely want to bring along with you. But water and sand dont really mix very well with our favorite tech toys.

Thankfully, there are still a number of speakers, headphones, and e-readers out there that can handle taking a dip, and more, and keep on ticking. These are some of the top gadgets you can take on your trip to the beach or the pool.

The UE Wonderboom 2 is a waterproof speaker than can float and withstand drops of up to 5 feet. (Image: UE)

Ultimate Ears (LOGI) Wonderboom 2 speaker costs you $99 and promises up to 13 hours of battery life from its compact design, though The Wirecutter says its more like 8 hours. Waterproof and dust proof, the circular speaker is buoyant enough to float in your pool, so you dont have to worry about taking a dive to grab it if it slips in.

UE says the Wonderboom 2 can survive drops as high as 5 feet, meaning even if it takes a tumble, itll keep rocking.

If youre looking for something more powerful, and expensive, you can also opt for the Sonos Move. Starting at $399, the Move can handle dust and mists of water, but you cant submerge it like the Wonderboom 2. But if you want impressive audio, and have the money to burn, the Move is a solid option.

Apple's AirPods Pros are both sweat and water resistant, making them great for listening while laying out in the sun. (Image: Apple)

If you just want to relax at the pool, or on the sand, and, like me, dont want everyone around you to hear your awful taste in music, youll want to get a pair of water resistant headphones. And for my money, the best pair around are Apples (AAPL) AirPods Pro. At $249, theyre a bit pricey, but the performance and sound quality are fantastic.

And if youre tired of listening to the couple 6 feet away chatting it up, you can use the Pros noise-cancelling technology to drown them out.

Its worth keeping in mind that the AirPods Pros are sweat and water resistant and not waterproof. So theyll handle your sweat from working out or hanging out in the sun, but dont douse them in water or take them swimming.

The Kindle Paperwhite can with withstand being dropped in up to 6 feet of water for an hour, and keep ticking. That's way better than your old paperback. (Image: Amazon)

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Want to relax with a good book while catching some rays, but dont want to lug around a heavy hardcover with the rest of your beach gear? Amazons (AMZN) Kindle Paperwhite is what youre looking for. Starting at $129 with 8GB of storage or $159 with 32GB of space, the Paperwhite can be used in direct sunlight thanks to its adjustable display, and it is surprisingly waterproof.

Amazon says the e-reader can last up to an hour in 6.5 feet of fresh water without calling it quits but doesnt say anything about salt water, so try to keep it on your beach blanket and out of the ocean.

The LifeProof Fre can take water, snow, and serious falls. (Image: LifeProof)

Most of todays smartphones are already waterproof, but that doesnt necessarily make them capable of surviving a drop in the sand or a dip in salt water. If youre the more adventurous type and want to use your phone in the ocean to capture underwater snaps or simply dont want to deal with sand getting into your device, you can always opt for a case like the LifeProof FR.

Available for $74.99, the FR can help your phone survive in up to 6 feet of water for an hour, withstand drops, dirt, and more. Ive used a FR case to take underwater shots in a pool, and it worked incredibly well. Taking my phone into the ocean, though, is too much of a risk for me.

The Apple Watch can function in water as deep as 150 feet, even in the ocean. (Image: Apple)

If youre the kind of person who likes to exercise at the pool or beach, we probably wouldnt be friends. But that doesnt mean you shouldnt be able to track your exercises with a waterproof smart watch. Both the Apple Watch and Fitbits (FIT) Versa 2 are waterproof and can be used to track your swim in a pool or the ocean.

The Apple Watch Series 3 starts at $199, while the Series 5 starts at $399. The Versa 2 starts at $199. The decision comes down to your personal preference for styling and functionality. Either way, youll still be able to record your aquatic workouts, while I lie out in the sun sipping my pia colada from a red Solo cup so the lifeguards dont notice.

Got a tip? Email Daniel Howley atdhowley@yahoofinance.comover via encrypted mail atdanielphowley@protonmail.com, and follow him on Twitter at@DanielHowley.