High-tech tailgating gadgets

Football season is finally upon us, which means sports fans everywhere will soon be setting up shop in parking lots across the country to tailgate.

But tailgating has evolved since its early days. There are now a number of devices on the market that will take your burgers and beers to the next level. Think an app that alerts you when your meat is done cooking—or a remote-controlled beer cooler.

Here's a look at some novel gadgets that will add some tech, and fun, to your tailgate.

—By Cadie Thompson

Posted September 5, 2013

It wouldn't be a tailgate if there wasn't some grilling involved. And with the iGrill bluetooth thermometer, cooking out gets a little easier.

The thermometer has two probes that keep track of the temperature of food on the grill. It alerts a user's mobile device via the iGrill app when the meat reaches the desire temperature.

Users can download the iGrill app from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store. The iGrill thermometer is available from Best Buy, Amazon, Apple, Verizon, AT&T and other retailers and costs about $80.

Of course the thermometer isn't any good without an actual grill.

The Blacktop 360 Grill-Fryer is a deep fryer, infrared grill and griddle all in one. (It can also steam for the health-conscious fan).

It costs about $250 and is available on the Blacktop 360 website as well as at other retailers, including Amazon, Home Depot and Target.

Music is a necessity at any tailgate, but keeping speakers charged can often be a challenge.

The Eton Soulra XL solar-powered sound system gives users eight hours of playback and can be recharged in five hours with direct sunlight. It's compatible with Apple's iPhone and iPod and can be controlled via remote.

It costs about $250 and is available on Eton's website as well as other retails.

Another option for tunes is the Jawbone Jambox, which is a small wireless Bluetooth speaker that comes in two sizes.

The small Jambox is about six inches long and weighs about 12 oz. The larger one is about 10 inches long and weighs 2.7 lbs.

The portable speaker has a wireless range of about 33 feet and 10 to 15 hours of playback.

Of course you won't be able to use your portable speaker or Bluetooth thermometer if your mobile device is dead, so it's important to have a plan to keep your smartphone or tablet powered.

The ZAGGSparq provides quick portable backup power for mobile devices and can provide as much as 1 to 4 charges for devices.

Users charge the device beforehand and then plug their device into the backup battery once they run out of juice. The device ranges from $40 to $100, depending on battery capacity.

Ice cold beer is a tailgate staple—and plenty of it. Kegs are popular way to ensure there is enough beer on hand, but experienced tailgaters will also want to invest in a keg cooler.

The Danby ½ Keg Beer Dispenser is basically a refrigerator sized for both full- or pony-sized kegs. It costs about $450 and can be purchased at Home Depot as well as other retailers.

The RC Cooler, a remote controlled cooler, is another way to keep beverages cold at a tailgate. The cooler holds about 12 cans or bottles with ice and can travel about about 30 feet away from the person controlling the device.

It's available on Amazon for about $80.

This electronic beer holder makes it so the user won't have to worry about losing or grabbing the wrong beer.

The BeerPager comes with a pager and a koozie and works pretty much exactly how you would think. The user just has to press the button on their pager and the koozie will begin to light up and make a noise.

For those who can't make it to the game, a TV is a necessity.

This SunBrite TV 32-inch outdoor television is touchscreen and designed for just about every weather scenario you can imagine. The TV can operate in temperatures up to 122 degrees Fahrenheit and down to -40 degrees Fahrenheit and is designed to protect against rain, dust, insects, humidity and salt air.

After the burgers are cooked, you're going to want a non-messy way to deck out your meal. The Sharper Image condiment gun, which is available at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $10, can be loaded with ketchup, mustard, mayo barbecue sauce or any other condiment of your choice.

You won't have to worry about lugging your cooler around from tailgate to tailgate with the Cruzin Cooler. The cooler is about average size and can carry about 20 cans of beer when filled with ice. Depending on the model it can go up to 15 mph and carry a passenger up to about 250 lbs. The cost of the device ranges from about $550 to $1,400, depending on varying features, primarily battery life.