3 Must-Have Gadgets for Your Garage

Ah, the garage. It keeps the car cool in the summer and snow-free in the winter. Or maybe it’s your man-cave. Your she-shed. Whatever the case, it’s not the place where you’d normally think of tech gadgets — but there are three I consider essential:

• A smart garage-door controller
• A compact, portable tire-inflator
• A rechargeable electric scissors

Learn more about all three below — and stick around for a bonus item that’s maybe not essential, but definitely great for any garage.

Chamberlain myQ-G0401 Smart Garage Door Opener

You’ve got the smart doorbell, the smart lock, the smart speaker — time to give your garage door some brains as well. Chamberlain’s myQ is an add-on that’s compatible with most garage-door openers. And it’s the unsung hero of tech gadgets.

Why? For starters, it answers the question, “Did I shut the garage?” You know, the one you find yourself asking after you’ve climbed into bed or left for the office. Just pull out your phone for an instant answer; the myQ app shows door status.

And it probably goes without saying: If you need to shut it remotely (like from bed or work), you can. Same goes for opening it, like if you need to let a neighbor in for something.

I also like the option to set a schedule, like “Close at night, 10 p.m., Everyday.” That way if you’ve forgotten to close it — and forgotten to check if you’ve closed it — you’re covered. And you can get notifications when the door is open or shut, great if you want to, say, know when the kid got home from school.

One note about price: The myQ has long sold for around $30, but at both Amazon and Walmart, the price has almost doubled. I’m not sure why, and I’m hoping it’s temporary. If you’re not in a rush, create a price alert (using a tool like CamelCamelCamel or Keepa) to notify you if/when it drops.

Jusuox Portable Tire Inflator

Probably the most-used gadget in my garage, this compact, battery-powered inflator tops off my tires when they’re getting low, thus saving me a trip to the gas station or tire shop.

It’s also great for bike tires, which seem to need inflating every few weeks. (Seriously, what’s that about?) You can use it for balls and other inflatable items as well; it comes with a variety of different tips.

There’s an LED flashlight embedded in the top in case you’re dealing with a nighttime flat, and you can even use it as an emergency charger for your phone.

Now, true facts: This thing is loud and not particularly fast. It could take several minutes just to bump a tire up by 10 PSI. But it shuts off automatically at the preset number, so you don’t have to babysit it.

This thing is insanely handy; between our three bikes and two cars, it’s in use probably once per month. Absolutely indispensable.

(Pro tip: There are a zillion of these things on Amazon, all very similar. Some are priced a little higher, some a little lower. I recommend choosing one with at least a few hundred user reviews, and an average rating of at least 4.4 stars.)

Bubra Cordless Electric Scissors

You know all those boxes you get from Amazon and elsewhere? And you know the hassle of trying to cut them down for recycling? Electric scissors make simple — and, dare I say, satisfying? — work of that, running through cardboard like a hot knife through butter.

The Bubra also includes a front-facing LED light to help guide your cuts. In most other respects, it’s pretty similar (and similar to a bunch of other off-brand cutters, so it doesn’t have to be this specific one if you find a better deal).

By the way, this works not only with cardboard, but also fabric, leather, even carpet. It’s actually pretty fun to use, and once you’ve tried it, you’ll never go back to regular scissors. It usually sells for $40, but is often discounted to $30.

Bonus Item: Soundcore Boom 2 Outdoor Bluetooth Speaker

If you spend any amount of time in your garage, whether it’s cutting up cardboard or building bookshelves, you’ll want your tunes to keep you company.

I like the Soundcore Boom 2 for this. Designed like a retro boombox (but with the modern flair of LED lighting), it pumps out 80 watts — meaning it’s loud enough to hear even when you’re sawing wood — and it features a sturdy carrying handle so you can easily lug it wherever it needs to go.

Another nice perk: It can play for up to 24 hours on a charge, so you don’t have to be constantly plugging it in. And it’s equally well-suited to the pool or beach, as it’s completely waterproof (and can even float).

The Boom 2 originally sold for $130, but these days it hovers in the $90 range. Great all-purpose portable speaker, but mine mostly lives in the garage.