Touchdown: 10 tech tips for tiptop tailgating

There's a chill in the air; the leaves are changing. That could only mean one thing — it's prime tailgating season. Fact: Sporting events are at least 10 times more fun with friends, a grill and a few hours to kick back and relax with good company. Here are the best tailgating gadgets to keep you well fed and comfortable, no matter where your weekend adventures take you.

1. The Coolest Cooler is easily the most high-tech beer-chilling accessory ever conceived, which is why it raised a ridiculous $13.2 million during its Kickstarter campaign. Not only will it keep your beverages ice cold, but it also features a removable Bluetooth speaker, which is also waterproof, a USB charger for your phone or tablet, and even a full-size blender. The Coolest will make any sporting event parking lot so comfortable that you might never want to go home, and you can pre-order your own right now by putting a $50 down payment on the official website.

2. Biting into a burnt burger or bloody steak can ruin your terrific tailgate faster than mile-long port-a-potty line. Keep your meaty treats at the perfect temperature with the Range smart thermometer, which connects directly to your iPhone or iPad and provides an in-depth look at exactly how your delicious burger or steak is shaping up, and you can pick up this grilling secret weapon for $69.95.

3. The Bevometer is like an automatic scoreboard for consumption. Every time you slide a new can into the innovative can cooler it adds a tally to the number of drinks you've had in your current session, as well as all-time. Whether you're trying to keep yourself within your limits or show your friends who can put down the most cans, the $14.99 Bevometer will help.

Kuhl - Alpenwurx Vest (Brown) - Apparel
Sexy Eskimo Plus Size Costume - Eskimo Costumes
Nike Atlanta Falcons Script Hoodie - Black
Upton Home Lumberton Console/ Sofa Table
Cole Haan 'Luci' Vachetta Sandal Chestnut 11 B
Heat Tent - Model G210-0003-W1
Calvin Klein Jeans - Rei (Blackened Teal) - Footwear
Randolph - P3 49mm (Bright Chrome/Gray Non Polarized) - Eyewear
Fitzwell - Captain Pump (Black) - Footwear
Premiertek ANT-C8025-NF-3 Antenna, 3/5 dBi
7700 Treadmill
New York Islanders Reebok Pro Stock 520 Hockey Pant
Betts Trim Gim Popper Assortment
Christopher Knight Home Tafted Diamond Tufted Club Chair
Southern Hills Satin Nickel Cabinet Pull 'Cedarbrook' (Pack of 25)
Snow Dragons Dandy Cozy Fleece Jacket - Full Zip (For Little Girls)
Grabber AT2 - LT35X12.50R18D 118/115Q BW - All Season Tire
Ar-15/M16/Ar-Style .308 Bolt Ejector Tool - Ar-15/M16 Bolt Ejector Tool
Carbide Kit For Competition Bushing Die - Redding Competition Carbide Kit 264 Win Mag
3.1 Phillip Lim Stretch Silk Blend Top Black 4
Natori - Lynx Micro Velour Robe (Wisteria) - Apparel
Conley Sleigh Bedroom Set - King - 5 pc. w/ Low Profile Footboard
DOLCE by Mojo Moxy - Medley (Black) - Footwear
3 Cell Acer Aspire One D255 D260 722 ZE6 Netbook Battery AL10A31 AL10B31
Carryover Tube for Grill- Model 80005592
Sanctuary - Travel Chino (Safari 2) - Apparel
adidas Golf - CLIMACOOL Rangewear Knit Skort '14 (Light Onix) - Apparel

The Tailgaters' Hammock.(Photo: Hamaccher Schlemmer)

4. Hauling a bunch of awkward lawn furniture with you takes up precious room that you could be using for beer, food and more beer, so leave the plastic chairs in the garage and take along Hammacher Schlemmer's two-person Tailgaters' Hammock instead. It connects to your trailer hitch and sets up in just 10 minutes, and lets you kick back in style with built-in footrests. Oh, and the entire thing — which will cost you $349.95 — rolls up into the included case and takes up way less room than your awkward deck furniture.

5. Here's one for every woman I know who is always shivering through sports seasons. Face it: Not every tailgating excursion is going to go as smoothly as you want, and sooner or later you're going to end up covered in snow or shivering in the cold. This electric blanket will keep you warm wherever you are and it plugs directly into the 12V power outlet in your car. With an extra-long cord, you can cuddle up with it while tailgating outside and watch everyone else be colder than you are. You can pick one up for $28.99.

6. Don't have time to gather all the usual tailgating necessities before heading off to your sporting adventure? I'll tell you about about my last-second tailgating party secret weapon. Deal? OK, it's called Instagate, and it's everything you need to have a great time, minus the food and drink. You'll get all the plates, utensils, napkins and accessories, along with a recyclable cooler and even a grill, all in one box, for the special Kickstarter-only price of just $39.

7. When it comes to sound, why not go big or go home? Brookstone's Big Blue PartyIndoor/Outdoor Speaker ($299) is water-resistant, and fills up a backyard or half a parking lot with massive 360-degree sound. It's wireless and pairs via Bluetooth with all your connected devices from a decent range of more than 30 feet. It also blasts out the beats for a good four to five hours per charge.

8. Flasks have old-school flair, but the MiiR Growler ($59) is like a flask from the future. This crazy beverage holder secures 64 ounces of hot or cold liquid within its steel walls and vacuum-sealed compartment. Its threadless lid means no twisting, while the airtight seal ensures your brew won't just be cool at the end of a long day, it'll still be fizzy, too.

9. Here's a way to one-up the salty chicken wings and typical bean-dip-from-a-can tailgate fare. Sur La Table's Pizzeria Pronto ($299.99) fires up perfect, homemade pizzas in as little as five minutes. And it is portable, so it's easy to pack up and haul around. It runs on propane, and comes stuffed with innovative features like cordierite stones, a reflective heat shield and a moisture vent for perfectly crisp, mouth-watering pizzas every time.

10. While not all that "high-tech" per se, the Fathead Stand Out life-size player cutouts are certainly the "highlight" of our tailgate parties. People love getting their pictures taken with them, ranting at them and even dressing them up for Halloween. They hold up well, with a much more durable material than the standard cardboard cutout. Easy to pop-up and fold down, these are certainly the talk of the tailgate, for $120.

If there were fantasy league for the best tailgate tech — I'd be betting big this year — even without the gadget that lets women relieve themselves standing up, mini drones,singing koozies and iFlask's that I had to cut during the last round of this edits for this column.

Be sure to let us know what your go-to tailgate gadget will be this year, in the comments section.