Apollo kayak

For city dwellers without a roof rack on their cars, kayaks aren't the most practical toys. Their size makes them difficult to store and transport. But kayaks are a boatload of fun too. The solution? Swedish company Point 65 makes modular kayaks that break apart into manageable segments. My husband and I have paddled on Wisconsin lakes and up and down the Chicago River on our sit-on-top tandem, a stable vessel made up of three segments that snap together to form one long kayak. You can leave the middle out for solo excursions. When it gets choppy, the boat can take on quite a bit of water. If I had to do it over again, I'd probably get one of Point 65's modular sit-in kayaks for added stability, but the sit-on-top Apollo works just fine for leisurely paddles.

Million mile light

In winter days, it's harder to see and be seen when running outdoors. That's when this tiny-but-effective clip-on light comes in. Powered by motion, not batteries, the 1.5-ounce device emits a bright pulse of LED light with each stride. $19.99 at amazon.com.