Best of 2017

High-flying tree tents and roofed hammocks are all the rage and tents are getting as social as the internet. The basic ground tent was nearly more the exception than the rule in 2017, as tents that dangle from trees and cliffs, float on water, and ride atop motor vehicles hoarded the spotlight. ​​​

Batteries are the engine room for so much of the modern world, so there are plenty of folks with an interest in pushing battery technology forward. 2017 brought a raft of exciting breakthroughs aimed at making them safer, longer-lasting and faster-charging. Here's the best of the bunch.

This year saw inspiring new camper vans and motorhome introductions for those looking to get out there and stay for a while. Here we look at the best of the best, from big, angry all-landers with homestyle comforts, to versatile everyday commuters that weekend as vacation homes.

Throughout the year, we've chased down the most interesting, innovative and sustainable buildings around the globe. Whether a Lego-shaped visitor's center, a bamboo sports hall, or a pair of "dancing" skyscrapers, each represents architectural excellence. Read on for our best buildings of 2017.

Christmas is fast approaching and if you're still stuck for gift ideas for friends and family, then you might want to think about smartphone accessories and add-ons – chances are the people you're buying for have a phone, so we've picked out 12 ideal gifts that are sure to be appreciated.

The kitchens is the heart of any home, and just like biological hearts they can sometimes benefit from some technological help. Thankfully there are plenty of smart people working on devices to provide that helping hand – here are a few that caught our eye in 2017.

​​Those looking to bring some high-flying Christmas cheer to the 2017 festive season are spoilt for choice, at least when it comes to today's hobbyist drones. Here are our picks for the best drones to get a loved one buzzing come Christmas morning. ​

This year has seen many unique takes on tiny houses, including an expandable tiny house, a cardboard tiny house, and another towable dwelling that can sleep up to 10 people. Here's our pick for the best tiny houses of 2017.

It's time to look back over some of the most interesting bike-related products that we've covered over the past year. While not all of them are necessarily going to change the world of cycling as we know it, they're all things that we thought were kinda clever … or just plain ol' cool.

The latest camping tools help you cook, sleep and relax under the open sky, using technology and design innovation toward enhancing every aspect of the camping experience. And whether you're writing your own holiday wish list or shopping for someone else, each one could make the perfect gift.

Everybody wishes they were a kid again sometimes, and that feeling only gets stronger when you look at how cool toys are nowadays. New Atlas rounds up some of the best and most high-tech toys to help you spoil the kids this festive season (or yourself – we won’t tell anybody).

As far as smartphone tech goes, 2017 has been one of the most interesting years in a while: the year of the 18:9, extended screen, of vanishing bezels and Face ID, augmented reality and more. We've seen some excellent mobile handsets launch over the last 12 months, and here's our pick of the best.