It may sound strange, but while I miss being a student, I don’t miss school.

I try to compensate for this by taking every opportunity presented to me to still learn, but there’s just some things that can’t be recreated outside of the school environment, one of which has to be the first day back to school. I know, I know, it means the end of summer and the beginning of classes again. But what if I could tell you that there were steps you could take to ensure that this is the best school year ever, and the year in which you really stand out and make a name for yourself? Even better, what if I told you that you could accomplish it, without any of that self improvement stuff, or without having to apply earnest effort?

I’m talking about coming back to school with the sweetest swag available. Not just any ordinary swag, though, but swag that will be easy to show off and actually aid you in the school year as well. It’s like having your cake and rubbing it in everyone’s face too.

Here are some gadgets and gear that no student should be without this school year.

Google Nexus 7

One day, perhaps, all schools will be able to provide tablets for their students for the ultimate learning experience (and to help create an awesome sci-fi learning environment). Until that glorious day, though, you’ll just have to supply your own.

While the iPad is still the overall better buy, the Nexus 7 gets the edge for a student. Why? Well, its $199 price tag doesn’t hurt, but it’s the Nexus 7’s smaller size that gives it the advantage for every day, on the go use. Plus, in the smaller tablet market, the Nexus 7 is far and away the best available spec-wise at the moment, as even trendsetter Amazon is having to update their Kindle Fire ahead of schedule in order to keep up.

The Nexus 7 features over 600,000 apps, incredibly long battery life (9 hours HD video, 10 hours web browsing), and all of the e-book, email, video download, and online services you would expect from a tablet. Put it all together, and you have a tablet that succeeds where Amazon failed, and manages to provide a true budget alternative to the iPad. It’s hard to imagine a more useful overall back to school device.

Bose MIE2i Mobile Headset

I know that the over-the-ear, in-ear headphone debate is an eternal one that has yet to claim a true victor. However, for whatever my two cents are truly worth, I personally side with in-ears. What you lose in style and comfort, you gain back tenfold in convenience and portability.

So let’s say you agree with me and have decided to finally invest in a set of in-ear headphones that don’t come with your iPhone or from the back counter of a convenience store. Let’s also say that you’re not into the Beat headphone mini-craze and want a set of true quality buds. If so, then I’d like to be the one millionth person to recommend you go with Bose.

For what Bose headphones lack in flash, they make up for everywhere else that matters. The MIE2i have always been one of their best sets as they feature the usual frighteningly good level of sound quality and noise cancellation you expect from Bose, but also offer unrivaled comfort (you hardly notice them, and they always stay in place) and sustainability in the in-ear field. If you’re looking to make an investment on a set of headphones that will actually last, and allow you to discretely listen to the Black Keys in class, look no further than these beauties.

Quirky Crates

Students looking to maximize the limited amount of space in their dorm rooms will love Quirky’s latest (and perhaps greatest) product yet: a fully customizable modular storage system with a seemingly endless supply of possibilities. You start out with a heavy-duty milk crate and begin adding accessories from there, with a variety of options to choose from, including double drawers, shelves, wooden legs or metal casters, a dry erase board or cork board, a cushioned seat, an all-purpose hook, and plastic links to connect additional crates from top-to-bottom or side-to-side. It’s pretty amazing that no one thought of it sooner, because this is exactly the kind of storage solution that every college kid needs. And the best part is that after they’ve graduated and moved out into a bigger apartment or house, they can continue to use the Quirky Crates by reconfiguring them to fit their new living space, making it the gift that keeps on giving. - Jason Zingale

IOGear Digital Pen GPEN 300

Hey, it’s like I said, one glorious day all school work will be done via built-in, standard issue tablets. Until that day, though, students everywhere are still stuck with archaic means of education, such as books, teachers, and of course, paper and pens.

But the good news is that you don’t have to let the system hold a technologically advanced person such as yourself back anymore. I say you go buy a 20-pack of those cheap BIC pens, walk right up to your teacher, and scatter them over their desk. As they ask what your problem could possibly be, you pull out the IOGear Digital Pen and listen to the sound of silence that follows.

What kind of pen could stun an entire classroom into beholding its wonder? The GPEN300 is a digital pen that allows you to save whatever notes, graphs, or doodles you write to an accompanying USB drive. Via the drive, whatever notes you wrote can then be transferred back to your computer for permanent storage and editing. It’s the best of the handwritten and mobile worlds in one device, and unlike its competitors, it actually allows you to write on any standard notebook paper.

Although I hope you don’t really follow my suggestion about the pen dumping. I mean, c’mon, you’re a student. Be smarter than that.

Kingston Data Traveler 410

Ever since they became the successor to the floppy disk, USB flash drives have become a must-have item for just about anyone that uses a computer in their daily lives. Yet, most people buy one with about the same care that they buy a plastic cup, with the only considerations being price, how much they hold and maybe color.

Let me offer another buying factor: Security.

Not to go Fox News terror alert on everyone, but as the recent Gizmodo hack proved, no one is immune from technological breaches on any level. As easy as a flash drive is to use, one lost or stolen provides anybody that’s not you with potentially serious or sensitive information. The Kingston Data Traveler helps to prevent that by offering users the option to save certain data in an encrypted format that can only be accessed via password. Plus, it includes above average transfer speed, 24-hour customer service support, and a sleek design that prevents the need for an easy to lose cap.

Even with the 32GB option, there are definitely larger USB drives on the market. Plus, in general, Dropbox offers all of the services of a flash drive without the physical reliance. However, you should always have a flash drive handy, and few offer the same level of reliance as the Kingston.

SLAPPA M.A.S.K. Jedi Mind Trix Backpack

To call this stylishly designed bundle that contains a mini galaxy of storage options a backpack doesn’t conjure the necessary image that you need to fully appreciate SLAPPA’s latest offering. In fact, calling it a backpack almost insults the efforts of other, lesser manufacturers that sell a product called a backpack, because despite their well intentioned efforts, they have no way to compete with the Jedi Mind Trix. In addition to their seemingly limitless storage capacity, the SLAPPA models are also known for their incredible style, and this one is no exception. It features the same customizable face, linings and graphics options as the other models in the M.A.S.K. line, and in many ways reminds me of the wide range of customization options available for the Alienware line of computers. It uses its sense of style not as an excuse to raise the price point, but rather as a natural extension to the superior product that lies underneath. Simply put, if you’re in the market for a new backpack, you need the Jedi Mind Trix.

Quirky Pivot Power Mini and Converge

It’s not the most exciting gadget in the world, but the Quirky Pivot Power Mini is a great way to charge your smartphone, tablet and other electronics without the need for a power strip. Transforming a single socket into four different power sources (two grounded electrical outlets and two USB ports), the device can also fold up into a more compact, travel-friendly size and offers surge protection from unexpected outages.

When paired with the Converge docking station, you could even potentially have six USB charging ports while still only taking up a single wall outlet. The Converge’s sleek, Apple-like design and hidden cable management makes it fairly easy on the eyes, while the faint glow of the power indicator even doubles as a handy nightlight. The fact that it’s not compatible with some Blackberry units or the Barnes & Noble Nook means that some people won’t get the full use out of it, but those that do will save space and look good in the process. - Jason Zingale

Keurig Coffee Maker

I don’t want to encourage substance abuse for anyone here, but as a student, if you are going to take advantage of a series of chemicals that combine to form a temporary beneficial feeling of bliss, then you should definitely consider caffeine.

Of course, I’m probably just preaching to the caffeinated choir here as more than 80% of Americans drink some form of caffeine. But if you’re still relying on sodas, Red Bulls, and 5-hour energy shots for your fix, I’ve got to say that it’s time to graduate to coffee. And if you’re looking for your first coffee maker, or just a better one, you have to go with the Keurig.

The Keurig is a single-serving coffee maker that uses pods of coffee grounds in various flavors. Pop in a pod, make sure there’s water in the tank, select a brewing size, and in seconds you’ve got coffee. There is nothing faster or more convenient on the market, and the pods come in a wide variety of enjoyable flavors. Even better, there is an optional grinder for beans, and available tea flavors.

Now, the Keurig is pricey, and the flavor pods can also set you back if you don’t buy in bulk. However, I’m afraid that once you use one, there’s simply no going back to traditional coffee makers.

Just the Stats:

* Height – 20.5”

* Width – 14.0”

* Depth – 12” to 14”

* Made of 1680D Military Grade Ballistics Nylon that is puncture and waterproof

* Customizable/interchangeable faces

* A seemingly infinite amount of pockets and storage space

* MSRP $139.00

In case you couldn’t gather from some of our previous reviews, the fine folks at SLAPPA have managed to win fans on this site with their high quality bags, gear and cases over the years. Now, since I’ve been using one backpack or another since my days of arranging 16-player “Halo” LAN parties in high school, when I found out that it would be my turn to review SLAPPA’s newest line of backpack, I was excited, but also curious. After all, I’ve been going through backpacks of various makes for years now, and while some have admittedly held up and performed better than others, I’ve never owned one that generates such prolific levels of praise, like the SLAPPA models seem to. I just couldn’t imagine how a simple backpack could be such a big deal. It’s appropriate, then, that this new line of backpack is called the M.A.S.K. Jedi Mind Trix, because this wasn’t the backpack I was looking for, or expecting.

No, what I got was something else entirely. To call this stylishly designed bundle that contains a mini galaxy of storage options a backpack doesn’t conjure the necessary image that you need to fully appreciate it. In fact, calling it a backpack almost insults the efforts of other, lesser manufacturers that sell a product called a backpack, because despite their well intentioned efforts, they have no way to compete with the Jedi Mind Trix.

What makes it so great? Well, first you have to start with the storage capacity. I loaded this thing up with my PlayStation 3, my laptop, all the cords and controllers for both, two bottles of water, my sunglasses, my copy of “Broom of the System,” a notebook, pens, my iPod, a set of DJ headphones, and a light jacket held by the Jedi Mind Trix’s new exterior carry straps. When I was done, I swear that the backpack laughed at me. There was still an inconceivable amount of free space left that I couldn’t imagine uses for. Even better, when I put the backpack on, I immediately found out why there is a price jump from the standard packs I had used over the years, and this one. Thanks to the design of the M.A.S.K., neither myself nor the backpack suffered from any strain due to the weight. Not only were my shoulders supported comfortably by the cushioned straps, but the padded SLAPPA logo on the back actually worked to ease my burden. Thanks to the incredible level of internal cushioning, I also took additional comfort in knowing that everything I had just put into the backpack was equally protected as well.

Besides the practical features, the SLAPPA models are also known for their incredible style, and this one is no exception. It features the same customizable face, linings and graphics options as the other models in the M.A.S.K. line, and in many respects reminds me of the wide range of customization options available for the Alienware line of computers. What I mean is, it uses its sense of style not as an excuse to raise the price point, but rather as a natural extension, or warning even, to the superior product that lies underneath.

Still, I wasn’t going to be sold on first impressions, and decided to plow my way through the product honeymoon phase by seriously road-testing the SLAPPA out in the concrete jungle that is Manhattan. With the intention of heading for the market, I loaded up with all of the usual things I may need for a usual trip out (many of the items I listed above, minus the PlayStation 3 to leave room for groceries) and set off. Riding the subway with the Mind Trix almost felt like cheating. Any need or want I could possibly require was easily accessible even in the cramped car, and the crowded conditions didn’t impede me at all in accessing them. At the terminal, even the NYPD couldn’t resist snagging a look at the backpack as I was stopped for a random search (though I couldn’t help but notice that other, lesser backpacks and there wearers got to proceed unbothered). Once I was back on the streets, I was suddenly surprised that I had yet to really notice the weight I was carrying, even after extended use and with the blazing heat that day. But it was at the market that I truly fell in love with the Mind Trix, because even though I had left for that trip reasonably loaded with goods, everything I needed that day (delicate, breakable items included) fit easily into compartments that I was sure just moments ago were filled to capacity.

When I got home then to find that everything I had brought was still in perfect condition, I threw up my hands and resigned myself to the fact that I was not going to find a serious flaw with the Mind Trix. Take heed, potential backpack buyers: though the Mind Trix is being touted as the ultimate line in gamer carrying packs (a statement that’s authenticity is not in doubt), I can’t imagine the use that you would want out of a backpack that SLAPPA couldn’t  accommodate and do better than any other competitor. I can sympathize if you’re saying to yourself that you don’t need a more expensive backpack for the level of use you would get out of it, but I only wish I could have gone back in time and bought a SLAPPA instead of a host of lesser backpacks, and undoubtedly saved money in the long run. I could endurance test the Mind Trix over an obscene amount of time, and I have no doubt that I would break down well before it did.

If you’re one of those people that scan to the bottom of a review for the final verdict of a product, I will oblige you here. If you want a backpack, you want the Jedi Mind Trix. If you need a backpack, you need the Jedi Mind Trix. Even if you didn’t know, now you do.