1. SEA CHANGE Leonardo da Vinci and Benjamin Franklin both drew up designs for a swim fin, but we doubt either imagined one that could nearly double your max underwater speed—and, theoretically at least, propel you completely out of the water, dolphin style (no one has pulled it off yet). But that's what the revolutionary Lunocet promises: unprecedented marine acrobatics. Inspired by the dolphin's tail, the 42-inch carbon-fiber monofin's hydrofoils create hydrodynamic lift—similar to what keeps airplanes aloft—as you swim, with far less drag than you get with those floppy flippers in your closet. Just as clip-in pedals allow cyclists to both push and pull a bike's drivetrain, the Lunocet moves on a pivot, enabling swimmers, for the first time, to produce thrust on the up- and downstroke equally. Who says there's no such thing as a merman? From $1,250; lunocet.com

2. MIX MASTER A four-cylinder gas/electric engine, eight inches of ground clearance, a bed that extends to eight feet (with the tailgate down), a removable solar-powered GPS unit, a mountain-bike-inspired carbon-fiber dash … Known as the Advanced Aero Breakthrough Truck, or A-BAT, this 4WD concept vehicle from Toyota doesn't have a set production date yet, but we want one now—bad. Price TBD; toyota.com

3. SEARCH AND ENJOY With its HD-like three-inch display, intuitive touchscreen interface, and slew of handy features (electronic compass, altimeter, photo viewer, etc.), Garmin's Oregon 400t is the sleekest, most functional GPS we've seen. It's social, too: It can communicate with your computer via USB, or with other units wirelessly. $600; garmin.com

4. BACKYARD BEAUTY Kalamazoo's stainless-steel Edo Grill pays homage to Japan's ubiquitous yakitori carts. It may look like highbrow lawn art, but when it comes time to fire it up, the top shelf slides open to reveal two customizable, 25,000-BTU burners. $7,495; kalamazoogourmet.com