25 Best Back-to-School Gadgets

What's the key to surviving a grueling series of all-nighters during finals week? No, not Red Bull — think water, lots of water. Unfortunately, tap water from the dorm kitchen isn't always the tastiest, and buying H₂O by the bottle is neither cheap nor terribly green. Instead, fill 'er up with the Brita Ultramax, a king-size water dispenser armed with an electronic gauge that will warn you when it's time to change the filter. The Ultramax, which reduces levels of such harmful compounds as lead, copper, mercury and cadmium, holds enough water to fill about 18 8-oz. (237 ml) glasses, but you'll need a refrigerator if you want to drink the stuff cold.

Price: $42