Bushnell H20

After an excruciating four months, most of us have put aside our lockout gripes and embraced the upcoming NFL season with the usual body-painted passion. Good news for a worried league, but will a fickle stock market and a sluggish job outlook still keep some folks tuned out? Tickets prices will remain largely static, but optimizing your viewing experience (both at home, or in the stadium) can still run you a pretty penny. To help you weed out the best bets, here are eight gadgets that should get you the most bang for your buck:

1. Binoculars: A must-have for any pigskin aficionado worth his or her salt, these come in especially handy for those stranded in the cheap seats. Don't miss a single play with a Bushnell H20, available at Amazon.com. There are cheaper models out there, but this waterproof and fogproof pair will lockout moisture and make sure you catch all the action, no matter the weather. [$72 or less]

2. Cameras: Smartphone snapshots might be all the rage these days, but there's no replacement for a quality photograph from a real camera. Fortunately, there are some top-notch, inexpensive models you can slip right in your pocket. Pick up a Nikon Coolpix with up to 16 megapixels at Target. Snag a discounted Target gift card from sites like GiftCardGranny.com and cut costs even lower. [$200 or less] Read more