The 30 best James Bond gadgets: essential pieces of kit from 007s adventures – GamesRadar+

"Nobody does it better," sang Carly Simon in the theme to The Spy Who Loved Me, but 007 does get an awful lot of help when it comes to doing it twice as well as everybody else. The best James Bond gadgets are as integral to the spys arsenal as his Walther PPK and a vodka martini (shaken not stirred, obviously), and have become an iconic part of the long-running franchise.

Thanks to the ingenuity of Q and his team of boffins, 007 rarely ventures on a mission without the right kit. From the iconic souped-up Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger to a ballpoint pen hand grenade in GoldenEye, the best Bond gadgets have helped MI6s most famous agent out of a tight spot on numerous occasions. Hes also faced a few challenges of his own when his enemies have got their hands on gear to rival his own.

As time has gone by, some of the Bond tech that once felt like sci-fi (the fingerprint scanners in Diamonds are Forever, the wristwatch communicator in For Your Eyes Only) have become reality. Other examples such as the infamous invisible car in Die Another Day are as memorable for their silliness as their ingenuity.

In this compilation of the best James Bond gadgets, weve picked out 30 of the most iconic pieces of tech from the last 59 years of espionage. Do pay attention

Daniel Craigs Bond would stick out like a sore thumb if he carried a briefcase, but back in the 60s, they were an essential part of any businessmans attire. Which is why Q reinvents one as a stylish box of tricks containing a rifle, ammunition, a throwing knife, a tear gas canister masquerading as talcum powder, and bizarrely 50 gold sovereigns. This Bond gadget can also be used to carry important documents.

007s second big-screen outing introduced one of the best James Bond gadgets. A former Soviet spy chief who defected to become Blofelds No 3 at Spectre, Rosa Klebb has an extremely useful weapon when she needs a little extra kick. Her otherwise sensible shoes contain a retractable spike tipped with poison, fatal to anyone unfortunate enough to come into contact with her lethal right foot. Much imitated in other movies, the footwear also made a brief cameo in the 40th-anniversary movie Die Another Day.

One of the most low-fi entries in this list of the best James Bond gadgets, this is little more than a fake seagull, worn as camouflage headwear for an underwater approach to a villains lair. Bond dispenses with the stuffed bird as soon as he makes landfall, but the idea leaves such an impression that he deploys an updated version (a crocodile submarine) in Octopussy. It should also be noted that, even when worn under diving gear, Bonds dinner jacket maintains its straight-from-the-dry-cleaners look.

James Bond has always had impeccable taste in cars. While most motorists would be more than happy with the style and sophistication of an Aston Martin DB5, however, the 007 edition comes with more than usual under the bonnet. Key selling points include rotating number plates ("naturally"), oil and smoke emitters, machine guns, tyre shredders and best of all an ejector seat which comes in extremely handy in the event of unwanted passengers. Still the definitive 007 vehicle 57 years on, theres a reason Bond pulled it out of storage when he played bodyguard to M in Skyfall.

Whenever you need to make a rooftop getaway, its helpful if youve already stashed a jetpack in preparation for your escape. With hired goons in pursuit, Bond calmly straps on his rocket-propelled apparatus, and blasts off to meet the car thats waiting for him on the street outside. Most impressively of all, 007 finds time to put on a helmet before take-off safety first, and all that.

Over the last 59 years, James Bond has taken a spin in more vehicles than a Top Gear presenter, but few have been as unconventional as Little Nellie. A modified version of an autogyro created by former RAF pilot Ken Wallis though were pretty sure he didnt arm his with flame-throwers and aerial mines this helicopter-like craft is remarkably maneuverable after its been assembled from kit form. That said, wed question the wisdom of using it on a surveillance mission, seeing as its INCREDIBLY LOUD. Top trivia: Little Nellie was apparently named after music hall star Nellie Wallace.

James Bond has never been much of an advocate for giving up tobacco as late as 2002s Die Another Day, he can be seen puffing away on a cigar. But You Only Live Twice contains a powerful metaphor about the dangers of smoking, as Bond captive in Blofelds volcano lair uses the miniature rocket launcher hidden in his cigarette to bump off a Spectre agent. Cigarettes kill, in the most literal way possible.

Q had clearly been watching a lot of Tom and Jerry cartoons when he thought up this Bond gadget. The officious henchman who attempts to frisk 007 for weapons never counted on finding a mousetrap-like device in the agents sports jacket, and recoils in pain when it snaps shut on his fingers. The simple ones are sometimes the best though this particular piece of kit feels like an accident waiting to happen for its owner.

James Bond must be a very punctual guy, seeing as hes rarely seen without a state-of-the-art watch strapped to his wrist. For 007, its never just about keeping time, however, as he tends to insist on his timepieces having more extras than an Apple Watch. His Live and Let Die Rolex Submariner boasts both a powerful electromagnet (handy for deflecting your bosss cutlery) and a very sharp circular saw. Also worthy of a mention: Bonds digital watch in The Spy Who Loved Me received text messages which it printed out on paper decades before SMS became standard.

Theres no point being a high-class assassin famed for killing your targets with golden bullets if you cant get your weapon of choice through customs. Francisco Scaramanga has an ingenious solution, however, as his gun can be quickly disassembled into a matching cigarette case, lighter, and pen he clearly decided that "The Man with the Golden Pen" didnt carry quite the same cachet.

If we needed confirmation that Scaramanga is every bit Bonds equal, we get it in his passion for high-tech gadgets. While his choice of car now feels remarkably dated that shade of brown is so 1970s the addition of attachable wings and a jet engine is ingenious. They allow the assassin and his trusted aide, Nick Nack, to make a hasty aerial escape, though you have to feel for trapped British agent Mary Goodnight when she opens the cars trunk and realizes shes cruising at several thousand feet.

Not impressed by the standard land-only Lotus Espirit? The model James Bond drives in The Spy who Loved Me comes properly into its own once youve driven it off a pier. Theres no need to panic as you sink to the bottom of the sea, because the flick of a button transforms your vehicle into a submarine, bringing a huge variety of ocean life directly to your windscreen. The car also comes with a missile launcher, in case youre having bother from villains in helicopters.

Back in the days before everybody carried a smartphone in their pocket, a camera was an essential part of any respectable spys toolbox Q took great pride in showing 007 a waterproof model in Thunderball, while the tiny ring-based camera in A View To Kill is particularly impressive. But Q may have surpassed himself with the miniature device Bond uses in Moonraker. Its not that it does anything particularly special its more that it features a clever 007 design, with the lens doubling up as the second zero. Its terrible for going incognito, of course, but it looks fantastic.

Nothing characterizes the canal streets of Venice quite like a gondola, but theyre notoriously terrible when it comes to getting around on land. Theres no such problem for 007, however, whose souped-up boat not only comes with an engine, it also converts into a hovercraft should you ever want to take a close-up look at St Marks Square. Unfortunately, its vast length makes it rather cumbersome to maneuver, and it looks so ridiculous that even a pigeon does a double-take.

Its not great for perennial t-shirt wearers, admittedly, but for anyone fonder of the suited look, 007s concealed wrist-mounted dart guns are an essential addition to the arsenal. Possibly the best thing about these projectile weapons is that theres no faffing around with complex trigger mechanisms nerve impulses in the wrists are enough to fire a dart (armor-piercing and cyanide-tipped versions are available) in your victims direction.

Theres nothing particularly remarkable about the one-seater escape jet 007 flies in Octopussy, aside from the fact its wings fold up. Significantly worthier of comment is the fact its housed in a horsebox, behind a prosthetic animal backside so fake that everyone on the military base who failed to spot it deserves to lose their job.

The ability to open an impressive 90% of the worlds locks isnt the most interesting thing about 007s keychain in The Living Daylights. Much more than a souvenir from a trip from one of Bonds favorite tourist attractions, this sound-activated device releases a potent stun gas whenever he whistles the first five bars of Rule Britannia. A wolf-whistle can prove even more dangerous, unleashing a powerful plastic explosive.

It may not share the elegant lines of its famous predecessor, the Aston Martin DB5, but the V8 Volante still comes equipped with some of the best optional extras on the market. The laser cutters are a neat update of the tire slashers from Goldfinger, while the skis and rocket-booster are ideal additions for any vehicle likely to be called into action on ice. The car also boasts ample space for a cello, and a self-destruct system to keep it off the second-hand market.

Lasers have a long history in Bond movies, from Auric Goldfingers famous "I expect you to die" torture device, to the space weapons used in Moonraker. But the Polaroid camera from Licence to Kill has to be up there with the Q Branchs finest, thanks to its user-friendly point-and-kill mechanism. Its also part of a long line of the best Bond gadgets with the ability to take x-ray photos.

Austin Powers famously used dental products against one of Dr. Evils minions, but it was Bond who got there first. When Q helps out the gone-rogue 007 in Licence to Kill, his assortment of goodies includes a tube of Dentonite, a brand of toothpaste that should come with a government health warning, because its actually a highly effective plastic explosive. Turns out its tough on plaque and pretty much everything else.

"Im familiar with that device," Bond assures Q during the first briefing of Pierce Brosnans tenure, but theres more to this leather belt than initially meets the eye. Its equipped with a 75-foot repelling cord built into the buckle, with a piton to hook on to convenient sections of masonry. Its only calibrated for one user, but you can guarantee 007 will find a way to bring along a friend.

If ever a franchise has worked to prove the pen is literally mightier than the sword, its Bond. Q had already issued an acid-squirting writing implement in Octopussy, but its the ballpoint pen 007 uses in GoldenEye that earns a place in our compilation of the best James Bond gadgets. Three clicks arms the four-second fuse, another three deactivates it which is fine if youre paying attention, not so good if you spend your time absent-mindedly fiddling with your pen. As invincible Boris (Alan Cumming) almost finds to his cost.

Many of us were still getting used to the idea of having a cellphone in our pockets when Bond used his prototype Ericsson device to turn his modified BMW 750iL into a full-size remote-control car. Using an early touchpad and LCD screen, Bond proves remarkably adept at driving his big toy around a multi-story car park he even gets a chance to try out additional features such as missile launchers, self-inflating tires, and a conveniently placed wire-cutter. Were still not sure if he got his deposit back from the hire company.

Even the most serious piste enthusiasts would think twice about taking an Alpine holiday with 007 every time he clips on his skis, Bond tends to get chased by armies of angry guys with guns (see also On Her Majestys Secret Service, The Spy Who Loved Me and A View to a Kill). Thats probably why he comes prepared in The World is Not Enough, wearing a ski jacket that creates a protective inflatable shell for you (and a friend) in the event of an avalanche.

One of the most widely mocked elements of a widely mocked movie, the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish from Die Another Day is possibly the silliest addition to Bonds impressive garage of supercars. That it comes with an ejector seat and enough firepower to take out a small army is just half the story. Thanks to its adaptive camouflage "Tiny cameras on all sides project the image they see onto a light-emitting polymer skin on the opposite side," explains Q its effectively invisible. Nobody saw that one coming.

After the ridiculous excess of Die Another Day, the back-to-basics Casino Royale dispensed with most of the gadgets that are usually standard issue in MI6. One exception, however, is the medkit/defibrillator combo located in the glovebox of Bonds Aston Martin DBS V12. It may not be the most memorable hardware in his arsenal, but few others can match its ability to bring a spy back to life though someone really ought to take a look at its faulty wiring.

Personal safety isnt always among 007s priorities, but one of the Walther PPK pistols he uses in Skyfall comes with a special feature that would surely be of interest to anyone who works in the espionage game. The gun is programmed to recognize Bonds palm print, and wont fire if anyone else tries to use it which has to be a big weight off your mind when youre in a scrap with an evil henchperson. The tech is an update of a personalized rifle Bond uses in Licence to Kill.

Trackers have been a staple in Bond movies since the early days, but in Spectre, the latest head of Q Branch tops all his predecessors when it comes to subtlety. And why give 007 a device he could easily lose when you can inject him with thousands of minuscule nanomachines that can give you an update on Bonds GPS coordinates in an instant? This "smart blood" can also track blood alcohol levels, so M will always know when Bond has had a heavy night on the vodka martinis.

These exclusive pieces of jewelry do much more than simply signify your membership of Ernst Stavro Blofelds exclusive criminal club. Rather subtler than the signet rings beloved of the likes of Emilio Largo in the 60s, the fashionable bands feature a neat octopus motif, and most impressive are sophisticated storage devices containing top secret information about the dodgy organization. They are, sadly, not USB compatible.

Many of the best James Bond gadgets never make it out into the field. Instead, they make cameos in the background, as an exasperated Q struggles to make 007 pay attention during his regular briefing sessions. Highlights include a plaster cast missile (GoldenEye), a man-eating sofa (The Living Daylights), a bagpipe flamethrower (The World is Not Enough), an umbrella that engulfs your head (For Your Eyes Only), and a rocket-launching stereo system (The Living Daylights). Most of them look like they were conceived during a Q Branch all-nighter at the pub.

Now you're caught up with all the best Bond gadgets, check out our ranking of all thebest Bond movies no doubt we will all be arguing in the comments section. We also have pieces on the most iconic James Bond moments and the best James Bond villains.

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The 30 best James Bond gadgets: essential pieces of kit from 007s adventures - GamesRadar+