There are so many helpful gadgets and tools out there to help improve our daily lives. Here is a listing of some of what I use on a fairly regular basis, or at least can be regularly found in my everyday backpack.
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Tip. As Thoreau once said (I’m paraphrasing), “don’t become the tool of your tools.”
$30
Purchased on Kickstarter, now available for pre-order, this is my favorite belt ever! It fits great and despite all the stuff you can fit inside like money or tools, it's still pretty slim lined. The buckle is awesome quality and looks great for casual or even business attire. Also easy to customize the fit once you get it. Made of nylon type material, it's strong and alternative to leather. I just bought the belt by itself, but as you can see, additional tools/supplies can be purchased separately to put into the belt. Perfect for everyday, travel (hide money, docs, keys), camping, or the wilderness.
$20
Great fit, adjustable sizing, secret pockets, breathable. Not as breathable as a something made of nylon, but the secret pockets are great for travel, camping, around town, or the beach to stash, your cash, keys, or other valuables.
$20
$110
I've long fantasized about getting a Leatherman and actually having a use for it. The Signal provides some additional travel/camping/outdoors tools I wanted that the more popular Wave offers. I've used other multi-tools before, but the quality of a Leatherman is unparalleled. Love the serrated knife which I use almost everyday, along with the screwdriver, and the tools plus add-ons are fantastic. There are black, silver, and coyote color options.
$299
Love this bag. Weatherproof, expandable, tons of organization, very cleverly made and designed bag. I use it primarily for everyday, but it's a great travel bag for a long weekend, or more if you're a minimal packer.
$235+
For years I had been searching for a modular backpack that I could add and subtract components and finally found this one. At 20L, there is plenty of storage for everyday urban use. It's water proof, has a laptop sleeve, and you can connect various accessories as you desire. You purchase whatever additional modules you want and they connect via their custom rail system. They also make bigger packs with more attachments, or simpler ones that are not modular. I have found when traveling, this bag fits perfectly under bus/plane seats and even in thin lockers when you detach any front accessories. It's the ultimate pack if you need flexibility and never sure where you are going to have to store it. While a great everyday pack, it's pretty pricey, especially when you start with the add-ons. I just have the folio accessory. Also, there are no double zippers or any way to secure any of your stuff if you need to leave your bag. If you want ultimate durability and flexibility, this is the best modular backpack on the market in my opinion.
$80
Merrell barefoot shoes are hands down the best shoes I've ever worn. The Vapor Gloves are like wearing slippers. This style in particular is more casual looking than other styles which are more traditional running looking. They are durable, sticky bottom for traction, and allow my feet better contact with the ground due to the zero drop (no heal cushion), thin sole, and no extra padding. As a result, I've notice better posture, less lower back, hip, and knee pain when walking around for a long time, and also stronger ankle strength. Tip: It will take some time to get the bottoms of your feet calloused enough to be comfortable, took me about 3 months and now I won't wear non-zero drop shoes anymore. DO NOT run long distances with these until your feet get adjusted and you change your running posture or you will likely injure yourself.
$85
$130
I love Xero Shoes. They're minmalist, zero drop footwear that allow your feet to move as nature intended. I've had the original HFS for years, and the new HFS II has been updated to a more versatile sole that provides better traction for multi-terrain. I wear around town, hiking, and traveling. The Merrell Trail Glove barefoot shoes have unfortunately become too rigid and narrow.
$80
I finally upgraded to wireless bluetooth ear buds with noise cancellation. The sound and convenience is incredible. Also use at the gym. I prefer this style which stays in my ears better. For earbuds, the tip replacements are key. They significantly improve fit, comfort, and sound over the silicone ones. I can wear these for hours. Much more comfortable and compact over the ear headphones. I still take a pair of wired earbuds with foam tips as a backup. Note: For wireless earbuds, get tips that are more shallow so they fit in the charging case.
$24
$8
$19
$15
$12
$55
Anker makes exceptional electronics, especially chargers and power banks. This ultra slim 5,000mAh MagSafe power bank attaches to your phone and charges wirelessly. I bought this specifically for when I'm out and about and Google Maps is draining my phone rapidly from real-time navigation around town or if I don't have access to electricity (ie. camping). No cables to deal with and easily fits in your pocket. It's a bit oversized for an iPhone mini, but just slightly and still works. Will get you get at least a full charge and it's quite fast. For years I used a combined wall charger plus power bank with multiple ports for two things in one. But you still need a travel adapter. Combining the nano power bank plus universal travel adapter with USB ports that can be used at home or abroad achieves the same goal in a smaller, more modular package.
$30
$11
$210
It's crucial to have more than one backup destination for you files. One of which should be cloud storage and the other I like is a portable hard drive. Solid state drives (SSD) are small, lightning fast, and more reliable than typical external hard drives (HDD) since there are no moving parts. They are more expensive so I have one of each, an SSD for all my most important files and a larger HDD for things I could stand to lose worst case. Unfortunately HDDs typically fail after a few years. Holiday sales are a great time to find steep discounts.
$90
$80
$20
The best car phone holder period. Adjustable for different size phones, and they also make a model for phablets. Hooks right into your vent with two sizes to support thin and thick vents. Can also use to prop your phone on your desk.
$8
This thing is awesome at home or even to carry around. Very small, multiple adapters, and ratcheting forward or reverse making is faster to loosen and tighten screws.
$8
Who would have thought magnets would bring so much joy. If you have any keys, membership card, or other things these are great to quickly separate and reconnect and also to hang from a metal hook or ring.
$13
If you love live shows but your ears can't take the punishment, these are a godsend. Normal ear plugs muffle the sound and look ridiculous. These are a bit more inconspicuous, plus they maintain clarity while reducing the overall volume so you can still enjoy the beautiful sounds as you would normally without damaging your ears. I take these anytime I go to a show or bar with live music. I've had these for years and recently noticed there are newer models that are even more inconspicuous.