I can see the "be curious" vibe of HN here. However, I can't shake off the feeling that this is just a low effort carryover from bygone /r/askreddit discussions.
Nah, there have been lots of similar threads over the years on HN. There is also at least one "whats the best thing you bought this year?"-post around the holidays almost every year. So I'd say this is totally within HN tradition.
Voting will take care of it. It's a bit chicken/egg though: I could see myself voting for this if it had some nice comments. There are things I've bought after seeing them discussed/recommended on HN, and I've even used hn.algolia.com to find them again or even see if something in that category has been discussed/recommended here. (Green Bell nail clippers the most recent example, so the one I can remember. Ha.)
- Split keyboard saved my wrists fifteen years ago, still do every day
- Sleeping mask with eye padding so I can open my eyes without my lids touching anything and only see total darkness. Took some getting used to, but it's amazing for getting better sleep
- standing desk setup with footstool and taller chair so I can just slide off to stand up. Makes it easy to switch so I do it more
- quality earplugs with a keychain case so they are always with me
- injinji ankle high hiking toe socks. I wear these every day now, so comfortable
- instant pot, almost all of my cooking is in this
- old cast iron skillet from a garage sale, if it's not in the instant pot it's in this
- floss holder, saves a lot of floss and is easier to use, so I floss a lot more
- bidet for toilet
- a great pair of four way stretch workout shorts. I got a Lululemon pair at a thrift store that has a hip phone pocket. I've worn them for thousands of miles of hiking and they look brand new. Love these shorts so much.
- Sun hoodie, because I'm basically a ginger and can't take that sun. The hoodie keeps me from burning.
- ultralight umbrella, fantastic for hiking in the sun or the rain
- music lessons, I wanted to learn violin and it's easy easier with a fun teacher
- bone conducting headphones (shockz). They are awesome for hiking since you can still hear everything (unless it's raining, then they are annoying). I love wearing them in the shower, music while I clean. Since they don't cover my ears, I've worn them for several days without noticing. They are very comfortable
Seconded on the bone conducting headphones. I have a little kid, so I need to reliably hear my environment, but it's nice to listen to podcasts or audiobooks once in a while.
Also the bidet. It is so strange that water washing a bum is the exception rather than the rule. In many ways we're still a primitive civilization.
Earplugs: did you get custom-fitted ones? I'm using foam ones at the range with 32db suppression. Wife suggested the custom-fitted ones. Thoughts?
Ankle hiking socks: how do they wear? I get Darn Though because of their lifetime warranty which I've used 5 times per pair already.
Cast Iron skillet: Please test this thing for lead. PLEASE.
Shorts: I don't wear brands. But my workout should be as nice as possible. So it's all Lululemon. If only they had a better lifetime. Shorts of 2 years old start to fray.
Headphones: How do they work with iOS (if you use that?). I've used all kinds of headphones, on Android, PC and iOS and I find the only one with some form of stable connection are iOS ones with the H1 chip.
Toe socks. These mid weight tend to last pretty decently for me, but I've mostly just accepted that no fabric will last forever with the kind of abuse that is hiking, so I just buy new ones as they blow out: https://www.rei.com/product/107250/injinji-trail-midweight-m...
I will test the skillet, thanks.
I don't have any Apple products, so I don't know, but I have found the Shockz to take some epic abuse. I'm on my second pair, as the first pair finally gave up the ghost after roughly 6k hours of use. That's including a winter thru of the Appalachian trail, where it was regularly below freezing all day. The best part is that they fit under a winter beanie, so my ears stay warm, and because the button is physical, I can pause and stuff without taking off my gloves and hat. https://a.co/d/goWxmam
Custom-fitted earplugs are AMAZING, especially for sleeping. I had a pair of SleepSound earplugs made for me 4-ish years back and have worn them every night since.
They still fit perfectly! Also, I give them a gentle wash with soap and water every morning (almost like I'm washing my hands normally, but with the earplugs cupped between them—takes 30 seconds) and leave them out to dry, so they haven't gotten nasty from a thousand nights lodged in my ears.
They're molded exactly to my ear shape, so by the time I wake up they've formed a seal with the ear canal and it actually takes a bit of effort to pry them out. No amount of tossing/turning/thrashing/getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of water dislodges them.
Mine (Aeropex model) work great with my iPhone. Between listening to podcasts while walking the dogs, and music while biking or running, they've been great.
I do love being able to hear what's around me for safety reasons, so there's the caveat that riding fast / downhill has a lot of wind noise. None of this is a stability problem with the connection though.
Headphones: How do they work with iOS (if you use that?).
I've used all kinds of headphones, on Android, PC and iOS
and I find the only one with some form of stable connection
are iOS ones with the H1 chip.
Bose QC45 + iPhone 12 Pro have been rock solid stable for me. Hundreds of hours.
I know HN skews largely male so this might not be interesting to many, but an Ethnotek crossbody purse. It's the most well-thought-through bag I've ever used, especially for travel. Everything has a place and is secure (so I don't worry about pickpockets), but is still easily accessible when needed. And it's expandable for a water bottle or jacket but rolls up small when empty.
Manbags/murses/satchels need to be normalized for men too. I hate carrying a wallet in my back pocket. Men have been carrying purses for a couple thousand years, IDK why we don't in modern society.
I don't see any reason to try and normalize the murse now that the briefcase has been slowly beaten into irrelevance and backpacks are far more comfortable.
Also why do some people carry their wallet in their back pockets instead of the roomier front pockets? Seems like you have to shift stuff around if you ever want to sit and are just begging to be pickpocketed
They're both great. The Dobra has a slightly smaller footprint and individual pockets for cards. The Dynomighty has 2 main pockets for cash notes, but a single large card pocket on each side.
The Dobra looks and feels a little bit more like a regular wallet.
Why normalize it? People critizise stigmas, but I don't feel like this is the case (no pun intended) here. It may vary from where you're at, but in middle europe I'd argue, no one gives you a second look for wearing those (Edit: Or is that the problem? ;) ).
Yeah, sorry about that. I meant the cross body sling, with the roll top. I do know someone as well that has the shoulder bag and likes it, but I can't personally speak to it.
I started with a 30w Anker Nano, now have a handful in strategic places like backpacks, at work, etc. They are just great. Small, light and powerful. They can charge anything, even my old thinkpads (with an adapter), no more heavy charging bricks or multiple chargers to lugg around. Bonus: a quality 180cm USB-C charging cable if you only have 90cm/3ft ones.
That's exactly what I wrote on a prior round of small life tips thread. I got a 65W charger with 2 USB-C and 1 USB-A. When using two it splits 45W + 18W, and splits again 45+10+10 when using all 3. It charges practically everything I own up to a MacBook Pro (Intel) 16".
The Thermapen One meat thermometer. First I had to get over the arrogance that I could 'feel' when meat was the right temperature, then I had to invest in a product that, while being wildly more expensive, actually encourages me to use it all the time.
Pork, chicken, steak. I now have a sub-second answer to when the food is cooked.
Everyone who cooks meat should own at least one meat thermometer. I took a couple of introductory courses to professional cooking and first 2 classes of the semester were all spent on food safety. Proper handling of food, prep space cleaning, general kitchen cleaning. Now I have 3 meat thermometers so no matter who I'm cooking for their meat comes out at the proper temperature and there is no cross contamination.
I wouldn't necessarily recommend the parent posts answer (thermopen) - whilst I do own one and it's fantastic, I'd not that particularly brand loyal.
However.... would totally recommend getting an actual instant read one at a similar price point instead of a crappy $10 version (not that you were suggesting a cheap one here! just raising it for anyone who was thinking that might be an option)
I had a few iterations of cheap ones, and moving to an actual instant read thermometer was a game changer for cooking. You can quickly eg check 20 different chicken wings for doneness instead of spending 20 seconds or so checking one and wondering if the thermometer has actually come up to temp before moving on to the next
The Tushy bidet. It completely changed my morning routine. By cleaning my backside, I now flipped my wprkout + shower schedule to evening before bed, which is far more efficient and I, overall, feel more hygienic, and it's gotten me to workout far more regularly and do much less useless web browsing and procrastinating nonsense in the evening. In the mornings, now, I get straight to the things I want to get done in the day.
An HRV monitor (whoop, oura, garmin watch) that let me see how much stress I was putting my body when eating unwell / drinking. Has changed me to a much cleaner diet
I'd single out Garmin especially for the HN crowd.
While other watches seem to go in the "consumers like their data in simple colored blobs and are scared of numbers", Garmin goes hard on "chart and graph everything"
Big fan of my Forerunner 945 and use to wear it nearly 24/7, but its been giving me bad rashes on my wrist, so only wear it when running/hiking/swimming. Superior to the Apple watch for health data.
How does Apple Watch perform here? I have a Whoop 4.0 which I don't really like that much and was thinking about getting an Apple Watch as soon as they release a new one this fall. I assume it'd have superior data and Apple health integration but haven't used one since the original series.
A tea-sieve specifically made to fit inside a thermos bottle. Lets you prepare loose-leaf teas and be able to drink them all day! Most useful thing ever!
Arcopal Volcan, late '70s/early 80's. Quality, beautiful design & craftmanship. I don't know any modern product that comes near. Almost as old as I am, used daily, but looks new. Weren't expensive either. Just hard to find.
Each time I pick it up, sip my coffee, or hold it in sunlight, my day is a little more joyful vs. using regular store-bought mug.
Manufacturer taking pride in their skills & doing what they can to fabricate the best product possible, vs. today's race-to-the bottom cheap crap where enduser opinion doesn't matter as long as a profit can be made.
Can you share which make/type? I’ve found the Oxo tea ball to be the simplest tea brewing device - very easy to clean and easy to travel with:
https://www.oxo.com/twisting-tea-ball.html
Noise cancelling headphones have been a revelation. I can now work in an open plan office without blasting music etc in my ears. I can drive my old cheap car on the highway without lots of annoying noise. Etc etc. The benefits are many.
driving with headphones, especially noise-cancelling, is pretty concerning. you might be blocking an ambulance making lots of "annoying noise," (and yes, they do take the highway) so maybe invest in better seals for your doors and windows?
It's basically like driving a luxury car with lots of noise insulation and double glazing.
Everything is reduced by about 30 dB, especially low-frequency road and engine noise. Sirens etc are still perfectly audible as there is less background noise.
No, you won't be blocking the noise of an ambulance with noise-canceling headphones, that's not how noise-cancelling technology works. They only block persistent sounds, which an ambulance siren isn't as it changes pitch rapidly.
It's illegal to drive with headphones on let alone noise cancelling ones in many states. Some have exceptions for one earbud being in for phone calls. One notable state with no exceptions at all is of course California. See also Ohio, Maryland, Louisiana and more.
edit: this makes me wonder about deaf drivers... what is the intent of the law here?
I fully understand that noise canceling DSP algos lend themselves fully to inverting and muxing repetitive background noise like airplane noise, not sirens, but the callous, selfish effort to muffle the outside world when you're operating a multiple ton machine, often in close vicinity of other said machines, just because you don't like the sound, is problematic.
Someone told me that noise cancellation gave them tinnitus, and some weeks later out of cheer curiosity I was looking into how people who lose some of their hearing can get it back, and it turns out, when you have hearing loss, your brain / ear tries to adapt as much as possible, and you essentially could get tinnitus, its your brain trying to fill in the quiet. So if you've got any sort of hearing loss, I would take that into consideration when trying out noise cancellation. This is of course anecdotal as heck and a conclusion I drew on my own, but it made too much sense to me.
Either way, just posting this as a potential warning, if you use any noise cancellation, its not the technologies fault, its your brain trying to fill in the weirdly quiet bits its not hearing. Thankfully a lot of these noise cancelling headsets you can just not turn on the feature and they're just as good.
This gave me chills for a second. I extensively have active noise cancelling on with no music playing. Several hours a day. After a quick search I couldn't find any good results on this topic. I feel like you should provide some links or anything on that topic? I'd be glad to look into this.
As a counterproduct, I recently discovered noise-cancelling earplugs for musicians. They work like headphones except that they don't generate sound, only reduce some frequencies. Great for people with sensitive hearing.
I can second that, love mine. No more tinnitus-like noises from fatigued ears after concerts or the cinema. And they even help with acoustics somewhat when they arent ideal at the venue, like at festivals or Nolan movies ;)
> I can drive my old cheap car on the highway without lots of annoying noise.
I admit I do this, but I'm conscious about using only a so-so noise canceling. Reducing even 30% of tire noise is a bliss and greatly reduces fatigue. With top-shelf Sony or Bose stuff it would be quite unsafe for everyone involved.
As a passenger (on the road and on flights), the full canceling is a game changer.
I love my Samsung Buds Live for that. They are shaped like beans and dont go into your ear but into the "fold" in front of it. Naturally they dont block as much noise as normal buds or headphones but the noise canceling is still good and they feel so much better especially when you are using them for long stretches ie. on long flights or similar. I guess its mostly about letting the inner ear breathe.
I had this same problem... both the AirPods Pro and Max gave me a "pressurized" feeling I wasn't comfortable with. I found the 2nd Gen Pros to be significantly more comfortable, not sure why - your milage may vary.
I love my XM5s. I mow with them on, I row with them on, I take Zoom calls and phone calls with them on, they work great. I love the pass thru mode to hear ambient noises too.
AirPods Pro... I live in a lively household and the ability to activate noise cancelling so I can study/read/think is an amazing quality of life improvement.
A Trackball mouse. No seriously. I had awful wrist pains, its always commented on that us developers / people who use computers a lot run the risk of getting CTS (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome) and I was basically worried I was headed that way at 26, so I looked around at what my much more senior co-workers were using, and about half of them had trackballs. So I bought one, then I bought an ergonomic (Microsoft) keyboard. I've never had pain in my wrist again. I use my Trackball for everything, including gaming (although lockpicking on Skyrim is a PITA, it does not transfer well, so I keep a normal USB mouse plugged in that I rarely touch for the rare case where my trackball is a hindrance).
Yep, doing a more ergonomic set up on my desk here made my life better too. I had some write/forearm pains too and went with a vertical mouse, and that did the trick. I couldn't get used to a trackball for some reason. Also went with an ergonomic keyboard and that also helps. I don't do any gaming on here, just work stuff.
I have heard good things about Vertial Mice but I've fallen in love with Trackballs once I embraced my first one, I don't know if I can appreciate normal mice since.
Seconded on the trackball. I was a trackball user for years until Microsoft discontinued their trackball ca. 2005, and I was unable to find a suitable replacement. A couple of years ago I was feeling some wrist pain from my conventional mouse, and reexamined the trackball offerings. After a couple of missteps with mediocre Kensington models, I found the Elecom HUGE Trackball. It is excellent, I am tempted to buy some backups in case they stop making it.
For the Mac users: I find that it is quite handy to keep a Magic Trackpad on the side of my keyboard opposite the trackball. I use it to make quick gestures such as switching desktops, showing all windows, etc.
I tried two different models of Kensingtons. The first one felt fine to use, but it had a scroll ring around the ball, and this piece broke off after a few weeks. I got it replaced under warranty, and the next one broke the same way in a similar time frame. So I tried one of their other models, and it just didn't fit my hand well. It's now my emergency backup.
I don't know if it's just me, but my thumb does not do fine control that well, and feels quite stiff doing it. It's great for gripping (obviously) and for 'thumping' a spacebar or whatever, but it seems unnatural if I try to drive my trackpad with my thumb, for example.
I see the point about wrist movement though, even on a trackpad there's a lot of lateral wrist movement.
Not OP, but you really need to try out a few styles yourself and see what fits best, for me that was the Logitech MX Ergo. The big square Kensington one was pretty nice too, but not as comfortable as the MX Ergo IMO. Still working great after 6 years or so.
I have gone through some changes with the mice and the keyboard, I got the first one in like 2017 so its fair to say wear and tear and other factors.
First one I got was the Logitech M575, I just went for what looked to have good reviews, and I've always bought Logitech. I got one for work and my home when the first one died too quickly because it got bumped in my bag going back and forth to work.
Then they released a new trackball called the Ergo MX (when googling it, definitiely add the term "Trackball") which was fantastic. I liked keeping it raised instead of lowered (which was a feature it had) but then after a few years the clicking stopped working as expected, and I found out some people had issues with the switch wearing down over time.
At this point I have a wireless Kensington Trackball mouse, it supports three devices (2 bluetooth, and one USB paired device, so three total), witching between all three isn't perfect (its a little too delayed compared to my Logitech keyboard that switches on a single tap) but it works well enough. Its raised by default so its just as I would have used the Ergo MX. It also has two programmable buttons, though you can also program other things with their software, I've left their custom software uninstalled however, since it fights with Windows' own settings, but it works great on any OS I'm on, including my Linux system.
As for the keyboard, I had Microsoft's Ergonomic wireless keyboard for a while, I've been leaning towards wired keyboards more, since I do tend to use Linux, and use full disk encryption, and none of that works if you're fully bluetooth wireless only.
My other thing is I prefer flat key keyboards, I know some people hate them, but I just find them to be nicer on my hands and quicker to type on, so I usually lean towards flat key ergonomic keyboards now, which there's not a huge amount of those. The wired Microsoft keyboards only come with regular "fat keys" as opposed to the flat keys their other wireless ergonomic keyboards feature. I did find a Kensington wired keyboard that's ergonomic and has flat keys, I replaced it after I spilled coffee on it and bought the same one, but I cant help but want a wireless one still.
But I'm looking into a Logitech keyboard that is ergonomic and supports multiple devices, and using the unifying USB plug as the main way to connect to my encrypted Linux system, I've always had solid luck with Logitech's unifying USB device, it usually just works regardless of what stage the computer is in, its just bluetooth only that fails if you're trying to make bios changes.
Anyway, its been a few different devices, but the focus has always been on getting a ergonomic keyboard and any trackball mouse that works best for me. I definitely like the ones where you rest most of your hand on them the most.
I really like these kind of threads and my wishlist grows everytime. One thing I really want to buy is a sleeping mask like the Alaska bear one [1] that was recommended somewhere else, but I'm worried about being too hot for sleeping with it and getting pimples because the skin on my forehead would not "breathe". Can please anyone who sleeps with a sleeping mask on all the time address my concerns?
I'm a big fan of so-called "bone-conduction headphones". Being able to be in public with audio while not disturbing others makes a big impact on life enjoyment while not limiting your safety as you can still hear the surrounding environment.
You don't need bone conduction for that, air pods pro 2 work just as well. Bone conducting headphones are mainly good for sports involving water (or sweat) IMO, but the quality is significantly subpar to regular headphones.
Also, you can definitely hear bone conducting headphones in the environment if the volume is high enough as the vibrations also vibrate the air.
* I'm sure Airpods are phenomenal for what they are, but I haven't ever found an earbud I can comfortably walk in without having them slip out very quickly, let alone run in. They're a class of product that just doesn't work for me.
* A nearby observer might be able to hear a bone-conducting headphone if you blast the volume, but the main point is that it doesn't reach a disturbing volume for anybody in the surrounding environment, unlike some other potential solutions.
* The audio quality isn't phenomenal, but is acceptable for the use case where you're out in public and still wanting to focus on the surrounding environment. I wouldn't use those kinds of headphones for general home use, but they're good enough for the intended purpose.
Tip on this though; get someone else to wear them at your preferred volume. I tend to find ~50% of folks who use bone conducting headphones have to have the volume up so loud it's basically audible to people next to you.
These are not "small things", but things people generally don't pay attention and just use a cheap version. Using good quality ones really makes life better:
A mechanical keyboard. Retina displays. Comfortable shoes. Prescription sunglasses. Good coffee.
A good trackball instead of a mouse. (I love my Elecom Huge).
Non-standard keyboards where you can uses your thumbs (e.g. ZSA's moonlander) are a significant improvement over keyboards which retain an impractically large spacebar.
Word of warning if you have smaller-than-average hands.
ZSA Moonlander is really not great or even very ergonomic for us. If you tent the keyboard, the thumb cluster has to be tilted down. In this case, the thumb keys are very hard to reach. If you put the cluster up, this improves only slightly, and now you can't tent the keyboard.
I stuck with mine for a few weeks but eventually gave up.
No, sorry, I just bought some generic brand on Amazon that was a good deal. I just like Merino Wool due to it's properties and it just feels very nice on the skin (no rashes, irritations, anything like that; just a nice, soft feeling)
Love this one! It's such a crap shoot with synthetic wear, some stink as soon as you put them on while other are actually end up almost as good as wool.
When we moved to a different city I spent $10 to buy a jar filled with loose screws, nuts, bolts, washers and small assembly elements leftovers from a local small hardware store.
These little things served me so well over the last 25 years!
A toolbox with all the basic tools I need (screwdrivers, pliers, hammer, cutter) + a few tools not in the toolbox (electric drill/screwdriver with a set of drill bits, wire stripper), screws and dowels, etc.
Crafting anything at home requires an insane amount of tools, so I’m really glad I invested in proper equipment. I still need to buy a few things (not tools but generic things like wedges) but I can do more and more unplanned things without needing to buy anything.
Shaves well dry (which I do when camping) but is also water resistant for the shower. Recharge once a week at most. Used to dread shaving my head each morning, but having an excuse to stand around in the shower longer suits me just fine.
I actually bookmarked that several years ago in preparation for if/when the hairline marches back far enough I look in the mirror and go, "yeah, nuh," and it's at the point I'll look better off with nothing on top.
Does it get a decently close shave? I use a razor every other day because I haven't found anything electric that gets that "clean shaven" look. Definitely open to not having to do that.
I think so. I don't like using a razor or the feel of it afterwards, so my standards of "clean shaven" might be different, but I upgraded from a previous, non-waterproof Pitbull (bought in 2018) and remember thinking that it felt like the new one (mid-2022) was shaving far closer.
OpenWRT based travel router. On the plane I power it with a USB battery pack. I pay for Internet access and share it with my phone, laptop, wife and kids. Five devices online for $8 on Southwest.
Built in VPN client connects to my home VPN server and keeps all connections safe. Airplanes, hotels, coffee shops, etc.
I love being able to share a single connection with multiple devices, get NAT firewall protection, and VPN security.
When the home Internet goes out, I put the router in the backyard to bridge the open WiFi from the school nextdoor.
I have a few retractable multi-cables (micro USB, usb-c, lightning) and they bring me joy every time I use them. No hunting for or switching out different cables. No dongles. No long cords cluttering the space. I think everyone I know that has seen mine has gone on to buy their own
Nippers. I used to be mostly interested in the end product when building plastic models, but after getting a pair of GodHand nippers, the building experience itself became much more enjoyable. I think this generalizes to "better tools will make your life better".
I would also recommend getting a better camera since it will change how you see the world, although a decent camera might not qualify as a small thing.
Here's a mundane one that probably everybody does already. If your cellphone has wireless charging but you still don't use it, get yourself a cheap charger pad and put where your phone normally sits. I thought I was done with upgrading phone years ago, but when I ended up with a wireless charging one, its so much more convenient I couldn't live without it now.
Always loved those. But I have just four now and it’s a pleasure to write.
I love the feeling and sound of writing. A good pencil goes a long way for me because it brings me joy to have the perfect weight and balance when taking notes, diagramming, etc.
Notes on a computer have always been inferior for me.
Thanks to modern phone tech I can just snap a pic of the notes I take and can use OCR for ex to share text with someone.
Air fryer. I know this is only small as in "smaller than a suitcase" but anyone can fit one into the smallest studio. They are very convenient, easy to use, and produce great tasting food. We never cook any meat or fish in anything else any more. For vegetarians it's great for frying butternut squash or sweet potato or even regular fries.
I spend so much less time looking for things now. The even bigger win is that I spend so much less time worrying about losing things. Especially when traveling.
- Label Maker
I don't often need it but when I do, I do.
- Stackable Plastic Shoeboxes (& the key to organization in general)
I have a lot of hobbies that involve a lot of little bits and pieces and tend to become clutter nightmares. Solution that I belatedly discovered: label 'em and stack 'em. I realize how stupidly obvious this sounds.
More generally, the key to staying organized is coming up with the most frictionless possible organization system. It doesn't have to be the "best" system. That was the real discovery.
- Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones
Common choice here it seems. Literal life-changer for all of the obvious reasons. I have the Bose QC45 which have been flawless. Didn't really compare with the competition head to head, just always had good experiences w/ Bose headphones so I stuck with them.
.. cheap, light, and easy to operate, it has made my outdoor expeditions so much more comfortable, and for some reason provides peace of mind since, if the grid goes kablooey, there's plenty of twigs for the next cuppa tea ..
It cooks well enough that you'd always find something useable unless it's torrential rain and you'd get used to carrying a few bits of dry flammables with you. The size of thing makes it not very suitable for backpacking though. It's great to have in your open boat, van etc though.
I have the version of the MSR pocket rocket which Alpkit sells in the UK. I'm friends with the founders so often buy from them and their equivalent is half the price of the MSR. They sell good functional kit [1]
Nice thick hiking socks. My feet feel so much better and there's a lot of room for my toes to wiggle usually.
Also, bar soap. Switching from liquid body wash to bar soap stands as one of my best decisions. Made the switch 8 years ago now and I just opened a new bar of goat milk soap made by some regional (local...ish) nuns. It's just so much easier to travel with, and I find there are better options for my super-dry skin in bar soap land.
(1) Good foam earplugs. Mine are SNR 38dB and they make a huge difference when the gremlins (my daughter and her boyfriend) are having loud conversations at 1am, or any time my wife's snoring is especially bad.
(2) A roll-up electronics case. Mine (ProCase) has three pockets for thumb drives and dongles, two large pockets for my charger and power cable, and six loops for smaller cables. Then it all rolls nice and neat and compact. I call it "the burrito" and I must not be alone because Jansport now has one that actually looks like a burrito.
A cheap phone stand for my desk, saves me putting it down in a random place and then losing it. Also a MASSIVE thermos cup that I can fill with ice and water and doesn't need refilling all day.
We picked up some touchless hand soap dispensers. We got the simplehuman brand which I think was one of the one recommended by America's Test Kitchen.
Then we bought some more to give to everyone for christmas because we liked ours so much.
Lot of other good answers in this thread: split keyboard, trackball, iron skillet, etc. These items also spark joy for me. And I should probably stop thinking about getting a bidet and actually get one.
I still maintain that the F91W solved the "watch problem" for just about everyone in the world. Ten USD, keeps date and time, has an alarm, illuminates, water resistant, and will last 7 years on battery. The value is insane.
i kinda agree, however... i had one, worked beautifully, but the strap broke and the replacement costed more than the watch.
i opted for another watch, still from casio (W-735H-1AVDF, 20€ from amazon) and while this is again a great value... the strap broke again. on this last one i got an unofficial strap that's working okay, but i don't know for how long.
What does it change from normal/cheaper keyboards? I've never made the jump because I'm always scared that the additional noise will bother people around me who might sleep at times when I am working.
The thing that makes mechanical keyboards interesting is their customizability. For example, they can be as quiet or as loud as you like - linear or tactile switches are quieter than clicky switches, and can be quieter than a cheap rattly membrane keyboard.
A remote control for the bedroom ceiling light. I can take my prosthesis off and put in on while sitting on the bed. The light is better than the bedside lamp
Elitedesks with Ryzen (G4 I think) - a few of them run my desktop k8s cluster, one a minecraft server for my kid, one a family server with ownlclound and other goodies, one runs Netflix, YT and so on, and another one runs Lakka and a ton of retro games. One cost me around €200 which is an excellent value for money.
(Yes there are newer models but they are more expensive and some of them much larger which makes the whole deal unattractive.)
I feared it would be a short-lived whim desire but I'm using it daily and I love it. So much smoother than a note-taking app for ideation, and also better than a notebook, because whatever I've drawn will decorate the room and gently remind me to think about its contents.
10 packs of USB c chargers. I'm the kind of person that will limp along chargers and my phones always dying. Not anymore because I have usb chargers and more usb chargers.
Same for toilet paper. Only subscription I have. Comes 2x a year in a giant boz
I have a walking pad which I sometimes walk slowly on in front of my adjustable desk which is certainly healthier than just sitting down, although my feet look a bit ugly if I walk too much it's good for thinking more alertly as well
Wolfcraft folding trolley (sack cart). It has a solid axle so it can still take heavier loads, unlike cheaper folding models. Good when your parking spot is a long from from your front door, such as in an apartment block.
In the same vein two of my favorite compact tools:
- Victorinox Cybertool (mostly to work on PC buils when I'm on the go and can't take lots of tools with me)
And for everyday use a keyring pocket knife:
- Victorinox Midnite Manager@work (somehow makes me feel safer to have a backup of my encrypted passwords on me on that USB stick, and I often use the small LED light at night or in dark corners of PC builds too)
A robot vacuum that vacuums and mops and the waste gets automatically pumped into the dock. Semi-expensive at over a thousand dollars but the thousands of hours regained not cleaning is priceless.
Amazing how often I end up whipping this thing out to charge something or connect data end points together. Being on my keyring means I pretty much always have it. The most clever thing is that it manages to combine an Apple lightning and micro-USB into the same connector.
Newer battery flashlights all seem to have a microcontroller that's in standby when 'off', so the battery runs down, and is inevitably empty when you need it most..
Amen. At my company we tried LastPass, BitWarden and there were revolts from either sales or tech sides of biz... nothing stuck until 1password, since then its been bliss.
