the cape sundew I keep on my windowsill. As someone with a lot of house plants, it has been a godsend for keeping flies and other pests out of the house.
my first aid kit. You never want to need one of these, but I’ve been glad to have it close to hand a fair few times
I’m genuinely curious here - really? As someone who always has to mess with the old fashioned ‘steel’ (mind your hands cus there’s no guard on it!) sharpener, are they better? Honestly, heard of them, never used but interested.
Yeah, after getting the profile on the blade correct, you finish it by polishing the edge. It really, really makes a huge difference. I could never use a steel correctly though, I always messed up.
I third both Victorinox knives (specifically the ones with the Fibrox handles, not wood).
That said, I suspect other brands of similar knives – broadly, the good-but-cheap commercial-grade kind found in restaurant supply stores, which have stainless steel stamped blades, grippy plastic handles, and are NSF-certified to survive being sanitized by restaurant dishwashers – would be just about as good. Think something like a Mercer Culinary or a Dexter-Russell.
Definitely the opposite of making life easier but I love the stone mortar and pestle I got. I’m using it regularly not only to grind up spices like pepper or basil, but I also make pesto for pasta or rice dishes.
Sounds dumb, but dishwashing gloves. I don’t have a dishwasher, and not getting my hands clammy when I do dishes makes the process infinitely less horrible.
I personally prefer the sound of the Koss KSC75s paired with the headband from another cheapo pair of headphones, but for some reason my one pair of Porta Pros outlasted all 3 of my KSC75s (one ear keeps going out, probably just need to replace the cable), so now I’m just using the Porta Pro drivers on the cheapo headband.
The Porta Pro headband clamps too tight for me but the cheapo ones are a great fit and it genuinely feels like I’m wearing nothing on my head. It’s amazing for both work and play. Been rocking this setup for at least 5 years now.
This is what I’ve been doing, but the problem is that phone speakers are only so loud against the deafening roar of the water from the showerhead hitting the tub lol. Been thinking of picking up a waterproof Bluetooth speaker for some time now but I still have yet to pull the trigger.
Funny, but I see soo many kids walking to school with their worldly belongings in their back packs! Worse is they’re hanging soo low - at least get a hip strap. Life lessons I guess. In my day we had lockers in the school.
I don’t know anything about the current backpack “scene”, but I feel like whenever I see people on the Internet recommending a backpack they seem to be well over $50.
I have recommendations that depend entirely on lifestyle, so not great general stuff but amazing for the people they’re for:
Wurkkos FC11 Rechargeable LED Flashlights Max 1300Lumen High 90CRI EDC Flash Light USB C Charge,IP67 Waterproof Torch, Magnetic Tailcap, Great for Dog Walking Home use Emergency(5000K) a.co/d/fncjQhi
This flashlight is light, bright, cheap, and USB C rechargeable. It has a magnet in its ass so you can easily mount it and do whatever you’re trying to do hands-free. As a power plant operator who runs around outside or climbs inside of condensers and tanks and shit, this thing was incredibly handy. Probably pretty good for hikers and campers too.
It doesn’t necessarily need to be this exact pair, but Darn Tough brand wool socks are the general recommendation. They reduce impact, wick sweat/moisture, and they’re comfortable. This is the only kind of socks I will wear at work or else my feet hurt and itch and stink.
OontZ Ultra Bluetooth Speaker, Portable Wireless Bluetooth 5.0 Speaker, 14 Watts, up to 100 ft Bluetooth Range, IPX7 Waterproof Portable Bluetooth Speaker (Black) a.co/d/dXlV5bY
It’s a surprisingly good sound quality waterproof Bluetooth speaker. I take mine into the shower and listen to music. You could use it in the kitchen, outside in the yard, etc. but mine is pretty much entirely used in the shower or sometimes the bedroom 😉
Obviously not for everybody, but these are great bang for your buck if they suit somebody you know!
Out of those 3 options, I would prefer the flashlight.
Even if you already have a flashlight, you can always find another place that would benefit from one nearby.
I also just say that I don't buy in at all to Darn Tough socks. This person can't where any other brand of socks? Bullshit. You can just buy new generic socks before you get anywhere close to the price you'll pay for gourmet socks.
Also depending on the person's interests, getting them a boardgame could be nice.
Regarding Darn Tough, part of why I recommend that brand in particular, which I really should’ve mentioned, is they come with a lifetime warranty. If they get a hole, you ship them back and they straight up just replace them. They’re sturdy as fuck. I do 12 hour shifts in them on ladders, stairs, gravel, incline, etc getting thousands of steps and they are the gold standard for that. Just be wary of counterfeits, especially on Amazon.
Board games can be an incredible gift because there’s also the implicit bonus gift of “I will spend time with you playing this game.”
I prefer smart wool, but am totally on board with nice merino wool socks from any brand. Happy feet have helped me maintain a happy life. It’s like a good pillow or the right jacket for today’s weather for me.
Totally agree on the boardgame suggestion if it suits their personality. You need to know what complexity they are into, first.
I’ve had three or four pairs of smartwool socks, and they haven’t lasted more than a couple years. I have Scott ten pairs of Darn Tough I got on sale at REI that I’ve had for about seven years, and they’re all in great shape, even the pair that I snagged on a nail once. They’re fantastic, and also really comfortable.
Dunno about darn tough socks, but I have some smart wool socks i’ve been wearing for years and years. No idea what they go for now, because I bought mine over a decade ago, but whatever the cost they are absolutely worth it.
I also knit my own, and it’s the only way i’ve gotten near the same quality and durability, and the cost for that is pretty high, even without considering the time it takes to knit them.
If someone you know has/if you have kids: car vaccumn. It’s thoughtful, useful, easier than stopping by the gas station just to clean out the family truckster, and you can find them for around $25 at Walmart.
In a similar vein, Tweezerman tweezers. There is absolutely none better than those. Razor fine edge that I’m convinced could pluck an electron off an atom.
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