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ASK HN: What’s a small thing you’ve purchased which has made your life better?
Mine is a jife, a knife specifically designed for peanut butter. My wife was bemused when I purchased it, but she uses it every day now.
- megadeth 3y agoLeatherman Wave+
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- pgt 3y agoDo you have the Leatherman Wave bit kit? Gamechanger: https://www.leatherman.com/bit-kit-set-127.html https://www.leatherman.com/bit-kit-set-127.html
- throw101010 3y agoIn 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)
- xattt 3y agoI picked up a Leatherman Wingman years ago. It was 80% of the Wave at 1/2 price (~$36 CAD vs $80) when I got it.
- Kim_Bruning 3y agoA 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!
- brianjking 3y agoDavid's Tea sells a nice thermos like this. It is almost too insulated though, stuff never cools down!
- MrDrDr 3y agoCan 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 https://www.oxo.com/twisting-tea-ball.html
- RetroTechie 3y agoRelated: some coffee cups. 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.
- HPsquared 3y agoNoise 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.
- satao 3y agoand when I was living in an apartment in a big city it made possible to work between all the car noise and apartments being restored in my building
- technol0gic 3y agodriving 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?
- dimva 3y agoNo, 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.
- giancarlostoro 3y agoWhat about a car horn? It feels insanely dangerous to use noise cancellation whilst driving.
- logical_proof 3y agoIt'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?
- 3y ago
- iammjm 3y agoMerino Wool long-sleeve base layer - I can hike and sweat for days and somehow not stink!
- znpy 3y agoi'm got very interested in this after reading "Insulation: First the Body, Then the Home" by low tech magazine (https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/02/insulation-first-the-body-then-the-home/ https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/02/insulation-first-t...). i'll be getting at least one when october comes and want to see if that really helps when dealing with low temperatures and thermal body regulation. is there a particular brand you'd recommend?
- iammjm 3y agoNo, 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)
- axpy 3y agoLove 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.
- calvinmorrison 3y ago10 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
- DoingIsLearning 3y agoI 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.
- OJFord 3y agoVoting 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.)
- skummetmaelk 3y agoThis definitely screams Reddit content and feels off for HN.
- jjwtieke 3y agoSorry. Won’t do again.
- awiesenhofer 3y agoNah, 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.
- q1w2 3y agoThe difference is the quality of the answers. Reddit these days is mostly teenagers creating low-effort outrage, jokes, and noise.
- thiht 3y agoSimilar threads have the same kind of answers we can find here on HN https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/comments/15b3wld/what_can_you_buy_for_less_than_50_that_will/ https://www.reddit.com/r/ask/comments/15b3wld/what_can_you_b... https://www.reddit.com/r/LivingAlone/comments/14x2vka/what_are_life_changing_things_that_i_should_buy/ https://www.reddit.com/r/LivingAlone/comments/14x2vka/what_a...
- Frummy 3y agoI 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
- crims0n 3y agoAirPods 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.
- HPsquared 3y agoDefinitely. Avoiding noise used to be very expensive, now it's available to all.
- denolfe 3y agoMine are probably my favorite possession at this point for this reason, even being an Android person.
- Eumenes 3y agothey have saved my sanity on flights and crowded beaches with screaming children, rude people blasting music, car/traffic noise, etc.
- mkonecny 3y agoAn 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
- Itsdijital 3y agoI'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"
- Eumenes 3y agoBig 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.
- eknkc 3y agoHow 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.
- Eumenes 3y agoKindle, 1password
- PhaedrusV 3y agoDitto 1password.
- dudeinjapan 3y agoAmen. 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.
- KomoD 3y ago> At my company we tried LastPass Dodged a bullet there
- ludsan 3y agoThe 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.
- TheAngryCanuck 3y agoEveryone 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.
- davesmylie 3y agoI 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
- moreati 3y agoWolfcraft 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.
- coldblues 3y agoA mechanical keyboard.
- throw101010 3y agoWhat 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.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- fanf2 3y agoThe 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.
- q1w2 3y agoThe 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.
- dudeinjapan 3y agoYou should move to Japan.
- DonsDiscountGas 3y agoI second this. Though mine is a different brand, everybody should do themselves a favor and get a bidet seat.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- extasia 3y agoCasio F91W watch. Cost about 10gbp.
- crims0n 3y agoI 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.
- znpy 3y agoi 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.
- extasia 3y agoI had two straps break on me too. You can get a replacement for a reasonable price on amazon.
- zmmmmm 3y agothis keyring USB connector: https://www.amazon.com/inCharge-Six-One-Portable-Compatible/dp/B086WHFRJH/ref=sr_1_3 https://www.amazon.com/inCharge-Six-One-Portable-Compatible/... 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.
- Ekaros 3y agoSuction cup toilet paper holder... Allows me to place it to better place... I suppose I could just screw one in, but it works passably. Second one is "dump" remote control plugs. Simple 3 piece set with simple 6 button remote. Works, no stupid IOT or network or anything.
- awiesenhofer 3y agoGaN charger 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.
- karmakaze 3y agoThat'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".
- benj111 3y agoA paracetamol? They're pretty small. Seeds are small, and they grow into things edible/pretty.
- JoeAltmaier 3y agoI resolved to purchase no single-use items. Mostly succeeded. So no cute toys, which is sad but lots less clutter!
- dudeinjapan 3y agoJust use your toys more than once!
- nicbou 3y agoA retractable USB-C cable and a 3M one. A backpack that's also a bike pannier (Ortlieb Vario PS). This is great for shopping. Bicycle gloves, for colder days. The Decathlon midrange model is good.
- gms7777 3y agoI 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
- chimprich 3y agoAny recommendations for which brand of retractable cable? I've never had much luck with them.
- HPsquared 3y agoLong cables are a luxury in general. It's such an indulgence to sit on the other side of the couch, or hand my phone to someone while it's charging. Lots of appliances now come with annoyingly short cables, too.
- scop 3y agoA mallet. Amazing how many uses I have found for it where a normal hammer would break or damage whatever needs the work.
- jjwtieke 3y agoI think this is my favourite response.
- rvieira 3y agoThese 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.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- crims0n 3y ago+1 for prescription sunglasses, I probably use them more than my regular glasses.
- prawn 3y agoA Pitbull Skull Shaver: https://skullshaver.com/products/pitbull-silver-pro-head-and-face-shaver https://skullshaver.com/products/pitbull-silver-pro-head-and... 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.
- crims0n 3y agoDoes 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.
- prawn 3y agoI 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.
- anotherevan 3y agoI 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.
- prawn 3y agoIntermediate step can be trimming the thinner areas to a 2, and everything else to 1. But it's not always a long phase!
- black_13 3y ago[dead]
- aa-jv 3y agoA Kelly Kettle: https://www.kellykettle.com/ https://www.kellykettle.com/ .. 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 ..
- Eumenes 3y agodo you take it backpacking? i would be concerned finding dry kindling if you relied in it for boiling water/cooking
- thorin 3y agoIt 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.
- Eumenes 3y agogot it, seems nice for that. for weight/bulk, hard to beat a msr pocketrocket, 750ml toaks pot, and tiny cannister of fuel.
- thorin 3y agoI 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] [1] www.alpkit.com
- glatisaint 3y agoA yoga mat.
- jjwtieke 3y agoBloody love yoga
- senectus1 3y agoOne of these http://www.swisstechtools.com/proddetail.aspx?PID=5 http://www.swisstechtools.com/proddetail.aspx?PID=5 I take it with me everywhere and its saved my butt many many times
- shmde 3y ago2nd Monitor, mechanical keyboard, Pocket pussy, well cushioned office chair.
- Trias11 3y agoWhen 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!
- benterix 3y agoElitedesks 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.)
- gms7777 3y agoI 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.
- vidanay 3y agoManbags/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.
- Larrikin 3y agoI 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
- cassianoleal 3y agoAlso, get a tyvek wallet. They're slim, lightweight and last many years!
- brianjking 3y agoSuggestions?
- cassianoleal 3y agoI'm currently using a Dobra: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dobra-Wallet-Light-durable-Tyvek/dp/B0BLZTYV1C https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dobra-Wallet-Light-durable-Tyvek/dp... I have previously used a Dynomighty: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0093JFWGQ?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1 https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0093JFWGQ?ie=UTF8&th=1&... 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. Even before then, I used to sport a cheap Tyvek wallet that I bought in Argentina with one of my favourite cartoon characters, Mafalda (https://www.timetravelturtle.com/mafalda-statue-buenos-aires-argentina/ https://www.timetravelturtle.com/mafalda-statue-buenos-aires...). It lasted about 10 years.
- kstenerud 3y agoMerino wool underwear and socks. They're expensive, but they are VERY comfortable, cool in hot weather, warm in cold weather, breathable, and absorb odor.
- 3littlefish 3y agoA 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.
- DonsDiscountGas 3y agoErgonomic split keyboard + tenting kit. Ergonomic mouse too.
- rgoulter 3y agoMore ergonomic peripherals are a good suggestion: 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.
- cassianoleal 3y agoWord 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.
- 5555624 3y agoA 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
- alexfromapex 3y agoA 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.
- giancarlostoro 3y agoA 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).
- blakesterz 3y agoYep, 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.
- giancarlostoro 3y agoI 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.
- EForEndeavour 3y agoWhich trackball mouse, and how did you choose?
- jackstraw14 3y agoNot 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.
- logicalmonster 3y agoI'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.
- svet_0 3y agoYou 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.
- logicalmonster 3y ago* 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.
- bryanlarsen 3y agoI like them because i find them much more comfortable to wear for long periods than any in ear, on ear or around ear head phones.
- ErrantX 3y agoTip 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.
- davidmanheim 3y agoHere are some good lists; Rob Wiblin https://medium.com/@robertwiblin/things-i-recommend-you-buy-and-use-rob-edition-1d7b2ce27d68 https://medium.com/@robertwiblin/things-i-recommend-you-buy-... Rosie Campbell https://www.facebook.com/ardenlk/posts/10156553178262333 https://www.facebook.com/ardenlk/posts/10156553178262333 Sam Bowman https://medium.com/@s8mb/things-i-recommend-you-buy-and-use-second-edition-457a8e7163f6 https://medium.com/@s8mb/things-i-recommend-you-buy-and-use-...
- ballenf 3y agoRetractable badge holder with AirTag. If only the "left behind" alert could be a bit smarter and alert me if I leave it behind when heading to office, but not when I'm heading elsewhere.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
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- EspressoGPT 3y agoAirPods
- notacoward 3y ago(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.
- peter-m80 3y agoOP seeking for dropshipping opportunities
- jjwtieke 3y agoOP genuinely curious and has payday tomorrow.
- irridiance 3y agoMy mosquito net. One of the best things I ever bought.
- 0xbadc0de5 3y agoProton visionary membership (Mail, Calendar, Drive, VPN, Pass) and a custom domain.
- JackMorgan 3y ago- 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
- WirelessGigabit 3y agoOkay you made my credit card itch. Couple of questions: 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.
- JackMorgan 3y ago
- Balgair 3y agoFire extinguisher. As for the reason, I'll just say I still have a family because of one.
- jjwtieke 3y ago<3
- sottol 3y agoWiha 2mm driver, used to strip countersunk or button head M3 hex heads often but no more. A few of my hobbies involve M3 bolts.
- moomoo11 3y agoA good mechanical pencil. 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.
- jacknews 3y agowind-up torch/flashlight, specifically these: https://en.ikea-club.org/item/30190857.html https://en.ikea-club.org/item/30190857.html 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.. These wind-up ones always have power.
- mmh0000 3y agoYou like flashlights!? I LIKE flashlights! Please allow me to send you down the rabbit hole[1][2] of flashlights. [1] https://zakreviews.com/arbitrary-list-2023.1.html https://zakreviews.com/arbitrary-list-2023.1.html [2] https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/ https://www.reddit.com/r/flashlight/
- dave333 3y agoAir 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.
- omoikane 3y agoNippers. 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.
- JohnBooty 3y ago- Apple Airtags. I've got about a dozen. 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.
- thiht 3y agoA 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.
- johnea 3y agoGarmin Inreach Explorer https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/561269 https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/561269 This has been a great way to stay safe and in communications in very remote places...
- KevinMS 3y agoHere'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.
- jdjdjdhhd 3y agoCheap Google pixel phone from swappa.com
- mrcgnc 3y agoA whiteboard for my study. 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.
- rssoconnor 3y agoWe 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.
- cercobellezza 3y agoI 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? [1] https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S5Q826U https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S5Q826U
- joker_minmax 3y agoNice 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.
- jsrober 3y agoOpenWRT 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.