10 ms·
Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?
Curious what items under $100 have made your life better or any meaningful impact.
Revival of this [thread](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23363396) from 6 years ago. Thought it would be fun to have new answers to this :)
- proee 8mo agoSmartwool shirt and socks. no odor absorption so ability to wear without daily washing. Good thermal regulation as well.
- jjcm 8mo ago+1 to wool undergarments. I prefer Unbound Merino to Smartwool for shirts, though Smartwool's socks are better than Unbound.
- SCUSKU 8mo agoHow itchy do those get?
- ortusdux 8mo agoHow do Darn Toughs compare? I've managed to wear through 8 pairs of costco wool socks without loosing any, so the idea of a lifetime warranty sounds promising.
- mrgoldenbrown 8mo agoDarntough socks last much longer than smartwool for me.
- Breza 8mo agoI cover thousands of miles a year on my feet. Darn Tough socks live up to the name. I've never put a single hole in them. I've torn up socks from most other brands in a few hundred miles.
- daemonologist 8mo agoThey last longer than the others (though I have still put holes in many pairs) and as mentioned have the warranty. I prefer the fit of Smartwool but still wear almost exclusively Darn Tough for the durability.
- memorydial 8mo agoThese really are amazing! I went full smartwool after getting a pair for hiking. I never looked back!
- ivm 8mo agoWool poncho for cold seasons is also amazing, it's like wearing a duvet.
- alligatorman 8mo agoBidet Weighted blanket Shoehorn
- erelong 8mo agoLike a gallon reusable metal water bottle; requires less refilling
- skeptrune 8mo agoCustom motorcycle handlebar ends and levers. Cumulatively ~$80 and makes my riding experience drastically better.
- krishadi 8mo agoI commute by bike daily, and I got some ergonomic handlebar ends and they've drastically improved by experience.
- krishadi 8mo agoSome of my best purchases were outdoor clothing I bought some 7 years ago on a whim. I constantly regret not getting some 10 of them, and sadly they don't make these anymore. - Thermal inner pants from Berghaus - Knitted thermal jacket from Salewa
- brodouevencode 8mo agoA good burr coffee grinder.
- jherdman 8mo agoFor less than $100!? Do tell, my friend.
- mastermedo 8mo agoI think _good_ depends on your expectations. We have the eureka mignon hacked with a bigger dial and custom burs. Still not amazing consistency. Looking to upgrade in the next few years.
- sam_lowry_ 8mo agoHelikon-Tex Camp Hand Coffee Grinder is 35€ all-metal beast.
- mindracer 8mo agoKinGrinder are worth checking out, I got the K6 for about £70
- brodouevencode 8mo agoGot the Timemore off Amazon for $80 during black Friday. I get that it's not THE best but it works really well.
- shoo 8mo agoIf you are comfortable with a hand grinder, Porlex grinders [1] [2] are excellent. I use one to make a coarse grind for the french press. It's gotten used 4-7 times per week for the last 5+ years and still going strong. On topic of best purchases under $100, suppose you regularly boil water for coffee or pasta but don't own an electric kettle, consider investing in a cheap white plastic kettle for $5. Fast and energy efficient way to turn electrical energy into boiling water. [1] https://www.porlex.co.jp/ https://www.porlex.co.jp/ [2] https://www.porlex.com.au/collections/porlex-grinders https://www.porlex.com.au/collections/porlex-grinders
- ezekg 8mo agoErgodriven topo standing desk mat - $99 Deltahub carpio 2.0 wrist rest - $35
- andbberger 8mo agoa good mission burrito is like $10 and makes my life better
- smurda 8mo ago$100 on sushi and I’m still hungry. $10 on a burrito and I’m full for 24 hours
- homeonthemtn 8mo agoYeah because it's the size of a small child
- timmmmmmay 8mo agolmao this was also going to be my answer
- idontwantthis 8mo agoA no name Espresso machine. I got it as a gift but I doubt it was much more than $100. It works great. I had always assumed I would regret not buying a super expensive one, but it turns out you can have great espresso for not much money.
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- kasey_junk 8mo agoI would _love_ to know what espresso machine can be had for less than $100.
- earlyriser 8mo agoI had a $400 espresso machine but finally I'm just using my $50 moka pot. It's way easier and I like the flavour more.
- idontwantthis 8mo agoThis is what I have. It's not less than $100, but not much more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP1WXVK8?&linkCode=sl1&tag=lydangin-20&linkId=7d9b1190a1a3fde765f94a6539d8de07&language=en_US https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP1WXVK8?&linkCode=sl1&tag=lydan...
- kasey_junk 8mo agoThan you.
- daringrain32781 8mo agoYou can have great espresso for cheap(er) but $100 seems suspiciously low. Manual espresso is about the best bang for you buck possible, but that stretches to $200 or more depending on how fancy you want to get.
- idontwantthis 8mo ago
- GaryBluto 8mo agoAn old, pre-online activation copy of Photoshop that I still use today.
- Lerc 8mo agoI think I'm still using a version that was on a magazine coverdisk that was weirdly distributed as a full-version freebie to advertise the release of the all new lock-in edition.
- jjcm 8mo agoI was a very heavy photoshop user for ~20 years. These days I just use photopea for when I need to make a small edit. It suffices for 95% of what I need to do.
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- xeromal 8mo agoOne of those reoriented vertical Logitech mice that reduce wrist pain. Amazing!
- krishadi 8mo agoI use a Logitech MX Ergo that has a trackball, and it's helped me a lot with wrist pain. Using a trackball felt a bit weird initially.
- doublerabbit 8mo agoAnd yet was the most common thing in the 90's. Rivalism at its best. Removing the track balls before the next class got in to the computer room. That then escalated to fork bombing. The IT techs got pissed that they glued shut the plastic release twist hatch. :(){ :|:& };:
- IAmBroom 8mo agoI got "fashion shamed" by another geek for using a trackball "like it's still the 90s". I don't put much stock in anything they've ever said, since.
- dprice1 8mo agoSimilarly, and also right at $99.99: Evoluent VerticalMouse https://evoshop.biz/evoluent-verticalmouse-medium-p-72.html https://evoshop.biz/evoluent-verticalmouse-medium-p-72.html
- IAmBroom 8mo agoWow. A single picture of the product. And a name. And a price. That website went all-out on their minimalist design principles.
- platevoltage 8mo agoA nice tea kettle where the temperature is adjustable.
- epolanski 8mo agoWhat's it for? It's always better to boil water for tea for hygienical purposes, no?
- jlamberts 8mo agoGuessing the hygenics depend on your local water supply, but some varieties of tea (and coffee actually) want to be brewed at below-boiling
- manIliketea 8mo ago[dead]
- epolanski 8mo agoYou can still boil it and just wait a couple of minutes and use a food thermometer, no?
- jlamberts 8mo agoYes, it's just really nice to be able to push a button and have it hold at the right temperature; sort of like how boiling water on the stove or in the microwave and using an electric kettle are functionally equivalent but the kettle is way more convenient.
- jasonjayr 8mo agoSome teas steep at less than boiling temperature. And I imagine the tea itself may have more risk of microbes depending on how it is stored, and that the temperature drops way below boiling almost immediately upon pouring out. I wonder if any studies have been done on this....
- b_t_s 8mo ago
- TulliusCicero 8mo agoSeki Edge nail clippers. They're just so much sharper and more pleasant to use than your average drug store nail clippers, you can really feel the quality. I can barely stand regular nail clippers now.
- tartoran 8mo agoYeah, they're nearly £50, a bit absurd for nail clippers...
- TulliusCicero 8mo ago$15-20 on US Amazon. Sucks that it's so much more expensive in the UK.
- neom 8mo agoPocket operators are really fun to play with when you need a break from work.
- mr_o47 8mo agoWow that looks like a cool purchase are they fun to play with like do you get to create your own beats
- neom 8mo agoVery fun, you can make loads of things https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBOHsKv_ej8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBOHsKv_ej8 - but mostly it's just something taxing to change the brain channel for me!
- ranger_danger 8mo agoWhat is a pocket operator? Got a link?
- neom 8mo agoThese are pocket operators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFIUdICYSA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhFIUdICYSA They can be used on their own or together, frustrating, fiddly, fun. :)
- dgently7 8mo agothe best. also great replacement for moments when you might pull out your phone by habit if you are trying to unplug or screen detox or whatver.
- cheald 8mo agoThank you so much for this. I am absolutely gonna pick up a couple of these for my kids. What a great way to offer creativity on demand!
- neom 8mo agoFun teaching persistence. :) If they happened to make anything fun one day feel free to email me it! I'd love to take a listen. (email is in bio)
- TulliusCicero 8mo agoA travel magsafe stand for flights has been really nice. Here's the one I have, but there's lots of options: https://a.co/d/18k9eCa https://a.co/d/18k9eCa I use it with both my phone and also the Steam Deck (with a magsafe sticker). Obviously I could use either device just holding them, but it's more relaxing to do it this way.
- technothrasher 8mo agoLeatherman skeletool knife. Small, rugged, has just the right number of tools on it. I’ve had one for about ten years and it goes in my pocket every day. The one time I managed to break the pliers on it by abusing them really badly, Leatherman replaced the tool under warranty no questions asked.
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- trueno 8mo agothis is straight up the best multitool. knife pliers screwdriver covers so many life moments. always put this thing in my little pocket in my jeans lol haven't had one since it got confiscated at tsa oops. habit. miss this thing
- bdcravens 8mo ago4 of my 6 animals, which were free. (3 cats, 1 dog) Another was less than $200. The other one I paid full price for (Miniature Dachshund), and he's an absolute money pit and brings all the drama. No, we don't have any kids, why do you ask? :-)
- agentifysh 8mo agogotta be a tire inflater (not sure what brand) that came with a flash light and works rain or snow powered by car adapter
- IAmBroom 8mo agoBe careful buying those, and test them on multiple tires IMMEDIATELY. I bought a series from Slime brand; every one failed within two tire inflates. Went to Harbor Freight, and bought their most expensive one; it has earned the price since (still under $100).
- floxy 8mo agoProject Farm on Youtube for the best reviews of items like tire inflators: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbQ8eEBn68 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbQ8eEBn68
- giardini 8mo agoWalmart $22 pump - difficult to put on the valve stem but pumps OK. Beats a bicycle pump!
- sejje 8mo agoSomeone gifted me one about ten years ago. I've had to replace the plug end, but the compressor still runs great. It's saved my butt many times. Mine is viaair, and the device is dedicated (no flashlight etc)
- m463 8mo agoI got the dewalt one that works with their batteries. awesome. turn on, set the pressure value, press start and tire will inflate to that pressure and stop. swappable batteries is important. Some large tires will drain a small battery and you can switch in a new one.
- interloxia 8mo agoWe bicycle a lot. I went with a Bosch USB c handheld compressor. Recommended although non replaceable batteries is a worry in the medium/long term. No trouble for the first two years.
- coffeecoders 8mo agoFor work: Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse, Anti fatigue mat For home: Bidet For personal: Kindle
- mr_o47 8mo agoHow's your experience has been with the mouse
- coffeecoders 8mo agoIt's been fantastic. The mouse puts my hand in a natural "handshake" position, which has cut down on the wrist strain I used to get after long hours of work or browsing. I'd highly recommend giving it a shot.
- mr_o47 8mo agothanks for the review I will definitely try it. I have hesitated to buy those since they are very huge
- RattlesnakeJake 8mo agoSwiss Army knife
- Lio 8mo agoYep same for me. The knife you can take anywhere without alarming people. Nicely made and always useful.
- giardini 8mo agoI'd nursed a foot callus for years that hurt badly when I walked barefoot. Weeks ago, sitting on the locker room bench, I hit my limit. In desperation I pulled out my pocket knife to do some field surgery. A few minutes into it I glanced up to see two guys sitting across the room staring at me open-eyed as I dug into my foot with the tip of that pointy knife (8.5" with 3.5" blade)! I just smiled and dug that sucker out. Should have gone after that callus a year ago! Amazing how such a tiny thing can aggravate. But you're right about a knife alarming people. Years ago in another life I opened a similar knife to cut a cable and my boss literally jumped backward and exclaimed in fear. But he came from a place where, when someone pulls out a knife someone else usually gets stabbed.
- floxy 8mo ago> staring at me open-eyed They were probably just envious you were rocking a Kershaw Iridium Dessert Warrior. Which also comes in at under $100. And the Iridium family are pretty nice knives. https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kershaw-Iridium-Dessert-Warrior-Pocket-Knife--186301 https://www.bladehq.com/item--Kershaw-Iridium-Dessert-Warrio...
- rationalist 8mo agoThat is an amazing paint scheme.
- giardini 8mo agoI've never spent more than $40 on any knife. The one I spoke of was a cheap S&W from AutoZone (the checkout line "specials" bin) for ~$13 IIRC. And FWIW I fear if I cut myself with that Kershaw I might grow a pussy.
- steanne 8mo agomagnetic shelving for the side of the fridge greatly expanded upon the cabinet space usable to me as a shorter person.
- rambambram 8mo agoThermal underwear. Entering the 10th year of a 30 euro Helly Hansen long underpants that keeps me warm half the year. Raspberry Pi 4 that served as my daily driver for around three years. A couple of dumbbells that got me started with weight training, and kept me going during covid. Together with the basic equipment that I later bought, it saved me hundreds and hundreds of euros in gym memberships. Best purchase under 10 euros is a simple cube with blank memo notes, that I use for grocery shopping and all kinds of other to do lists.
- nyantaro1 8mo agoDaily driving a Raspberry Pi 4 as what? If you, don't mind me asking
- rambambram 8mo agoAs my normie machine to watch Youtube, browse the internet, etc. And as my dev machine as well, including programming and editing images/videos. I also wrote a blogpost about it: https://www.heyhomepage.com/?module=blog&link=1&post=4 https://www.heyhomepage.com/?module=blog&link=1&post=4
- TulliusCicero 8mo agoAzumaya brand kotatsu futons are now my favorite blankets for both sleeping and using around the house, and some of them at least are around $100. They're fairly thick and very comfortable blankets, I love these way more than any other blankets we have (and we own quite a few different kinds). I'm seriously considering trying out other kotatsu blanket brands too, even the really expensive ones.
- epolanski 8mo agoI'm actually jealous of the people that have answers to this questions because I can't come up with any answer even if you multiplied the amount by a 1000.
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- mmmnnn 8mo agofucking condoms
- RattlesnakeJake 8mo agoAre there any other kind?
- matheusmoreira 8mo agoWell there are USB condoms which cut the data lines...
- giardini 8mo agoFinger condoms (finger cots): https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&q=finger+condoms https://www.google.com/search?channel=fs&q=finger+condoms
- ksherlock 8mo agoThis guy fucks.
- sodapopcan 8mo agoShoehorn! Particularly a long one if you'd like to avoid bending down at all when putting on slip-ons. Of course they are primarily great for saving the backs of your shoes. The IKEA one is perfect (at least for 6'1" me).
- IAmBroom 8mo agoSTEEL long shoehorns. Once you break one, you'll spend the money.
- sodapopcan 8mo agoYes, good callout! The one from IKEA is metal (usually not an IKEA fan but some good stuff like this and it's under $100, but of course there are tons of other options).
- KomoD 8mo ago> The one from IKEA is metal I accidentally bent mine when I was putting my shoes on :) https://i.imgur.com/WtHHT4v.jpeg https://i.imgur.com/WtHHT4v.jpeg
- sodapopcan 8mo agoOH SNAP! Well then, maybe there will be a new one in my future! I haven't had mine very long and really enjoying it which is why it popped right into mind as a response to this post.
- WithinReason 8mo agowood is better, it doesn't bend
- jermaustin1 8mo agoEvery time I move, I lose mine and get annoyed for years until I buy a new one, then get further annoyed because I waited so long to splurge on a $3 stick.
- josefritzishere 8mo agoMicrosoft Modern Webcam - $50 and the image quality is great. 3M WR209 Wrist rest - $20 Logitech M310 Mouse - $20
- mellosouls 8mo agoSleep buds (flat earbuds you can lie comfortably in). Mine were dirt cheap ones built in to sleeping mask off eBay. Def helped my sleep patterns when I started using Audible on a 30 minute sleep timer with them. Kindle. Reawakened my inner book-worm many years ago. Library in a pocket. Don't use it so much tho since Audible. Good quality (sturdy and high lumen) compact tactical torch.
- atombender 8mo agoAre you talking about Bose Sleepbuds or Oslo Sleepbuds?
- mellosouls 8mo agoNeither, just cheap flat earphones that come in a headband or sleeping mask. I used the term "Sleep buds" as that is what most people will be familiar with as the idea, but they don't go in the ear. Plenty of no-name ones on eBay for years before Bose took an interest. An example brand though is Musicozy if you want to search. I don't have that brand though and can't testify to them (thinness of phones will be important and will vary between brands). Ofc mine won't be of similar audio quality to the ones you mention but they are fine for my use at night.
- scoofy 8mo agoI use MUSICOZY brand, and it's worked great for me. I've been using sleep headphones for decades. Bluetooth was a huge step forward.
- atombender 8mo ago*Ozlo
- jjcm 8mo agoI feel like I get a ton of value out of a cheap VPS. Just having a dedicated IP I can serve small and dumb things from has been fantastic, doubly so now that LLMs can do most of the driving. https://lowendbox.com/ https://lowendbox.com/ has a ton of providers, but I personally use vultr (no high or low praise for vultr, but they've been solid and cheap).
- aitchnyu 8mo agoWhich is reliable, costs 2$ per month for 1G RAM, has backups?
- memorydial 8mo agoStanley Classic Legendary Vacuum Bottle 1.0 qt Bialetti Moka Express 6-Cup Aluminum Stovetop Espresso Maker It's not about the time and money I saved by not having to go to a cafe, its about having a great supply of coffee available for the day.
- memcg 8mo agoI always look for Stanley's at garage and estate sales. Bought my oldest new 40+ years ago. I have six others now that were $5 or less.
- deepfriedbits 8mo agoAppreciate everyone adding links to their suggestions!
- ultrasandwich 8mo agoAeropress coffee maker. Look up the James Hoffmann recipe on YouTube and you can never drink another coffee style again
- jahnu 8mo agoAeropress is great. If you like a large mug of coffee have a try of the Clever Dripper. Had Aeropress at home and CD at work and eventually bought a CD for home because it’s so good.
- phoobahr 8mo agoIt's even better with a "AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap". No dripping, no inversion, and a little extra resistance improves the cup (I think).
- zeech 8mo agoYou can also insert the plunger a small amount (maybe half an inch or so, if that) and pull it back up a tiny bit for a similar effect.
- wasabi991011 8mo agoLove the clever dripper So simple but so easy to repeatedly make a great cup of coffee.
- LeafItAlone 8mo agoI’ve tried most of the coffee making tools and fads, including the above mentioned recipe. I’ve spent thousands and hours and hours of time chasing the feeling others like you describe. It was so easy for me to go back to a cheap drip coffee maker and pre-ground coffee. I realized that I’ll never appreciate the flavors and process as much as the investment would call for.
- rurp 8mo agoMy dad is adamant that coffee beans should only be ground right before use because the resulting coffee tastes so much better. I, on the other hand, can't taste a bit of difference; there's no way I could pick out the pre-ground coffee in a blind taste test.
- matheusmoreira 8mo agoSensor Watch.
- trevoristall 8mo ago[EDJY](https://edjy.com/products/edjy-fingernail-cutter https://edjy.com/products/edjy-fingernail-cutter) nail trimmers have been awesome and I will probably only ever use that from now on
- Lerc 8mo agoRechargable, motion sensing led strips for inside my wardrobe. Not a big thing but improved my ability to find things no-end. The only issue is they don't turn on when it is light enough to see and we slightly disagree on how light that is. Ceramic head tweezers. ~$3 on AliExpress, indispensable for some tasks. An import die grinder that cost about the same as a new power switch for my Dremel. More powerful, better speed control, better chuck. The dirt cheap rechargable die grinders. Noisy, not much torque, but cheap enough that you can have a few lying around for odd-jobs. Their low power also means they lack the ability to completely destroy your work in 0.3 seconds. Whereas the one mentioned above managed to shear off a shaft spinning in air when I accidentally turned it up instead of off. Generaly replacing anything AAA powered by rechargable USBc
- lugvruzzle 8mo agoSecond the rechargeable motion sensing led strips! Dime a dozen on Ali Express. I have them in all the hallways in my house, garden shed, at the front door so I am not fumbling with my keys in the dark. If you mount them with the supplied adhesive magnets you can take them with you as a torch, feels like you are using a minecraft torch.
- tim-tday 8mo agoI bought a couple and liked them so I bought 4 more.
- atombender 8mo agoWhat's the brand of LED strip? I got several battery-powered motion sensor LED bars on AliExpress for use in closets. After the first charge they lasted maybe three weeks, then they rapidly faded, and no longer last more than maybe a day, so I've taken them out. I'm curious to hear if there are high quality versions, maybe something that can run off regular AA or AAA batteries so they can be changed when they inevitably burn out. Speaking of tweezers on AliExpress: I love my $5.99 nail clippers that collect the clippings in a small compartment so they don't fly off everywhere. Super solid stainless steel construction that's considerably nicer than the cheap classic clippers I already had; it it had "Swiss made" on it or something I would have believed them. The ones I found are in a store called OURINER, but there are lots of weird brands making the same thing.
- mastermedo 8mo agoMerino wool shirts, undergarments, hats. Leather gloves. Bedtime story books. TwelveSouth Airfly pro airplane bluetooth sound adapter. Belkin wireless car charger. Standalone coat racks for the office.
- ofalkaed 8mo agoProbably some wood working tool, guess if I had to pick it would be my ECE Wedge set smooth plane since it is my most used tool by a long shot and it taught me a great deal about using planes.
- bb88 8mo ago$50 RTLSDR Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD7558GT https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CD7558GT I got this to play around with what's on the air, and now I'm a full blown extra.
- jasondigitized 8mo agoWhat's a full blown extra. I have wanted to pull the trigger on this for a while.
- bb88 8mo agoHam radio Amateur Extra. The license after Technician and then General. The RTLSDR is an easy way to see if you'd like radio or not.
- wolvoleo 8mo agoNice! There's not many new hams these days. When I was young it was basically what everyone technical was into.
- bb88 8mo agoThanks, it's an interesting hobby. Technically interesting, but unfortunately I think a lot of the politics of it turn people off.
- wolvoleo 8mo agoThat happens in every hobby. There's always people declaring themselves king of some hill and making things toxic. I've been in a lot of hobby organisations and it's always the same. In a commercial organisation these people get reported to HR and kicked out but volunteer orgs are much less likely to throw out someone who does a lot of work for free. I've seen it in ham clubs, makerspaces, etc. It's just what happens. The best thing is having a rock solid code of conduct. And yeah it's technically interesting though I really miss it being on the bleeding edge. That hasn't been the case for decades. The commercial world can send a gigabit per second to a phone but we're stuck with 9600 baud APRS (or 1200 even sometimes)
- futureshock 8mo agoI like this question because I come at it from a very different lifestyle. I’m a digital nomad and I have mostly lived out of a backpack and carry on for the past 10 years. My philosophy is that things have to be worth carrying and they should be very easily replaceable if anything gets lost, stolen or breaks. A few of my under $100 favs: Universal GaN travel adapter: One of those square bricks that converts from any AC outlet to any AC outlet and has 3 or 4 USB charging ports built in. I got enough wattage to charge my usb-c laptop as well, so one brick takes care of all my devices. Backup android phone: Our phones are so critical that I keep a hot swappable spare phone on me, currently a Moto G 2025. It’s already logged into all my apps and 2FA. I could throw my iPhone into the Seine and keep on trucking. It even has backup NFC credit cards. I keep a cheap travel eSim plan active on it so that if I am somewhere sketchy I can leave my main phone at home. Logitech MX Keys Mini: Great portable keyboard. Backlit, usb c and multi-device. Typing this post out on my phone now. GL-iNet Beryl: The do anything travel VPN router running OpenWRT out of the box. Great for securing and extending sketchy WiFi connections or if you have to work off your phone’s hotspot all day. Decathalon Quecha Escape 500 23L: Such a great personal item size backpack for the price, less than 40 euros.
- BrandoElFollito 8mo agoThis is a fantastic, fantastic backpack. I use it when flying and it fits perfectly in the Ryanair & co limits. I took one for each of my kids and all together we pack everything needed for a week+.
- cromka 8mo agoIsn't Ryanair limit more like 40l?
- futureshock 8mo agoThis is a personal item size bag for under the seat. The max size on Ryanair is 24 liters. You are thinking of the cabin bag which is more like 44 liters. This Decathlon bag is great because it maxes out the personal item size really optimally.
- IAmBroom 8mo agoDual-end pliers, like this: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Performance-Tool-W1105-Side-Locking-4-in-1-Dual-Jaw-Quick-Pliers/1887175258 https://www.walmart.com/ip/Performance-Tool-W1105-Side-Locki... There used to be a beefier version that was just perfect; despite over two decades of abuse (dropping off ladders onto sidewalks, letting children play with them...) my first pair is still going strong. Now you can only buy slimmer knock-offs, but they're still great. Needle nose, std pliers, hex pliers, and wire strippers in a single, rugged tool.
- ranger_danger 8mo agoUniqlo Ultra Light Down Jacket
- xnx 8mo agoNesting silicone bowls with lids. Quiet and good for everything.
- oidar 8mo agoI want to use silicone bowls and lids, but silicone dishes always come out sticky and cloudy out of the dishwasher (even with rinse aid, whole house filtered water and extra rinse/wash cycles). Other dishes don't have this problem. What's your secrete for this?
- xnx 8mo agoThat sucks. I haven't had that problem. I can't find the set I purchased on Temu, but this is similar https://dreamroo.com/products/the-round-meal-trio?variant=44253230170307 https://dreamroo.com/products/the-round-meal-trio?variant=44...
- efortis 8mo agoA set of Wera lasertip screwdrivers. Or, a Knipex Cobra pair of pliers.
- rationalist 8mo agoTIL Lasertip: https://www.wera.de/en/tools/highlights-great-tools/lasertip/ https://www.wera.de/en/tools/highlights-great-tools/lasertip...
- gnatman 8mo agoI love my wera kraftform
- 0xCAP 8mo agoChi-fi IEMs. People have no idea what sound quality can be achieved under 100$.
- tmaly 8mo agoThe work sharp precision knife sharpener. I got tired of dealing with wet stones and having to soak them and get the right angle. This sharpener can sharpen a chef knife razor sharp in less than 5 minutes.
- xeromal 8mo agoCan you adjust the angle for different knives? I have one of these in my cart.
- tmaly 8mo agoyes, you can adjust angles between 15 and 30 degrees.
- jasondigitized 8mo agoWhich model?
- tmaly 8mo agoI use the elite one that is currently $129 on Amazon
- borderprepper 8mo ago[dead]
- _lvbh 8mo agoA £20 USB microphone from Aliexpress. The audio quality is so much better than laptop or headphone microphone
- refferal 8mo agoWhich one? Looking for a cheap way to improve my current setup. Thanks!
- _lvbh 8mo agoI've never actually compared so I don't know if there's a better one for the price but the one I bought was "Zealsound RGB Recording Microphone With Articulated Arm/USB Condenser Mic with Tripod" The sound quality doesn't feel crazy but definitely usable for anything I need. Also seems to filter out my laptop fan noise which is much appreciated
- m463 8mo ago- darn tough socks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XG34G8 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XG34G8 merino wool, always good temp and dry winter or summer - fiskars shop scissors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VYOISU https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VYOISU cuts through stuff forever, easily, no slip etc - 3-in-1 cables https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R3R7QDL https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R3R7QDL (various brands) these make travel easy You can also do 4-in-1 with usb-a/usb-c
- twistedanimator 8mo agoMy latest favorite gadget is a Wuben G5 light. Very compact, very bright, and has lots of handy features like a swivel and magnet. $20 on Amazon right now. I have 3 for myself as I like to keep them around the house. I've also bought a couple as gifts for my sons who both really liked them.
- sejje 8mo agoI bought one a while back and I want to like it, but it's always turning off right when I need it. The sliding switch on the side needs more resistance. I bump it accidentally, or it slides itself. Could be some user error involved. There's a lot to like about it, otherwise.
- blackfawn 8mo agoNeat looking flashlight! Can you turn it on and off without having to cycle through other modes? One thing I dislike about a lot of LED flashlights is having to go through dim, strobe, etc. modes before I can turn the light back off.
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- ThrowawayR2 8mo agoThe rotary brightness/color control on those feels flimsy. Not a huge demerit for a $20 gadget but still worth mentioning.
- sleekest 8mo agoA backpod. I had periscapular pain when sitting/standing for years: no pain in the morning, but it would grow during the day. My backpod mobilises some stiff thoracic ribs, allowing me to then do exercises through that normal range of motion to strengthen it.
- frogperson 8mo agoIm having alot of fun with my new RTL-SDR dongle and Baofeng radio. I pretty quickly found SDR++ which really deepend the rabbit hole and generated about 1000 new questions. A few weeks ago I knew nothing about radio or ham, but im learning alot and having fun. Its been a good distraction from "stuff".
- devrundown 8mo agoHam radio is a huge rabbit hole. It's a hobby full of other hobbies within. One of the most fun parts for me is Summits on the Air (SOTA). You take a small portable HF transceiver up a mountain summit and attempt to make at least 4 contacts. You get points for "activating" the summit and folks at home get points for "hunting" you. You can also spot yourself online and sometimes you'll have a bunch of people from around the world trying to make contact with you.
- KevinMS 8mo agoprobably one of those super bright one AAA battery keychain flashlights (~$12). Because its attached to your keys you always have it with you, and the smaller and brighter flashlights get, the more useful they become somehow. I'm not kidding, these things are blindingly bright.
- daringrain32781 8mo agoA 10 foot USB C cable. It reaches anywhere in the room. I can charge my phone in any position in bed. I only recently 'splurged' on this $10 item and it is the best thing ever.
- homeonthemtn 8mo agoSeconding this. Dumbest, most obviously useful thing, yet we never think to buy one. My wife and I have our own now.
- 7402 8mo agoI like a 10 foot USB C extension cable; that way I can turn any shorter adapter cable (USB C to micro, A, lightning, magsafe) into a longer cable.
- theturtle 8mo ago[dead]
- lostmsu 8mo agoSmall Bluetooth receiver for an older car.
- bentobean 8mo agoThe “Cool Tools” catalog.
- nuclearsugar 8mo agoI love my Logitech Lift Vertical Ergonomic Mouse since it completely fixed my wrist pain. Also it can memorize 3 different Bluetooth connections and toggle between them via a small button on the bottom. https://www.logitech.com/en-us/shop/p/lift-vertical-ergonomic-mouse https://www.logitech.com/en-us/shop/p/lift-vertical-ergonomi...
- scoofy 8mo agoRohm Travel Sound Machine
- maxglute 8mo agoPrice has gone up a lot, but briefly, multiseat program. Instead of buying a separate gaming/media system, bought one much more powerful system and split it into 2 systems. Setup kind of PIA, but worth it while needed it. Also an electric travel bidet.
- yurishimo 8mo agoCan you elaborate? “Multiseat program” is not returning any meaningful search results online.
- maxglute 8mo agoSplit single computer into multiple independent workplaces, i.e. plug in 2 monitors, 2 mouse, 2 keyboards and 2 users can use same computer at once. The program I used was ASTER multiseat.
- gcr 8mo agoIs this a gaming console? I have no idea what you mean
- maxglute 8mo agoIt's software that lets you plug in 2-12 sets of inputs and monitors and let 2-12 users use one machine simultaneously. I spent 70% of cost of 2 mid tier system on a single system highend machine which ends up much more flexible / less idle.
- Fezzik 8mo agoSonicare Electric Toothbrush. My grandmother bought me my first one in the 90s. I’m on my third, and that’s only because I take them backpacking. It’s my 1 luxury item on the trail. I know much of it is genetics, but a morning and evening cleaning make my teeth feel amazing and have helped me stay cavity free.
- jermaustin1 8mo agoYeah, I lost the tooth genetics race. Brush twice a day, floss 3-4 times a day, still have cavities every visit to the dentist, and need a full on root canal and crown every few years. Both of my parents have lost half of their adult teeth even though they take care of them, abstain from sugar and processed and/or acidic foods/drinks.
- theanonymousone 8mo agoA yearly Github copilot subscription :)
- deleted 8mo ago[deleted]
- RickS 8mo agoSmall things, mostly from skimming my amazon history. Nothing crazy, but all of these make my everyday life... smoother. Things that were a little bit annoying are invisible now. It stacks up. Raw links, no affiliates or trackers. * Hakko FX888D soldering iron. I used to hate soldering, and it always came out awful. Perfect soldering is effortless now. It's a delight. * Oxo 5lb kitchen scale (or anything similar). Cooking in metric is just sane. Excellent for bread. * The Speakman S-2251 showerhead, with the flow regulator pried out. Was 100 when bought, 3x that now. Reddit voted it the most powerful and high quality showerhead. If you like that kind of thing, it's still worth it at 300. * Schlage BE365 deadbolts. Can be found on sale under 100. Keyless door entry, supports multiple codes, not smart or connected in any way, battery lasts years. * Velcro cable ties of various lengths. Every cable in my closet is orderly, and when you're done with one, it never sprawls or tangles. * ESP32S3 boards. Drastically lowers the activation threshold for oneoff web-connected silliness. * These little [dimmable lights](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4Q4D5VP https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D4Q4D5VP) (in amber). Warm colored, layered lighting all over the house. Huge vibe upgrade. * [Dimmer leashes](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DL7V3CM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DL7V3CM). These sit between plug and outlet, and provide a separate 6ft cable with a dimmer switch on the end. I use them on my desk to control my zoom lighting, and in bed to dim my shelf lights without getting up. * Multi-packs of small tools. We have a dozen pairs of scissors, box cutters, etc floating around. Sharpies and mechanical pencils in ~100 packs. Place around the house. It's very nice to not have to look far for these. * [Masking tape](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R28DGHM https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R28DGHM) and stickers in many rainbow colors. Useful for knowing EG which cable goes to the PS5 (blue) vs xbox (green). * [Giant digital clock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCVV8J98 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DCVV8J98) w/ date, day of week, and temperature. Ended up buying more for other parts of the house because I got so used to looking for it. * [Ratcheting adjustable belt](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VDMFZB2 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08VDMFZB2?) Also loops the belt tip onto the inside, not the outside. The idea of having a belt with adjustment intervals of inches instead of mms, with a tip that flops on the outside feels very silly now.
- Scottn1 8mo ago>The Speakman S-2251 showerhead, with the flow regulator pried out. Was 100 when >bought, 3x that now. Holy molly! You aren't kidding. I literally have one laying around in my bathroom cabinet that I bought during Covid for, I wanna say, $60? I used it for about a month or two before I decided I liked my previous shower head better (Kohler Forté). Also, I'm curious why it is so common recommendation across the internet to take out the flow regulators. Even see it mentioned in Amazon reviews. It is bypassing regulations and selfish. It defeats the purpose of everyone doing their part to cut down their water usage, especially in areas that really need it (Arizona, Nevada and California). I still have mine in at 1.75gpm and it rinses me fine. No one needs the Kramer "Commando 450" force.
- mid-kid 8mo ago~€25, Moondrop Chu 2 headphones. Really good quality for the price, with a bit of care have lasted me for ~3 years now. When one side was going quieter, I could unscrew and clean it. The clear plastic cord is yellowing now unfortunately, will try to buy a new one. ~€80, Anbernic RG35XXSP: Handheld games console that runs (mostly) open source linux distros. Reinvigorated my retro gaming on the go when the OG consoles are too inconvenient to carry around and emulating on a phone just feels bad. Having syncthing on-device means I'll never lose my saves again, and putting new games on it is as easy as dragging and dropping on my PC. ~€5, Mini media keyboard from aliexpress (just any, really): It works like garbage, but I never realized how badly I needed a remote with access to all of the MPV shortcuts for when I hook up my laptop to the TV.
- sandreas 8mo agoGet a Logitech K400 Plus
- nicbou 8mo agoAfter a failed apartment search, I set to make my current apartment as comfortable as possible. These are my game changers: - French press and v60. Coffee became a ritual I look forward to, not something I drink to achieve a goal. - Speakers and amp. I got mine used. They are over 50 years old. The amp is a gorgeous object. Listening to music became a full activity. I do it with my coffee. I cannot overstate how much better it feels. - Wiim Mini. Airplay for 70 year old speakers - Plants. They make the whole space look better and give you a sense of the passage of time. - Good pillows, soft sheets. The best of ikea’s sheets is already a massive upgrade. So soft! - Motion activated leds. It’s nice to reach into the pantry and get light, or use the toilet at night without being blinded. They are magnetic and charge with USB C. - Robot vacuum. I have a used Roborock S5 that keeps the whole flat spotless at the press of a button.
- Gazoche 8mo ago* A USB KVM that lets me share my keyboard/mouse/webcam between my two computers (work and personal), and switch at the press of a button. * One of those IKEA wall-mounted grate things (SKÅDIS) that you can hang stuff to. IKEA sells hooks for it that turn out to be the perfect size to hold a PS4 controller securely, plus various boxes and mini-shelves that have helped declutter my desk. * A cheap bluetooth-connected Xiaomi temperature/humidity sensor. You're supposed to use it with the Xiaomi app, but turns out those devices just broadcast their data as an unencrypted BLE feed, so I can just intercept it with a Raspberry Pi and redirect the data to my own Postgres+Grafana setup for recording and monitoring.
- LUmBULtERA 8mo agoIkea's new matter over thread temperature/humidity sensor has been pretty great for me so far. For $10, it has a nice pixel display that turns on with you press it, and it paired very fast and easily to HomeKit for me. The standard AAA battery will probably last a long time using Thread -- we'll see.
- Scottn1 8mo agoLectroFan Classic - Portable fan sounds and noise machine (I have mine set to pink noise). Wife and I use it nightly to drown out distractions. Even pack it with us on vacation now for hotel rooms.
- frm88 8mo agoNew soles and overall cleaning + disinfecting of my Vivobarefoot winter boots. I'm so happy they came up with a repair programme for many of their models, it prolongs the EOL of my foot ware by many years https://www.revivo.com/how-we-repair https://www.revivo.com/how-we-repair. It's $ 104.53 as of this posts currency exchange but I think it still counts?
- R_D_Olivaw 8mo agoThanks for this, I've been needing winter boots but hate how much tread they have as I am a minimalist and my feet always end up so sore from them.
- frm88 8mo agoYou're welcome. If you are in search of new minimalist winter boots, they also offer a secondhand shop with all shoes refurbished and disinfected. I bought hiking boots there for 1/3 of the price and apart from a few scratches in the leather they are top. They would've gotten the scratches anyways, so good deal for me.
- apothegm 8mo agoThe book I taught myself HTML from in high school. My entry point to a lifetime of working with software.
- bergie 8mo agoThis thread is going to be very contextual. I'm currently sailing on a small sailboat, and hence the items will be quite different than what would be useful ashore: * Wacaco Nanopresso - manual espresso pump. Great coffee anywhere off-the-grid. We also have their grinder but that's not listed as it is above the $100 threshold * Klean Kanteen insulated water bottle - fill up from watermaker water, stays nice and cool * Seeed T1000-e: waterproof Meshtastic radio that allows me to communicate with our boat and crew also when out of cell coverage * Shelly 1: WiFi/Thread relay that makes it easy to automate navigation lights and other circuits * Ruuvi Tag: waterproof battery-powered Bluetooth temperature/humidity/pressure sensor. Battery lasts arpund two years. We have a few of these around the boat, including one in the fridge
- Gazoche 8mo agoI should get one of those Ruuvi Tag...I use a similar cheap Xiaomi sensor currently but the battery doesn't last anywhere as long (probably because it has an LCD screen and isn't made to broadcast via BLE continuously).
- kmfrk 8mo agoHydro Flask cooler cup. No more rushing to finish cans before they get lukewarm. Give these people the Nobel Prize as far as I'm concerned. https://www.hydroflask.com/12-oz-cooler-cup https://www.hydroflask.com/12-oz-cooler-cup
- nmaleki 8mo agoMinecraft $26.95. Thousands of hours of gameplay. Ear Fun Free Pro 3 $50 wireless earbuds. Great sound, quick pairing, good noise cancelling, in-app equalizer, great price. Probably buy direct from them, bought from Woot! Amazon once and didn't get a very good model. Web Video Caster $5. I stream tons of content and this lets me connect to just about anything. You can use it for free with ads. Cloudflare domain ~$10/year. Cheapest domain prices and cloudflare works great for everything for me. Harmonica $5. I just keep it in my bag and use it whenever I'm outside alone, keeps me off the phone. Fidget spinner $1. The lighter the better imo. Also my mouse, battery pack, and I love those lazy cell phone holders ~$10 you can put around your neck.
- gus_massa 8mo agoElectric Fly Swatter
- _DeadFred_ 8mo agoGarbanzo/chickpea flour. When I get hungry, I mix 1/2 cup with 1/2 cup water, some olive oil, some garlic powder, some herbs, some marinera, throw it in into the convection oven in a pie tin 8 minutes, then on the rack 5 minutes, and have a warm, protein/gut healthy fiber rich snack. Plug in seat heater for my mom's old Jeep XJ that I restored. Long johns for under my jeans. Wool socks (the socks I just get generic off Amazon).
- consumer451 8mo agoA high quality, low latency, battery powered bluetooth rx/tx device. The one I bought years ago is the Boltune BT-BA001. [0] It is easily my most used inexpensive piece of electronics. Use cases: 1. Make your stereo system bluetooth, this includes a nice new pair of powered monitors, or a vintage 70's system. 2. You have an older car, want bluetooth but appreciate high quality audio. 3. You want to make your wired headphones wireless. 4. Buy 2, and make a low latency wireless audio link. These things are super cool, and are now only $30. [0] https://www.ebay.com/p/18030903120 https://www.ebay.com/p/18030903120
- oxag3n 8mo agoSoft close toilet seat. For example "Bath Royale Slow Close Toilet Seat" is between $60 and $70. I stayed in AirBnB in 2021 with soft close seats and I don't know why, but for everyone in my family it felt like a luxury/comfort item. Knowing that there won't be bang, especially at night, especially with small kids, makes a difference. I'd never thought it would unless I stayed at that AirBnB.
- 4d4m 8mo agoIlly espresso, less acrid than popular American espresso
- daza 8mo agoI've recently bought a used Apple TV (4K). Fantastic device, highly recommend this one.
- etyhhgfff 8mo agoA Casio Watch. I no longer have to pull out my smartphone just to get the current time. It also shows current date and weekday. It has a button to activate light so I can easily read the time when it is dark without getting flashed by my smartphone screen. I also use the countdown timer frequently for cooking or as short term reminder. The battery lasts for years. No "smart" functions like getting the news, messages from friends or email notifications. You can put it underwater, swim or shower with it and it still works.
- sambapa 8mo agoSleep: - wax earplugs - buckwheat pillow - a pillow that goes between my knees (I'm a side sleeper) Above combo has made 6 hour sleep feel like 8 hours and 8 hours feel like I can go the rest of my life without sleep in the morning Fitness: - gymnastic rings: ultraportable and ultrascalable (from arthretic grandma level to olympic athlete level) workout. I have two pairs and I'm thinking about buying another one. Fun: - someone already mentioned minecraft lol - wireless buds, I have Jlabs go air pop and I sometimes prefer them over my trusty Sennheisers HD 600 - Ibanez rg565 genesis desert yellow (add another 0 to 100 dollars but I bought it in installments so, technically, I paid less than 100 dollars for it per month, worth it, you can shred the absolute fuck out of it) Health: - good sunglasses (cat 3 or even better cat 4) - omega 3 and vitamin d : important if you live in unhabitable, gray and cold regions of earth (like eastern europe) Education: - Anki, free for pc and android, cheap for iphones
- sambapa 8mo agoAnd a basic cheap sonic toothbrush (sonicare)
- dulus21 8mo agoSilicone Body Scrubber under 10$, Water flosser, Brita Water Filter. Daily usage for all of them Altra Escalante running shoes (not daily usage, sadly)
- rsanek 8mo agoAnki: $25 on iOS, free for Android https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493387 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/ankimobile-flashcards/id373493... 140W Anker charger: like an Apple laptop charger, but with 4 ports instead of one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFCH3C4W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFCH3C4W Nu-Salt: for those of us trying to avoid sodium, but still wanting to add salt to food https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVJTL81 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVJTL81 Mineral sunscreen stick: very portable, no mess https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CICLTAI https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CICLTAI Waterpik: great alternative to dental floss https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV7RJ9RK https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DV7RJ9RK
- tim-tday 8mo agoI bought a lithium ion jump pack on Ali express for $20. Came in a nice case, starts a car if the battery is dead. Takes up less room than jumper cables. Could be a lifesaver.
- ricardolive 8mo agoClaude Code Pro ($200, but worth every penny), Tech Talks Weekly Plus, Pragmatic Engineer subscriptions. Vertical ergonomic mouse (Logitech Lift in my case). My wrist pain disappeared within a few weeks after years of problems (knock on wood). Kindle Paperwhite (used for < $100). Drowsy silk sleep mask. It's truly a "buy it for life" item, and it's made a huge difference in my sleep quality.
- andyjohnson0 8mo agoSoundcore Liberty 5 noise-cancelling wireless earbuds. £75, so $100ish. Saved my sanity when the infrastructure team decided to set-up a rack mount server in my office "just for a few days, honestly" and I spent two weeks listening to the system fan spooling up every (count them) seventy five seconds. The sound quality is pretty good too.
- baranmelik 8mo agoPortable charging station
- austin-cheney 8mo agoI bought a 14tb HDD December 2024, before all the tariffs, for $95. It was completely worth it. It now has 5% free space.
- bobthepanda 8mo agoLoop earbuds for $30. I keep them on my keys and I have great hearing protection available, and unlike traditional earplugs they filter rather than block noise so I can still hear conversations normally.
- dubious2 8mo agotweezerman scissors & Tweezer's
- trcarney 8mo agoThe Anarchist Tool Chest. Its a book about hand tool woodworking and letting go of the notion that you need to buy every tool they make just to make something out of wood. The author espouses a lifestyle I think we all could do a better job of living. Which is basically own fewer, nicer things made by local artisans and craftsman. I heard somebody on a YouTube video (wittworks) explain why things like woodworking and stuff speak to so many in our profession, "If you work with your mind, you need to rest with your hands". This book helped me unlock a hobby that helps me relax after being at a computer all day without thinking I need a 4000 sq ft wood shop and 10's of thousands of dollars.
- agcat 8mo agoMy egg maker.
- romdev 8mo agoA chicken?
- AdamWills 8mo ago[dead]