I’ll show you a few items that may help you travel, work, and sleep better.
These are the things I use almost every single day.
I split it into two sections:
- Travel Gear, things I take on trips
- Home Gear, thing inside my apartment
Travel Gear
Apple Technology Items
As a baseline, these are the standard tech items in my travel bag:
- iPhone 13 Pro
- AirPods Pro
- AirPods Max
- Macbook Air (M1, 2020, 8GB)
- iPad Pro (11”)
Benro Selfie Stick + Tripod
This works great as a selfie stick, but I don’t find myself using that much these days. What I mostly use this for is as a tripod for my iPhone and iPad (with adapter, below).
I’ve used this for years. I’ve purchased and tested a few different tripods in this same size / weight range, and this one is the best. It includes a Bluetooth wireless fob to trigger your phone to take photos, but I end up losing that because it falls off.
Now, before I show you the next product, I have to tell you that I also this selfie stick tripod as an iPad mount.
Mostly to watch movies on flights, like this:
But to do that, you need a special mount to hold the iPad.
iPad Mount Adapter
This is very unique and I bet nobody else has it on their gear list. I use it in combination with the selfie stick / tripod, above, to mount my iPad at eye level. Here’s how that looks on a plane:
- Buy it on Amazon: $19.99
- Backup if out of stock: Square Jellyfish Tablet Twist Tripod Mount $12.95
Car Cell Phone Holder
This is the smallest, lightest phone car holder I could find. It lets me mount my cellphone on a car air conditioning vent for use with navigation while driving. Helpful when borrowing a car or renting a car during a trip. When I need it, I’m so happy to have it.
Battery Pack w/Wireless Charging
I like that it has USB-C fast charging, but I can also wirelessly charge my phone with it. Wireless charging is terribly slow and inefficient but works in a hurry.
- Buy it on Amazon: $49.99
- Apple makes something like this, too: MagSafe Battery Pack for $99
- Honorable mention: TravelCard, a $30 insanely small battery. Will recharge your iPhone to 30% or so. Small and light enough to always carry for emergencies. I’ve purchased several as gifts.
- I also really like the Anker PowerCore III Fusion 5K, which plugs directly into the wall to recharge. I learned about a lot of these batteries from Wirecutter.
Toothbrush
I read about this travel toothbrush on Tynan’s 2022 gear post. I have been using this for a few months now and it works very well. Maybe I would have gotten the one that can be recharged via USB, but I’m not sure.
Socks
These are just some good solid ankle socks that are made out of wool. I wear them all around at home and when I travel. I like things made out of wool because they do not smell as much.
Backpack: Minaal Daily Bag
I take this almost everywhere I go: on trips, and around town in Austin. I like this backpack and I’ve used it for many years. A few friends and ex-girlfriends have bought it, too. My friend Tynan got me started with the “one bag” method.
I like: the side handle, the lay-flat full-open, the laptop pouches, how light it is.
Suitcase: Amazon Basic 23-inch
I use a suitcase for longer trips and when I want to bring larger items, such as my buckwheat pillow, snorkel gear, etc. It’s fine. Great price. Lightweight. Rolls well, fits easily in overhead bins on the plane as a carry-on.
Laptop Stand: Nexstand
This helps keep my laptop display more at eye level. I have better posture when I use it. For travel, when paired with my Bluetooth keyboard and mouse, it makes for a nice workstation away from my home docking station.
Bluetooth Keyboard: Logitech K380
This is fine. It is my primary keyboard both at home and during travel. I’ve used the K380 for years and I like that I can pair it with multiple Bluetooth devices, like my phone and iPad, but I use that feature less than 1% of the time.
If I could find something lighter, and that was thinner or collapsible, that would be ideal. I’ve tested a few and haven’t found anything consistently better than this. I forget why I prefer this over the standard Apple Bluetooth keyboard.
Bluetooth Mouse: Logitech MX Master 3
Recently I went on a trip where I chose not to take my mouse. I immediately regretted it. I don’t like to use the trackpad on a laptop. I’m much more productive with a mouse.
I mostly like this mouse because I can customize one of the side buttons to input “CMD + W,” which will close a browser tab. I use that dozens of times per day.
This is the upgrade pick on Wirecutter for mice. I’ve owned and used other Logitech mice, like the M720 Triathlon and the M585. They are half the price and work fine, too.
Home Gear
These are some things around my apartment that I love and swear by.
Fuji Instax Camera
Film cost is about $1 per photo. I use this camera to take photos of my friends who have been to my apartment at least two times. I think that’s a good filter: you don’t want a bunch of photos of random people who just showed up to your house once. I actually prefer the large Fuji Instax Wide Camera. It takes much larger photos. But I’m not sure if Fuji is still producing the Wide cameras and how available the film will be.
Buckwheat Pillow
Have you ever slept on a buckwheat pillow? They’re great: easily adjustable, cool temperature, extremely supportive.
The pillow is just literally a fabric case filled with buckwheat hulls. This is what a bunch of buckwheat looks like inside the pillow:
I’ve slept with a buckwheat pillow for years. I like these pillows so much that I’ll often ship one of these ahead of time to my hotel so it is waiting for me when I arrive. Or, if I have a suitcase, I’ll bring it with me.
This is a product that I’ve recommended to friends and, for some, they become obsessed and say it is their favorite pillow. Others hate the slight noise that the buckwheat hulls make. I think you either love it or you’ll hate that it is “noisy.”
Roborock Vacuum
If you have hardwood floors and you haven’t gotten a robot vacuum yet, what are you waiting for? Do it! It is so nice to have my house regularly swept clean in between housekeeper visits.
I’ve purchased and used several robot vacuum cleaners. The Roborock brand is my favorite. I’ve recommended this one a lot, and at least 5 friends bought it and love it. They say that they’re impressed by the LiDAR room mapping (I love it) and the smart cleaning.
Before this, I owned one of the most expensive iRobot Roombas. It was fine, and I loved the self-cleaning dispenser. But once you see how the Roborock units clean, with actually intelligent room mapping, the Roombas feel stupid.
My friend Zach Ware got one after seeing me recommend this on Instagram. He says: “It keeps my house clean no matter one. I love it so much.”
- Buy it on Amazon: $289 after coupon
- Advanced, more expensive models from this same company get good reviews. My sister bought the advanced mopping version, for $100 more, but after several months she still hasn’t tried the mopping feature. “It seems complicated to add the mopping-specific water.”
Bidet
I won’t try to convince you to start using a bidet. You should, because it is so much cleaner than only using toilet paper (yes I still use toilet paper in combination with the bidet).
What I’ll say is that this is one of the Top 5 products that I regularly recommend and buy for friends. For some, it has changed their lives. I’ve purchased and installed dozens of LUXE bidets, literally DOZENS, of this exact unit. I install it in every long-term house rental, in my apartments, at my parents homes, etc.
Now, I know what you’re thinking: “But what about fancy bidets! With hot water and seat heaters!”
Yes. Those are nice. But this is cheap, and fast, and easy to install. Many of the advanced bidets require a hot water or power connection, which are not easy to add near the toilet. Check and see if you have those now, or if you’re willing to run an extension to your toilet.
If you want a bidet today, and you want to start right now living a more clean, hygienic lifestyle, buy this bidet. Install it, use it for a few weeks, and you can always upgrade later to a nicer one.
Squatty Potty
My friend Max Lugavere bought me this. Studies show that we’re meant to… nevermind. I don’t want to talk about so much toilet stuff. Either you know the benefits of this, or you’re not interested.
Zojirushi Water Heater
These are very popular in Asia but few people seem to have them in America. Using vacuum pressure and a tiny bit of electricity, this device keeps nearly-boiling water always available in the kitchen. Stop waiting for good water to boil. I use it for making tea, coffee, soup, etc. When you get one, you’ll use hot water a lot more.
Weighted blanket
I started sleeping with a weighted blanket in December 2020. I’m always looking for hacks to help me sleep better. This one worked! It feels very comforting.
You want to consider two things with a weighted blanket: the weight of the blanket, and the size.
For weight: 15 lb is a good start for one person who weighs 130 to 170 lbs. Look for online guides to see how heavy you want the blanket to be. Larger people need heavier blankets. Smaller people need lighter blankets.
For size: Note that many weighted blankets sell as “partial covers,” which means they aren’t meant to entirely cover your bed, just your body. But I want the blanket to be my entire top cover. If you want that, too, then be sure to look at the measurements of your weighted blanket to ensure it will be large enough to fit the entirety of your bed.
Conclusion
I love gadgets. I spend way too much time researching things before I buy them. And then I will return basically anything that I don’t love.
Was this info helpful? Let me know in the comments!
And do you have a suggestion for something I should check out and maybe include in my next gear post? Tell me that, too, in the comments!
