Most of my recommendations can be found in nice little categories: Albums, movies, tv shows, books, software, podcasts, blogs, and audio-equipment. Or, when I post one-off recommendations they’re all under the “recommendation” tag. However, this is kind of a “catch-all” post for a bunch of different things that I think are great but don’t really have a place to put them. It doesn’t make sense for them to all be separate posts, so instead it’s a giant long list of links! I’ve added some commentary in a few places as well. I have personally used and recommend all of the products on this list and I’ll try and keep it updated semi-regularly for when you’re looking to buy new toys or find a cool gift for that special someone.
Gadgets
Apple Computers
I recommend Apple computers and laptops.
Apple TV
I think the current Apple TV running in conjunction with a Plex server is the best way to watch TV.
iPhone
I think the iPhone is the best smartphone on the market.
iPad Pro
I think the iPad Pro is an incredible tablet and portable computer.
Nest Smart Home Devices
I am a big fan of Nest’s smart thermostat. I also have a Nest Protect on each floor of the house, mostly for peace of mind that when I am away I’ll get a notification on my phone if it detects anything. And I have, and am fond of, the Nest Doorbell; it’s been rock solid for me.
Starling Hub
The Starling Hub is an amazing little device that seamlessly brings all of the above Nest devices into Apple’s HomeKit app.
Aqara Smart Home Sensors
Aqara makes a variety of smart home sensors that I recommend. Their door and window sensors are great for sending notifications (e.g., if a door gets left open for more than a few minutes), and their temperature and humidity sensors are perfect for putting in places you want to monitor. I have them in the crawl space, attic, and garage.
D-Link Water Leak Sensor
I originally bought this to monitor the washing machine for leaks and have since added the modular sensors to multiple places throughout our home (water heater, dish washer, under sinks, etc.).
Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 THX
These computer speakers rival most of my friend’s home entertainment systems. I’m a big fan of their clear sound and simple style.
Lutron Caseta Smart Lighting
This is the best HomeKit enabled smart lighting system I’ve ever used.
Casper Sleep Glow Night Light
These are the best looking, simple, motion activated, night lights I’ve found.
AirPods Pro
I had no idea how badly I wanted simple, wireless, earbuds until I got the AirPods. I absolutely love them.
Eero Mesh Networking System
After trying multiple router setups: the Eero system gave me the best control, and speed, of everything I tested.
Amazon Echo
Using the the Echo for turning on lights, getting the weather, adding things to a shared grocery list, and setting timers has become the main use case. It’s too damn chatty though.
Kindle Paperwhite
I think this is the best Kindle from a price to performance ratio.
LG Electronics OLED65C7P 65-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart OLED TV
I absolutely adore this television. It’s the best TV I’ve ever owned by a massive margin.
Nintendo Switch
It’s my favorite gaming console, maybe ever.
amCase Carrying Case for Nintendo Switch
I’ve been really happy with this simple case for storing cables and controllers out of the way.
Echo Wall Mount Hangers
I received a couple Amazon Dot’s (2nd generation) for free, and this little gadget is a great way to put a Dot in a room by just attaching it to an outlet. And this one is great for the Echo Spot, which is perfect for a kitchen.
Wyze Scale X
Open app, step on scale, track weight and other metrics. You know me, I do love tracking historical data.
Blueair Air Purifiers
We have two cats and I have very bad seasonal allergies. This is the air purifier we have in our bedroom, and maybe it’s a placebo, but I believe I breathe better because of it. I recently put the Blue Pure 511 in my office.
Sonos Speakers
We have multiple Sonos speakers throughout the house and I love them. (More details here.)
Equipment
My Home Office
I wrote an entire blog post detailing my current home office.
Uplift Desk
Virtually infinitely customizable and they look great.
Grovemade Products
Everything I’ve purchased from them (detailed here) has been top of the line.
Nomad Magnetic Stand
I have two of these on the bedside tables.
Elevation Headphone Anchor
Fantastic little anchor for hiding your headphones under your desk but within reach.
MoKo iPad Pro Sleeve
I currently store my iPad Pro in this very simple sleeve.
TotalMount – Apple TV Universal Mounting Kit
I use one of these to mount the Apple TV to the back of the TV in the bedroom.
BlueLounge CableBox
I use multiple BlueLounge Cableboxes around the house to take a bunch of messy cables and store them out of the way. I’ve got one under my desk and one under the couch in the living room. I also have one of these in the living room that blends in nicely under the console table.
GoRuck Backpacks
There’s a reason these packs are so highly regarded. They’re exceptionally well made, tough, clean, and worth it. I think the GR1 is the best backpack in the world and I also use love their kit bag for a simple over night bag.
GoRuck Field Pockets
I love these field pockets for keeping my bags organized.
GoRuck Packing Cubes
I use these when packing for trips. They’re great in suitcases or a kit bag.
Zebra F-301 Pens
I love the solid metal casing and weight of these pens. I stash them everywhere.
Moleskine Graph Paper Notebook
This notebook combines the size and kind of paper I like best for writing notes, sketching out ideas or designs, or simply trying to get thoughts down while get away from a computer for a few hours.
Panobook
These are incredible notebooks for keeping on your desk for notes and, in my case, sketching out new design ideas.
Fenix LD12 LED Flashlight
I love this flashlight. It’s a powerful little guy that’s perfect for if the power goes out or in your emergency kit.
NightStand for Apple Watch
My favorite Apple Watch dock. Nothing fancy and smaller than you’d expect.
Spyderco HoneyBee
A simple, great, and tiny everyday carry keychain knife.
Benchmade – Mini Griptilian
An incredible, more robust, knife. It’s become my favorite knife I’ve ever owned.
Xthel Titanium Keychain Beer Bottle Opener
A light weight and very simple keychain bottle opener.
Kappa Quick Release Keychain
Simple, well made, and I love how it looks.
Leather iPhone Cases
I like both the official Apple leather case and those made by Bullstrap.
Tactile Turn Pens
These are exquisitely made pens.
Apple Watch Bands
I move between the official solo loop and the braided loop for everyday wear. When I want to be fancy, I like the Arrow & Board leather band and Archer’s nylon strap (in the James Bond colors, of course).
Core Fitness Adjustable Dumbbells
A key part of my little home gym (these recycled rubber floor tiles are also great).
Grooming
Merkur Long Handled Chrome Safety Razor
Fantastic double-edged safety razor.
Feather Hi-Stainless Platinum Razor Blades
These are extremely sharp double edged razor blades and I would recommend trying a variety of blades to see what works best on your skin and only move up to these after you’ve mastered a technique.
Taylor of Old Bond Shaving Cream for Sensitive Skin
My favorite shaving cream, I’ve tried others, but I always come back to this.
Taylor of Old Bond Street Aftershave
It’s on the more expensive side, but you only need a little of this aftershave.
Escali 100% Badger Brush
Great shaving brush.
Kent Brushes and Combs
Fantastic, handmade combs and brushes in many sizes for any hair style or length.
Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Liquid Hand Soap
Basil scent – because it cleans well, smells great, and is awesome.
Fisherman’s Friend Cough Suppressants
Simply the best cough drops.
Hair Products
Depending on the length of my hair I rotate between Baxter’s cream or clay pomade. And when it gets unruly, the JS Sloane Brilliantine.
Skin Care
My basic skincare routine includes La Roche-Posay’s toner, spot treatment, and cleanser. With Cetaphil’s cleanser rotated in (and their face wipes each morning) before ending with their daily moisturizer. And then The Ordinary’s retinol serum every other day.
Barton Perrera Eyeglasses
My eyewear of choice.
Kitchen
AeroPress (Coffee Maker)
Secret to great coffee: Good beans, a good grinder, hot water, and an Aeropress.
Baratza Virtuoso Coffee Grinder
I use it every single morning to grind coffee. Incredible burr grinder.
Fellow Corvo EKG Pro Electric Kettle
I’ve been extremely happy with this electric kettle. It’s one of the few things I’ll leave out on the kitchen counter.
Anova Culinary Bluetooth Precision Cooker
This precision cooker (also known as sous vide cooking) has changed how I cook.
Miir 360 Traveler
My current morning coffee delivery system.
Purist Water Bottles
I love these stainless steel bottles. I drink from one every day. Incredibly well made.
Frywall – Splatter Guard
The frywall is a fantastic splatter guard to use on pans while cooking on the stove. It really does help keep oil/food splatter down and makes clean up a breeze.
Gir Spatula
These are my favorite spatulas. Great construction. Great design.
Gir Reusable Straws
These are great for iced coffee or anytime you need a straw.
Zeroll 1020 Ice Cream Scoop
It’s the classic ice cream scoop for a reason.
Prepworks Magnetic Measuring Spoons
I’m a big fan of these measuring spoons. The dual head and magnetic features are great.
Miir Coffee Canister
A stylish way to store and keep coffee fresh.
Emolife Silicone Mat
We have three of these that we use for the cat food and water dishes and in the pantry for our coffee making station.
Miscellaneous
MagicFiber Microfiber Cleaning Cloths
Easily the best cleaning cloths I’ve found for glasses, iPhones, and computer screens.
Earasers Musicians Ear Plugs
As I’ve gotten older I’ve embraced that I need ear plugs at concerts. These hide well in your ears and are the most comfortable version I’ve found.
Earasers Ear Plug Carrying Case Black
I use this to carry around said ear plugs so they don’t get lost or gross.
PetBonus 3-Pack Pet Food Can Spoon
I’m weirded out using human food spoons with the wet cat food. So I use these. They’re great.
Serenilite Stress Ball
My favorite desk toy.
FrameMyCollection
I used them to frame a signed drumhead and love how it came out.
Saber Factory
Like Star Wars? This company makes great lightsaber replicas.
Archive
These items were on the main list at one point, but have subsequently been archived. Most of the times it’s because I have moved on to something else and no longer use it regularly.
UE Mini-Boom Bluetooth Speaker
I use this mini-bluetooth speaker all the time. It’s the main way I listen to podcasts in the kitchen while cooking or eating, while cleaning the house, or in the bathroom when I shower and shave. Surprisingly good sound from such a little device.
Blue Yeti Microphone
This is the microphone I use to record our podcast. (I recommend using a pop filter with it.)
Incase Shoulder Bags / Sleeves
I am a big fan of Incase’s shoulder bags and neoprene sleeves (I prefer the ones without zippers).
Pack and Smooch Sleeves
These felt and leather iPad sleeves are great and classy for heading out the door.
Bellroy Wallets
I carry a black slim-sleeve wallet and love it.
Cuisinart CPK-17 Electric Kettle
My previous kettle pick.
MOS Spring Lightning Cables
I think these are the absolute best lightning cables available. They come with a lifetime guarantee.