Headphones for Audiophiles

I know there are some of you out there that like to slip on a pair of headphones and get lost in the sound and music of your favorite artist and/or composer. Why are you doing them wrong and not experiencing the true depth and emotion of their recording? Think they sound good through your Bose over-ear headphones. Pfffft.

Start with these:

https://mezeaudio.com/products/109-pro

Graduate to these:

https://mezeaudio.com/products/elite-tungsten

And if you are a super-technical audiophile and need to have the absolute best there is, you will need bank wires to buy most of this gear. Dig in, do your research, have some fun.

https://www.audiogon.com/

 

Boots for a lifetime.

Handmade in Canada, ay, there is a style here that will check your box for the perfect boot. Maybe it is their classic Chelsea or perhaps The Scout. Do you prefer the look, feel and durability of Cordovan? They have that as well. Handmade and serviceable for many worn-out soles or even general repairs. They will take a bit to break them in, just like any good boot.

https://viberg.com/

The Time is Now

If you are looking for that perfect accessory that will tell you the time, look no further than the NIXIE tube clock. Retro lovers unite! These unique hand-made clocks will look good in any environment and will certainly be conversation starters. I want one for my office. Wonder where I can buy one? Hmmm…

https://nixieshop.com/nixie-clock-slim-model-2-solid-wood-with-plastic-bottom.html

More home and office Goodness

 

Are you aware that Dyson makes products other than those that suck? Yep, surprise. And they have modern-day lighting figured out. From the early morning of dawn to the warm rays of the last light of dusk, you will enjoy this lamp. Watch the video and look at how it “stows away”. Super neat.

https://www.dyson.com/lighting/floor-lamps

For the Chef’s in the House

 

Presenting the Anova Precision Countertop Oven. But it is so much more than that. Bake, convection, steam, sous vide, proof, steam roast, broil, the list goes on. Here is where it get cool. Whatever you are going to cook, put it in the oven, it sees it with cameras, knows the food you are cooking, and recommends the perfect cook. If you don’t trust the tech (and you should), you can scan the recipe from your phone to the oven so you will produce Julia Childs perfection every time.

https://anovaculinary.com/products/anova-precision-oven

Prometheus Design Werx

I am always on the hunt for items that have a utilitarian purpose. This little carry capsule not only looks cool (like a little grenade) but is made of titanium and will hold some essentials. Carry waterproof matches, some twine, emergency cash, and a little knife. Throw it in your pocket or clip it to your backpack. Good to go.

https://prometheusdesignwerx.com/collections/pocket-tools/products/ti-sst-dtb?variant=39594196140118

FLIR technology in your pocket

 

Who wouldn’t want FLIR technology in your pocket? Looking for a leak, having an issue with a breaker and need to identify which one is ‘hot’. Need to find water damage? Or, do you just need a good reason to buy a cool toy? That’s good enough for me!

https://www.flir.com/products/flir-one-pro/

For the Kitchen

Remember going to your grandmother’s house for a meal and she always had homemade bread sitting on the counter in a bread box? You would sneak a slice with a big slab of soft salted butter sitting on the countertop and sneak off to eat it in delight. Why don’t we use bread boxes anymore? Heck, where do you get bread boxes? The good ones made of steel like grandma’s? Here you go. And, it’s German so it will probably last for generations.

https://wesco.de/Grandy-Brotkasten/8036031

And check out their trashcans, I am getting one for the garage.

https://wesco.de/Pushboy-Muelleimer/S05183

 

Did someone say Gin?

No, not that kind. The kind where you go down after the second draw and watch your opponent melt down. The classic Gin card game! Or any card game for that matter. Physical playing cards can be boring. Why not find some that match your style or that of your gaming parlour. These are super cool gifts you can give year round. TONS of different styles to choose from.

https://www.artofplay.com/collections/playing-cards

 

Too many flashlights?

What’s wrong with you, there is no such thing as too many flashlights. Sheesh. Check out this little power burner. 7,000 lumens baby! That will throw a beam more than a quarter mile away. Shazam! See and be seen. Lot’s of cool features, this should be a fun one to keep around the house or in the glove box.

https://www.olight.com/marauder-mini-powerful-led-flashlight

 

Keys are noisy, and kind of a pain

With this little caddy, you can keep the jingle down to a minimum in your pocket. There is a cool flip feature that will fold out your most used key. It is small details like these that you most appreciate day to day.

https://www.orbitkey.com/collections/all-keys/products/key-organiser-pro?variant=41276830580832

 

Perfect large clear cocktail ice

This is cool gear. Fill it with water and it will make 6 large clear ice balls for your favorite cocktail or drink. Keep a few dozen in the freezer for guests when they arrive. This is a pre-order item and will be shipping in 2026. I think it will be worth the wait.

https://www.wintersmiths.com/products/juniper-ice-maker

 

Espresso at home, just a little different

 

If your idea of coffee is a Mr. Coffee with coffee you don’t care about, all you want is a hot cup to grab and go, skip this one. It ain’t for you. If your idea of coffee is to dive into the process of making a perfect espresso (or Americano, or Latte), then have a look at this. These espresso presses are hand-made in Brazil by a small manufacturer that cares about what they are selling. They make it for you when you order it. Comes with two-sized filters for a single or double. Perfect to take on a camping trip or leave it on our countertop at home to admire its elegant and straightforward design.

https://aram.coffee/product/aram-espresso-maker-experience-copy/

Toast done right

 

Did you know that you have been making your toast the wrong way for years? These folks figured out the secret to bringing out the most flavor from the bread you use to make toast. When to add a splash of water to the toasting process. So, if you want to take your homemade sourdough bread to the next level when you make a slice of toast, this is for you.

https://us.balmuda.com/collections/toaster-pro

It’s all in the wrist

They say good penmanship can be found in a supple yet controlled wrist. I disagree. It begins with what you are holding in your hand. Writing with a fine pen is a completely different experience from your standard Bic rollerball. So, you go to the MontBlanc store. Right? Well, not so fast, grasshopper. Remember, MontBlanc is a fine instrument, but plentiful in shirt pockets at your office. You demand something that others don’t know about, something a little more, well, special. Enter Caran d’Ache. Designed in Switzerland, made in Switzerland. There are a ton of options; some are less expensive, some are investment grade. Try this one out for starters.

https://www.carandache.com/us/en/roller-pen/varius-carbon-roller-pen-p-10029.htm

Set the hook!

For all of you fly fishermen out there, I know there are tons of great options when it comes to choosing the right reel for the right fish. Have a look at this outfit. Talk about a million options. There might be another fisherman on the same river with an Abel reel but I guarantee you, it will not be the same as yours. Pour two fingers of your favorite scotch and try the configurator one evening. It’s fun.

https://abelreels.com/main/rove-series/

Feed your wanderlust

For those who enjoy the great outdoors and spending nights out in the wild, you have to check out these tents by Zpacks. Made of Dyneema (ultralight material stronger than steel) they are waterproof and ultra light weight. This two-person tent packs super small and weighs 19.5oz! You don’t want to get caught out in inclement weather with inferior gear. Believe me, it sucks.

https://zpacks.com/products/duplex-pro-tent

 

Fire, always a necessity

This needs to be in your go bag. Lightweight and bombproof, when you need a flame, you need something reliable. Enter the world of ExoTac. This lighter will perform when you need it to. Every time. Check out their other gear when you visit their site.

https://www.exotac.com/products/titanlight

 

Gaming Nerd Alert!

Did you recently find a box of your favorite GameBoy games from your child hood and wondering what to do with them? How about getting back into portable gaming with a player that will make your games look 10X better than they ever did before? Enter: Analogue Pocket. Just go visit their website to see what this thing can do. I can’t fit it all on one page. If games are your thing, you need to own this.

https://www.analogue.co/pocket

 

Next level Point and Shoot

This next product is a cult favorite of semi-pro and pro photographers worldwide. The Ricoh GRIIIx HDF. It is extremely versatile, small and compact and utilizes what is called HDF (highlight diffusion filter) to give your images more of a film like quality than a digital point and shoot. You might have to wait a bit for this one or call your local camera store. They are not easy to find.

https://us.ricoh-imaging.com/product/gr-iiix-hdf/