Now that is a big statement to make. However, my consistent go-to for YEARS has been the 9” slotted spatula from Lamson. I don’t have many tools from Lamson and don’t own a knife from them as well. Grab the spatula, it will last forever.
Saturday, November 8, 2025
Match Striker
Again, something you don’t think about every day but super handy to have around the house. They look great next to a candle or on a side table close to your favorite cigar smoking chair. Buy several to have around the house. One thing to know, you must buy STRIKE ANYWHERE matches for these match holders. Poke around the CraigHill website as well. Lot’s of great stuff in there for small presents or stocking stuffers.
https://craighill.co/collections/shop-all/products/match-striker?variant=44514790736109
Phone Mount
Hands down the best phone mount on the market. Looks great and works even better. Use it with your MageSafe iPhone or choose a scissors-style universal mount to hold just about any phone-sized device you need. What I like about this product is that when you install it, it looks really clean. I have been using this product for the past 5 years in my same daily drive and it is flawless.
https://www.cravenspeed.com/the-gemini-phone-mount-1/
Running Footwear
Talk about a controversial topic. When it comes to footwear, everyone is always right. Which is AOK by me. Being in my mid-50’s and considered to be an active guy, I have tried out a LOT of different shoes. I have finally found my favorite that works for me. Why does it work for me? When running, hiking, walking, working out, or just spending a lot of time on your feet, your foot tends to naturally swell a bit. Have you ever noticed why the toe box seems to get a little tight at times? That’s why. ALTRA is a smaller company and often overlooked. Find a shoe that works for you and order a pair. You will appreciate the extra room in the toe box. For those with skinny feet, I can’t provide my opinion. My size 12s are shaped like bricks, but plenty of folks with narrow feet love them as well. It certainly helps that they are in the more affordable pricing range for equal quality shoes.
Let’s Keep Chatting about Footwear
Footwear is serious business. Uncomfortable shoes suck. Plain and simple. If your work week consists of slacks and suits, comfortable dress shoes are really hard to find. I am talking all day comfort here folks. Really. Hard. To. Find. If you find yourself in New York or Boston, go to the ALDEN SHOES store. Both are fantastic. I’ll be really up front here, getting properly fit in their shoes is critical. There are several lasts and a dizzying amount of factors that need to be taken into consideration. I bought a pair of their Shell 8 Cordovan High Vamp loafers. It will take 9 mos. to make the shoes if they don’t have them in stock so patience is needed here. I am a standard issue US 12 D. Have been forever. In their loafer, which uses the GRANT last, I wear a 10.5 EE! So wild to me, however, when I finally received them, boy howdy, they fit perfectly! They have a ton of different styles of shoes and boots, all handmade at the Alden factory in Middleborough, MA. Quality isn’t cheap but the shoes should last your lifetime if you are making sure to NOT wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row and keeping cedar shoe trees in them.
https://aldenmadison.com/products/high-vamp-loafer-br-color-8-shell-cordovan-br-67169
Another maker I can recommend is Morjas, from Spain. I have a pair of their loafers and they perform really well and offer a compelling price point. I like their cedar shoe trees so much I have ordered them for most of my nice shoes. I highly recommend their shoe trees. Give them a look, they have some great styles and as a user, I can attest to their excellent quality! Hint, the rubber soles are a legitimate option!
https://www.morjas.com/us/product/the-ivy-loafer-brown-suede-rubber-sole/
Last one for y’all. Quoddy. Funny name, great shoe. Generally, these are boat shoes however, they make some really nice Chukkas and Men’s mules. Yes ladies, they have great options for you as well. Located in Maine, all of their shoes are Made in America. While I don’t have a pair myself, my little brother does and I respect his opinion. He takes his time to curate his belongings and really does a lot of deep research. These wear like iron. Enjoy!
Lighting!!!
This is a fun one. If you are looking for some unique bulbs for that retro chandelier, this place has you covered. I don’t need to drone on about this, just check it out.
https://www.nostalgicbulbs.com/
Camper or outdoor enthusiast?
SnowPeak is an incredible company with some of the best camping gear I have come across. These guys make REI look like Academy. From camp cooking to camp living, their gear is top-notch and performs at the highest level. One section I suggest you visit is the Stakes & Hammers section. They sell forged steel stakes that can be driven through the most challenging ground. Pick up a dozen with the steel head peg hammer and carrying bag. It will be the last stake set you ever buy and will secure whatever you are trying to tie down. The hammer doubles as a stake puller. This is something you will buy once that will be passed down to generations.
https://www.snowpeak.com/collections/stakes-hammers
Fantastic titanium water bottle.
https://www.snowpeak.com/collections/bottles/products/ti-aurora-bottle?variant=39374445805612
And you have to check out their tent systems. Genius.
Probably right where you left them. If you can develop that habit of emptying your pockets of all of your EDCC (every day carry crap) in the same place, every time, then you will never lose your keys, wallet, or pocket knife again. Don’t be pedestrian and use an old bowl or some janky looking catch all. You need some order and some style in your life. Check out these Valet tray’s from KillSpencer (weird name, I know).
https://tinyurl.com/mww6pmz9
Power Tools - singing my song!
It would not be a proper list without some power tool recommendations. So, let’s start with surface preparation first. FESTOOL. It’s German. It’s perfect. I’m not kidding. Let’s look at their sander first. Then, you can dive down a rabbit hole of all kinds of tools that they make. I have this sander. It is amazing. The battery lasts forever and when you kill it, will recharge before the second battery dies. It’s a fast charger. But I always like a backup so I have a power cord. Yep, you can go from battery to corded. Really cool. For those that sometimes manage projects in the house dust control is a real issue. Not anymore. These folks have it figured out. It is simply WILD to sand on a surface and there is ZERO dust. I mean nothing. Nada. Zilch. You’re going to pay for this tool but you will be glad you did when you use it. Here is the starter list for surface preparation. Just buy it and trust me.
Get Lit
Lighting is another one of those personal preference items in a market with a dizzying array of options. I have been using this Petzl lamp for years, and it has never let me down. It is a hybrid lamp which means it is rechargeable and it can also run off of 3 AAA batteries if you run out of charge. You can always buy extra rechargeable batteries to keep them on hand. It is just a great light that performs very well and can take a beating. You won’t be disappointed.
https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/Headlamps/ACTIK-CORE
Wind me up!
Any watch fans here? Mechanical watch fans? Are you tired of having to wind a watch you have not worn in a while, having to set the date and time each time? Get a watch winder and be done with that non-sense. This is a slick piece of gear. Tuck it away in your closet or leave it out as a presentation piece. Why I like it? It looks good. Rotations per hour can be adjusted. Rotation direction can be adjusted. Or, just leave it on auto and let it do its job. Either way, if you want to switch up your watch, you will put one on that is wound with the correct time and date (assuming you have a date function). These only work on AUTOMATIC watches. Watches that wind themselves using the kinetic energy of your wrist movement. If you have to wind your watch manually, it won’t help you.
https://www.heidenwatchwinders.com/heiden-quad-watch-winder-walnut-p-362.html
Who doesn’t appreciate a clean car?
OK, this is just going to be a rabbit hole for those who obsess over cleaning their own cars and the proper gear to buy in order to do so. If you think I am diligent in my research, I don’t hold a candle to Matt Moorman, founder of Obsessed Garage. If it is on his website, it’s good to go. This guy has spent tens of thousands of dollars buying just about every possible car detailing and garage product known to man and tested them all. His recommendations never disappoint.
https://www.obsessedgarage.com/
https://www.obsessedgarage.com/collections/detailing-kits-packages-solutions/products/ultimate-car-washing-solution
Breaking Down Sucks
Looking for the perfect piece of equipment to carry with you in your vehicle for emergencies? Sometimes it can be a pain to procure what you need, find the right box and then make it all work right. Uncharted Supply Company has got you covered! The ONLY additions I would add to this kit are a reflective vest and a reflective triangle. Other than that, it pretty much has what you need when you get into a jam. Heads up, these tend to sell out pretty quickly.
Retro Denim Goodness
The Mister Freedom® RANCH BLOUSE pattern is their original take on classic denim jacket styles from the Golden Age of American workwear, 1930s to 1950s. This will level up the cool factor during Rodeo season or just knocking around at the ranch. Make sure to check out their other denim products as well as regular wear.
https://misterfreedom.com/products/ranch-blouse-midnight-denim
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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