40 Things I Own and Swear By

I live in the Chicago suburbs, and I run outdoors. Gloves are a must, and I want to be able to use my phone while I’ve got them on. I’ve never found a pair of touchscreen gloves that really worked for me, but I don’t need them. I’ve got these. The tips of the index finger and thumbs snap back with magnets, so you can use your phone, tie your shoes, or do most anything else without the awkward fumbling that comes with wearing gloves. I’ve been wearing these gloves since 2009. Every time a pair wears out - they usually last about four years - I buy a new one.

As the proud proprietor of a beard, I only really need to clean up my neck and cheeks after a shower. I started using this Jack Black Beard Lube about 10 years ago, and I haven’t had razor burn or ingrown hairs since. It’s more of a lotion than a shaving cream, so there’s no mess left behind in the sink. It seems pricey, but since a dime-sized blob will knock out all of my unwanted whiskers, a single bottle lasts for more than a year. 

Trimming a beard is no fun. Most trimmers throw cut whiskers all over the room, and weak blades tug and pull at your hair. After five years of ownership, this Wahl trimmer still makes quick work of my beard and keeps most of the hair in the sink. It’s easy to clean, and a single charge lasts for many trims. 

There’s no worse feeling than discovering your checked bag is slightly over the weight limit. Nobody wants to be frantically repacking their bags on the floor in front of the check-in calendar. This tiny electronic scale has saved my bacon on dozens of trips and helped me squeeze every ounce out of my baggage allocation. I won’t fly without it.

When it comes to eating during long runs, I’m a Goldilocks. Most gels are too viscous and too gross. Lots of chews are too big and turn into a giant wad in your mouth. These caffeine-free organic chews are just right:  Not too chewy, slightly tart, and not too expensive. My Amazon account tells me I’ve bought a box of these chews 24 times, and I would have guessed I’ve bought them even more.

Last year I had to replace the rubber boot seal on my stacked front-loading washer after it started to mildew. I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was the worst thing that anyone has ever had to do. Now that I’ve got a clean slate, I keep it that way with this mildew stain remover that magically wipes away offending gunk. 

Buying new dress shoes is an expensive hassle. Rejuvenating your existing pairs with colored laces adds a little pop of color and flair without going overboard. Slip some red or blue laces into your boring old wingtips and suddenly you’re rocking slightly-less-boring wingtips. Get ready for compliments.

I have a very old pug. I love him dearly, and the feeling is mutual. The only thing he loves more than me:  Covering the black upholstery of my car with fur. This handy remover is only about the size of a credit card, but within a few minutes it can typically scrape away enough pug fur to knit a small sweater. It’s simple but incredibly effective. 

I’ll never go back to a rolling pizza cutter. These shears have an offset handle that makes it easy to glide through an oven-fresh pie without burning your hand or making a mess. They’re also incredibly handy for snipping herbs and other veggies. They’re sharp, and they pop apart for easy cleaning. You’ll love them.

It’s impossible to overstate how much a good knife can improve the experience of cooking. I have a rack full of various knives, but this beautiful santoku is the one I usually reach for. The simple handle feels perfect in my hand, the balance and edge are unbeatable, and the wavy Damascus steel is stunning. I love it so much I’ve given it as a gift four times, and I’ve never gotten complaints.

I love my fancy santoku, but the paring knife I reach for the most often is this little red guy. It’s lightweight and makes quick work of apples, strawberries, and cucumbers for my kids. It holds an edge incredibly well, and it comes with a little plastic sheath that keeps the blade from getting banged around. I have more expensive paring knives, but I always come back to this one.

Sure, you can make smashburgers on your stove if you love having splattered grease everywhere and having your house smell like burgers for several days. Or you can pop one of these cast iron griddles onto your grill, let it heat up, and smash ground beef until the medium-rare cows come home. I’ve also found it’s great for quickly searing lean meats like venison and elk.

I can’t claim that everything I cook is delicious, but I can confidently say that my meats are always cooked to a safe temperature. My Thermapen guarantees it. It gives instant results that let me pull meat off the grill or out of the pan at just the right moment. I have tried some cheaper instant-read thermometers, but I always found you get what you pay for with the knockoffs. I also love ThermoWorks’ customer service - I broke the battery cover on mine after like six years of ownership, and they sent me a new one for free. Fan for life. 

My four-year-old is obsessed with LEGO. I am obsessed with not stepping on LEGO and getting him to clean his room. This play table with building plates and built-in storage drawers gives him a spot to hone his creativity and keeps our house from becoming a brick-laden minefield. Everybody wins.

Before I became a homeowner and a dad, I thought I had the proper appreciation for screwdrivers. I was wrong. I had gravely underestimated how often I would need one. Now I’ve solved that problem by strategically stashing no fewer than five of these four-bit changeable screwdrivers around the house and garage. With two Phillips heads and two flat heads, they’re enough to knock out 90 percent of repairs without an extra trip to the basement.

I’m not ashamed to admit that before I tried this reusable, washable scrubber, I wasn’t totally sure what exfoliating was. I had just heard it mentioned enough to know it was a good thing. Honestly, I’m still not 100-percent sure what it means, but I know I like it. This cloth has rough and soft sides that gently knock away dead skin and leave me feeling smooth, soft, and glowing. Farewell, old plastic shower poofs!

I buy stocking stuffers for my wife the same way I attack a pinata:  With lots of wild, confused flailing that occasionally scores a hit. These sheet masks were one of those hits. I’m not entirely certain what differentiates a good sheet mask from a bad one, but I do know that my wife asked me to order her another set of these and then started buying them for herself.  

Nothing beats the smell of a real Christmas tree. Unfortunately, everything beats the hassle of actually having a real Christmas tree. This splurge-worthy candle delivers all of the aroma with none of the watering, dead needles, and arduous disposal. It’s easily the best scented candle I’ve ever owned, and I buy a new one every year. 

I scoffed when my wife bought a rock tumbler for our sons. Little did I know that a few months later, I’d be the one looking for rocks to polish, researching grits on Reddit, and daydreaming about jasper. This inexpensive tumbler was a great introduction to a new hobby that has taught my sons that rocks are good for more than just throwing. It’s quiet, it comes with some starter rocks, and it has gotten nice results for us.

I used to get the occasional blister when I ran. A fellow runner recommended Wrightsock to me, and it’s all I’ve worn since. Each sock is made with two layers, so it’s almost a sock-within-a-sock. I’m not a podiatrist, but somehow, the double layer is magic. Thousands of blister-free miles later, I’ve got a drawer full of them. They’re worth every penny.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m a sweaty guy when I run. When I first saw tennis stars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal wearing these head ties nearly two decades ago, I bought one as a joke to see if it could compete with my classic terrycloth headbands. Turns out, there was no competition. They wick sweat away from my forehead and keep my hair out of my face. They’re astonishingly absorbent even in the highest heat. They’re also indestructible - I’ve got a few that I bought in 2009 that still look and perform like new. Do I look silly wearing them? Absolutely. But they work so well I don’t even care. 

Any parent of toddlers can tell you that just making it to bedtime is a challenge, but the bigger hurdle is completing the bedtime ritual. Nobody can stall quite like a sleepy toddler. This adorable silicone nightlight has made things easier in my house. You can adjust the color, the brightness, and how long it stays on, and it’s easy to recharge. My son loves being able to pick the color combos and brightness, and the bear light has become a critical part of our nightly routine. 

If something only costs $25 and will last for the rest of my life, I’d say it’s a good purchase. I never appreciated the difference between a good hammer and a bad one until I bought this Estwing. It’s a single piece of steel, so you don’t have to worry about the head flying off. The grip cushions the shock of each swing nicely. In short, it’s everything a DIYer like me needs in a hammer.

I have two dogs and two small kids. In hindsight, the correct choices for furniture would have been plastic or concrete. Alas, we have rugs and carpets and upholstery, and they’re under siege from spills, uh-oh’s, and various other indignities. Enter the Bissell Little Green Machine. It’s small enough to be easily portable, and it springs into action multiple times a week to miraculously erase messes of uncertain origin. 

I’m a note taker, and for years, I’ve taken my notes in these classic Moleskine reporter notebooks. They’re small enough to fit in the back pocket of my jeans but durable enough to take some abuse. Once they’re filled, they’re easy to tuck away for future reference. I’ve bought dozens of these over the years, and I’ve never regretted a single purchase. 

Most book safes have a problem:  They don’t actually look like books. For an item that’s supposed to be inconspicuous, that’s an issue. This one has a cover that looks legitimate enough to hold up to some scrutiny, and it’s got enough space to hold whatever small valuables you need to stash.

I bought this headlamp for trail running in darker months, and it’s great for that. The fit is comfy, and it’s really bright. It’s gotten even more use around the house, though. Any time I’m doing a repair job under a sink, behind an appliance, or in some other dark nook or cranny, it gives me a reliable, hands-free source of light. My days of holding a flashlight in my mouth like some sort of caveman are thankfully behind me.

As a former Boy Scout, I feel naked if I don’t have a pocket knife. While I have accumulated dozens of knives over the years, this Swiss Army knife is the one that’s most frequently in my pocket. It’s the perfect combination of functionality and size. The main blade is big enough for almost any day-to-day task, and the awl slices through tape and packaging. The bottle opener has made me a hero at more than one party, and while I very rarely need a can opener, it’s nice to know that I can get to any soup or beans that catch my eye.

Sure, online shopping is convenient, but breaking down all of the shipping boxes for recycling can be a pain. This foldable utility knife zips right through them and collapses down to a pocket-friendly size. I love how easy it is to swap in a new blade, and it seems tougher to open than a standard box cutter, which makes me worry less about my kids grabbing it. This is my go-to gift for any friend who is moving and will have to open and break down a lot of boxes.

It doesn’t matter how good your coffee beans are if you’re butchering them with an old blade grinder. I was skeptical about switching to a burr grinder, but now that I’ve used this one daily since 2012, I can’t imagine going back. It’s easy to clean, gives a reliably uniform grind, and unlike some other burr grinders I have tried, it doesn’t leave a cloud of coffee grounds on the counter after each use.

A bad commuter mug can ruin your morning with spills, dribbles, or cold coffee. This Japanese gem solved all of those problems for me. It’s lightweight, its top locks reliably, and even after a decade of daily use, it’s still in great shape. It keeps coffee or tea warm for hours, so you can pack an afternoon pick-me-up in your bag. I’ve probably given this mug as a gift 10 times, and I always get positive feedback. 

For too long, I thought a pillow was just a pillow, so I grabbed whatever was cheap at a big box store. Then I got good pillows and realized that I suddenly started sleeping better and woke up without weird neck stiffness. I just got a set of these pillows, and I’m loving them already. I’m a side sleeper, and they give me great support. I’ve spent a lot more on pillows in the past, but these hang with anything I’ve tried.

Once I’ve wrangled my sons into their shoes in the morning, I don’t have time to deal with lacing up a pair of boots or sneakers. These Birkenstock clogs have made leaving the house so much easier for me. They’re not high fashion, but they pair well enough with jeans. I love that I can slip them on, and once they’re broken in, they’re insanely comfortable. I wear a pair until they literally fall apart - it takes about two years - then I grab a new set. You will, too. 

My wife got me this digital frame for Father’s Day, and I can’t walk past it without stopping to watch as photos of my kids and dogs scroll through. We’ve used other digital frames, but the Aura has been by far my favorite. It’s easy to upload new photos and manage what’s in there, and the screen is clear. If you’re like me and constantly snapping photos of your family, it quickly becomes a gold mine of memories.

Onions and garlic are delicious additions to almost any recipe, but I don’t want to carry their pungent odor on my hands for the rest of the day. This stainless steel “soap” vanquishes the stink quickly. Just use it like a regular bar of soap, and somehow it pulls offensive odors away. I can’t explain the science behind it, but I can attest to its efficacy. 

Before I threw in the towel and became a Clog Dad, I assembled a collection of boots and dress shoes I still get to break out for date nights and work events. This leather conditioner is a staple of my care regimen, and I couldn’t even guess how many bottles I’ve been through. It’s easy to apply and buff off, and it conditions and protects leather as well as anything I’ve found. Best of all, it doesn’t darken leather, so your shoes or boots maintain the appearance that you love.

My dogs and kids are in a running contest to see who can make the most disgusting messes around the house. I’m not ready to declare a winner, but I can say with certainty that these gloves are a crucial part of my cleanup routine. Whenever I need to deal with something gross, use cleaning chemicals, or chop a spicy pepper, I pull on a pair of these and feel just a tiny bit braver.

As my free time has dwindled, I’ve gained a new appreciation for games that don’t take hours to play. If you’re tight for time, Splendor is a fantastic addition to your game closet. It’s easy to learn, but there’s enough strategy involved to make it replayable. A game can take as little as 30 minutes, so you can squeeze in a few games without feeling rushed. 

Seven or eight years ago, I bought this carry-on, and I also bought a checked bag from an ostensibly fancier brand. Despite seeing less use, the big-name suitcase is on its last legs with busted zippers, broken pulls, and a wonky handle. Meanwhile, this little guy looks more or less like it did when I removed it from its box. It’s probably ridden along on a hundred trips, and it’s still a lightweight, high-capacity dream to pull through the airport.

I haven’t tracked it scientifically, but I would guess a solid 50 percent of my time is spent carrying something from one place to another. These collapsible crates make it easy to convey kids’ clothes, groceries, toys, or whatever else from room to room, and then they go flat for easy storage and stashing. They’re also stackable if you need a little long-term storage.