Note: No affiliate links below. It bothers me when people hide them.

USB External GPU To Make Your PC Games Go Brrrrrrrt!

• Link: GPD G1 eGPU
• Why I like it: External GPUs turn your boring laptop or desktop computer into a AAA gaming monster! All you need is USB4 or, a considerably less common, Oculink port. The difference between the two ports is minimal, but to be a hardcore gaming nerd with street cred, you’d need to show off your sexy Oculink connection. 64Gbps, baby!

The Best Portable & Rechargeable Flashlights

• Link: Olight
• Link: Ryobi
• Why I like them: When doing projects like Tron Lights, my face is constantly huddled in a dark corner with solder and flux everywhere. There’s really no opportunity or space to hold a flashlight steady in most tight situations. Both the Ryobi and Olight are rechargeable and ready when you need them. The Ryobi is a perfect project light because the battery lasts forever, and the LEDs provide a massive wall of light. On the other side of the spectrum, the Olight is compact and has a magnetic base. It’s incredibly handy to stash in your backpack and snap it on a metal surface nearby to see what you’re doing. The case charges via USB-C, so you’ll always have an opportunity to refill the battery.

The Best High Quality, Compact Multitool

• Link: Leatherman Skeletool CX
• Why I like it: I’m a massive “tiny things” nerd. My closet is full of every multi-tool you can think of and more you haven’t. Throughout my search for the perfect pocket tool, I eventually landed on the Skeletool CX. It has a solid (non-serrated) knife, pliers, bottle opener, and multiple screwdrivers. It’s simply the perfect pocket tool.

Best Handheld Retro Emulation Gaming Console

• Link: Anbernic RG353V
• Why I like it: This is the practically the only device I grab when heading to the bathroom. It currently has a 1TB microSD card with every retro game, WiFi for claiming Retro Achievement trophies, and a battery that has yet to get below 30%. The latency is practically non-existent and it can run everything up to PlayStation and Dreamcast with no issue. I love this thing.
• Pro tip: There exists a large community around these devices. For example, Etsy sells replacement trigger buttons that fix the design of their poorly engineered stock buttons. While you’re at it, grab a custom kapton tape sticker that fixes directional pad issues.

A Small Wireless Keyboard for Gaming on the Couch

• Link: 2.4GHz Wireless Keyboard
• Why I like it: This keyboard complements my mini PC with an eGPU attached to the TV. It allows the family to play any AAA game they want, and there’s no need for a giant tower of power sitting on the floor, sucking up dust and spitting out fan noise. I, of course, love to play Hitman 3 at high resolution, and the kids love emulated Nintendo Switch games educational simulation and puzzle games. This gadget doesn’t replace a full-sized keyboard for games that require it, but it certainly allows us to use the computer to click icons, input our names, and change settings. 8-bit Do game controllers take over from there.

Accurate Retro Gaming Console Emulation

• Link: Mister FPGA
• Why I like it: People say the Mister emulates retro games perfectly, from the timing to the pixel representation on screen. Most enthusiasts have theirs connected to an old CRT TV so they can have those nostalgic feels. I’m not picky about accuracy, but having all the games ready to go with any USB controller you got is absolutely amazing. The Mister has the added advantage of having very little latency, unlike software-based emulation.

A Modular, Repairable, and Upgradeable Laptop

• Link: Framework Laptop 13"
• Why I like it: Both my wife and I have a Framework 13". Hers is slightly more powerful and newer than mine, but both are incredibly capable and a joy to use. My wife incapacitated her last (MacBook Pro 16") “laptop” after spilling coffee on it. I’m fairly certain it was on purpose, and I don’t blame her one bit. Now she’s running Windows 11, while I run a Linux Debian Distro. Our next laptops will simply be an upgrade of parts rather than an entire device replacement.
• Pro Tip: When you eventually upgrade, grab a motherboard case to repurpose the old hardware into a slim server or gaming machine.

Filling Basketballs, Inflatable Pool Equipment, and Car Tires

• Link: Ryobi Portable Air Compressor
• Why I like it: My task manager reminds me to fill the car tires at regular intervals. It’s a much easier task using this thing than an oversized compressor that needs to be plugged in. It travels well too.

Simple Monitoring of Water Intake

• Link: 11 oz. Plastic Juice Bottles with Caps
• Why I like it: Ever since my doc forced me to monitor fluid intake, these bottles have been a lifesaver—maybe literally. The bottles say 12 oz., but I measured them at 11 oz. Either way, they’re great for the kids and family outings.
• Pro tip: The caps also “factory seal”, which allows the opportunity to smuggle clear alcohol into events.

An Advanced, High Peformance 3D Printer

• Link: Bambu Lab X1-Carbon Combo 3D Printer
• Why I like it: I’ve had 3D printers for over a decade now and watched each generation slowly increase in accuracy, speed, and ease of use. The ones on the market now are simply incredible to the point of absurdity. Back in my day, getting a small print to succeed was an act of God. You’d need to watch for drafts, tune the nozzle and bed temperature to match your questionably old filament, slather glue everywhere, measure the Z distance to within a millimeter of your life, square and level the corners of your print bed, modify the gcode for your custom print setup, and pray for no power or filament outages. Now, we could print a complicated, multi-colored, monster of a piece, all from a phone anywhere in the world. Not only are today’s printers incredibly easy to use, but they serve such a critical purpose around the house. There’s no need to look for a custom part on some sketchy website. Simply measure, send to printer, and wait. A shiny new functional widget now exists, and your life is that much better.
• Pro tip: Check out the 3D Printing section of Things I Use for related printing software.

A Versatile, Multi-Function Cooking Appliance

• Link: Instant Pot
• Why I like it: This thing is nuts. Not only can you steam vegetables in one minute, but you can slow cook and sauté too. Between this and a solid toaster oven, there’s really no reason to have such a large kitchen with lots of gadgets floating around.

A Blender That Could Pulverize a Buick

• Link: Ninja Blender
• Why I like it: One of my favorite gadgets floating around this large kitchen is the Ninja blender. I make smoothies daily, and they’re all done in this beast of a machine. I’d be willing to bet that the Ninja Blender could crush a Tesla Cybertruck with little hesitation. It certainly blows through all the nonsense I throw into my smoothie cup. It’s good stuff. You should get one.

A Compact, Portable, Rechargeable, Easy-to-Use Dry Herb Vaporizer

• Link: Tiny Might 2
• Why I like it: We get about 6-10 uses before it needs a quick-charge from the USB-C port. It heats up quickly and tastes great at lower temperatures. The only downside is the weird ‘activation.’ You need to either tap the button three times and hold for a continuous session, or tap the button three times and let go for on-demand. Great for personal use, but slightly more difficult when sharing.