welcome to the tools & Christmas toy catalogue!
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As we do every year, we’ve rounded up the best gadgets, gear, books, decor, and of course, tools and toys for your yearly Christmas needs. Whether you’re shopping for someone else or creating a list of ideas for yourself, we hope this catalog helps you find the coolest and most useful gifts.
It’s a long catalog to browse all at once, so we’ve created a table of contents below, with links to the individual categories. click on any of those sections and you’ll see that they each have their own mini-lists for individual items. this way you can quickly find something on the page based on what interests you, without having to scroll through all the content each time.
In addition, we continue the tradition of highlighting three of our favorite nonprofits. here in tools & toys we have always donated 11 percent of our gross receipts to charity. And during the months of November and December, we’ll be donating 11% of our gross specifically to these three nonprofits: App Camp for Girls, Operation Christmas Child, and St. judas.
As we have said in previous years, thank you very much, dear reader, for your attention and patronage. tools and toys is now over six years old (man, time really flies) and continues to receive overwhelming support from readers like you who buy something on amazon through one of our links.
If the items we’ve selected below don’t fit your needs or wants, please ping us via twitter and we’ll try to help.
also, click on this link before making your purchases on amazon, as it is a way to support our work.
thank you and happy holidays!
— the tools & toy staff
index
books & novels
toys, games, & children
food, drink & kitchen
trips and outdoor trips
gadgets and accessories accessories
purses, watches & outfit
home, office & decoration
write
tools & trinkets
charities
books / novels
- norse mythology
- shoe dog
- artemis
- calvin and hobbes complete
- the lost words
- pocket atlas of remote islands
- illustrated children’s classics
- man against boy
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norse mythology by neil gaiman »
It’s probably safe to say that a lot of people these days get their information about Norse mythology from Marvel movies and comics. While those versions of the Asgardian gods are great entertainment and all, they’re not that true to the actual legends.
Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology is a delightful way to become familiar with the myths themselves without suffering through the boring prose of, say, a history textbook. In this collection of 15 Norse Myths tales, focusing primarily on the adventures of Loki, Thor, and Odin, Gaiman breathes new life into these ancient tales and fleshes them out with the narrative arcs they deserve (and all the witty, tongue-in-cheek characterizations). . sense of humor you’d expect from a Neil Gaiman book).
constance grady from vox sums it up well:
Throughout the book, Gaiman keeps his characters to a fine line: they’re powerful, immortal, divine, and tragic, but they’re also childish, snappish, and petty. That tension is part of what drives the stories as they move inexorably toward Ragnarok and the apocalypse, and it’s Gaiman’s way of playing between the two extremes that keeps this narrative fresh, vital, and compelling.
shoe dog by phil knight »
everyone knows nike, the company. its “swoosh” logo is one of the most recognized symbols in the world, one that has become emblematic of athletics itself. but perhaps not many of them know the real story of how the company became the corporate giant it is today. the story has humbler beginnings and more dramatic turns than you might expect.
shoe dog: a memoir from the creator of nike is… well, exactly what the title says. It’s written by Nike co-founder Phil Knight, the “man behind the swoosh,” so to speak. It covers Nike’s early years in great detail, from its beginnings as a top-tier sports company (a company that couldn’t even support the gentlemen’s family at first) to becoming a behemoth that generated $30 billion in annual sales. /p>
This is one of the best business memoirs I’ve ever read. there is also an abridged edition for young readers.
sagebrush by andy weir »
andy weir, author of the martian, recently released his long-awaited new novel, artemis.
Before you ask, no, it’s not a sequel. Sure, both novels take place in space in the not-too-distant future and each features a snarky, clever protagonist, and both delve into a lot of nerdy technical details that will please sci-fi fans, but that’s pretty much where the similarities end.
Instead of being a Mars survival story, Artemis is a heist story set on the moon:
jazz bashara is a criminal.
well, more or less. Life in Artemis, the first and only city on the moon, is tough if you’re not a wealthy tourist or eccentric billionaire. so the occasionally harmless contraband barely counts, right? Not when you have debts to pay and your janitor job barely covers the rent.
Everything changes when Jazz sees an opportunity to commit the perfect crime, with a reward too lucrative to turn down. But achieving the impossible is only the beginning of his troubles, as he learns that he’s swept up in a conspiracy for control of Artemis itself, and that now, his only chance of survival lies in an even riskier tactic. than the first.
+ For more sci-fi action, we also recommend Pierce Brown’s Red Rising trilogy.
the complete box of calvin and hobbes »
In our humble opinion, Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes is the greatest comic strip of all time. To say that it had an influence on our childhood would be an understatement. the australian cartoonist gavin aung who shares this opinion of zen pencils:
for me, calvin and hobbes is the perfection of cartooning: that rare comic strip that has exquisite writing and magnificent art. a strip that managed to convey the joy of childhood, the absurdity of humanity and the power of imagination through the relationship between a child and his stuffed tiger. and, most importantly, a comic strip that always made you laugh out loud.
Calvin and Hobbes Complete captures the full body of the strip (1985-1995) in three hardcover volumes, neatly packaged in a single sturdy slipcase. Also includes a 14-page foreword by Watterson himself! a fitting monument to such a charming and whimsical series.
the lost words of robert macfarlane and jackie morris »
Writer Robert Macfarlane and artist/painter Jackie Morris have teamed up to create The Lost Words, an illustrated book that aims to remind children of words associated with the natural world before they disappear forever. from the book description:
Across the country, words are disappearing from children’s lives. these are the words of the natural world: dandelion, otter, bramble, and acorn, all gone. the rich landscape of wild imagination and wild play is rapidly fading from our children’s minds. lost words oppose the disappearance of wild childhood. is a joyful celebration of nature’s words and the natural world they invoke.
and in the beautiful words of the artist herself:
When I was a child there were more sparrows, blackbirds, thrushes. This book is a protest song in words and paint, a song of the soul, and it aims to help us rewind our lives and become less comfortable with the dwindling numbers of the wild world. name it, own it, in heart and soul.
all parents and their children should read this book together.
pocket atlas of remote islands by judith schalansky »
Judith Schalansky’s 2010 book, Atlas of Faraway Islands: Fifty Islands I’ve Never Set Foot On and Never Will, has been described as an “imaginative atlas of the loneliest places in the world […] ] that will delight map lovers everywhere,” and that’s really the best way to put it, we think.
In it, schalansky tells the fascinating stories of fifty of the world’s most remote islands, complete with cartographic drawings, local histories and lore. Reading this book is like taking a short, fantastic trip around the world from the comfort of your own home.
here is an excerpt from the preface (affectionately titled, “paradise is an island. so is hell”):
There is no untouched Garden of Eden on the edges of this endless globe. instead, the humans traveling far and wide have become the very monsters they drove off the maps.
However, it is the most terrible events that have the greatest potential to tell a story, and the islands are the perfect setting for them. the absurdity of reality is lost in the great masses of land, but here in the islands, it is written in a big way. an island offers a stage: everything that happens on it is practically forced to become a story, a camera piece in the middle of nowhere, a literary matter. what is unique about these tales is that fact and fiction can no longer be separated: reality becomes fictionalized and fiction becomes reality.
The paperback edition, published a couple of years after the original, takes the first book’s dimensions of 7.5″ x 10.5″ x 0.6″ and reduces them to 4.5″ x 6, 7″ x 0.8″ more portable. keep it with you to read whenever you want or give it to an imaginative child.
children’s classics illustrated by minalima »
The graphic design duo known as Minalima, whose work you’ve probably seen in every Harry Potter movie, have helped design new editions of classic children’s books in recent years:
- peter pan: june 2015
- the jungle book: march 2016
- beauty and the beast: january 2017
Each book is packed with lush illustrations, and the physical editions in particular have extra things to discover throughout:
These editions are a great way to start a collection of children’s literature.
man vs. boy by doug moe »
—michael ryan, amazon reviewer
man vs. Child: One Dad’s Guide to the Rarity of Parenting is a book by comedian, writer, and actor Doug Moe of Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, which is written for parents who are worried about messing everything up. (aren’t we all?)
The book is full of all sorts of funny and insightful tidbits, like…
By now, you’re old enough to have failed at a lot of things. you know you’re never going to be a great guitarist or professional player. your videos never went viral. but you could be a great father. Isn’t that nobler than being good at the guitar? isn’t that more meaningful than video games? You used to be insanely obsessed with Facebook likes, but you might be taking that madness out on a kid.
…and this one on how to manage your mother’s pregnancy:
your wife is changing. she’s like she’s a magician now, but she’s still married to the town idiot. When approaching this mighty wizard, be humble. the wizard will get angry if you ask him stupid questions. respect the mage.
Whether you’re a parent now, or planning to be, or even if you’re neither and just trying to understand what your friends are going through as new parents, you’ll have fun with this fun book. .
food / drink / cuisine
- bluetooth sous vide cooker
- non-stick pan that doesn’t stink
- portable induction cooker
- outdoor pizza oven
- coffee maple syrup (yes, really)
- salt, fat, acid, hot cookbook
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anova bluetooth precision cooker 800 watts »
vacuum cooking is all the rage these days:
Sous vide, which means “sous vide” in French, involves sealing food in an airtight bag and giving it a hot water bath. A cylindrical device gently circulates and heats the water to a precise, constant temperature, allowing food to reach the exact temperature the cook desires without the risk of overcooking. Its proponents say the method is the key to achieving a piece of meat that is uniformly tender and juicy inside.
If you or someone you love wants to change your cooking life forever, the anova 800 Watt Bluetooth Immersion Cooker is the device for you.
simply clip it to the side of just about any pot or tank you have, which you’ll need to fill with water of course, plug it in, set your desired time and temperature, and you’re good to go. it begins to circulate the water and maintains that temperature all the time. that’s all.
The entire process can be monitored and controlled via its companion app, so you don’t even have to stand there and keep an eye on it.
Two things to know about sous vide cooking:
- A common misconception about sous vide is that it is “literally impossible” to overcook meats with this method, which is certainly not the case. still, it gives you a much higher success rate, plus it allows you to more easily focus on preparing side dishes while the meat cooks slowly.
- while it’s fine to eat food right out of the bag when it’s done Many sous vide cooks like to “finish” meats by boiling, broiling, or broiling them as the final touch before plating. It’s totally up to you, of course, but we recommend you give it a try because it can make the difference between “hey, this is pretty tasty” and “wow, this is legit quality.”
Tramontina professional non-stick frying pan »
get rid of the cheap frying pan from walmart and pick one of these up instead. It’s super easy to clean, the nonstick coating lasts quite a while, and the superior quality of this pan really shows as you handle it, from the commercial-grade aluminum construction to the soft-grip red silicone sleeve on the handle.
comes in four sizes:
- 8 inches ($25)
- 10 inches ($35)
- 12 inches ($40)
- 14 inches ($53) )
induxpert 1800 watt portable induction hob »
if you watch andrew rea’s binges on the babish channel, you’ll notice that the 1800 watt induxpert induction cooker is featured in most episodes. For those of us who don’t run a popular cooking show on youtube, there are still plenty of situations where this is useful:
- Throwing big parties, when you realize there never seems to be enough burners to go around (whether cooking or just keeping dishes warm).
- Living in a small space, where a portable burner can help keep two people out of the way.
- Living in a college dorm, where there are little chance of a stove nearby.
- camping/rving, which offers the same benefit as the “small space” element above, plus the ability to cook outdoors free. it’s also handy if you run out of propane and won’t be able to refill it for a while.
- remodel your kitchen and/or replace your stove, which means you can still cook while new things are being installed/delivered.
- when the gas to your apartment goes out, so you’re not in a creek just because they’re doing maintenance on the building.
Whatever your need for an induction cooktop, the induxpert 1800 is easy to use and fits a variety of pot and pan sizes (from 4.7″ to 10.2″ in circumference). The trick here is that whatever cookware you use has to be magnetic, so keep that in mind before you buy. you can easily test this by touching a fridge magnet to the bottom of any pot/pan and see if it sticks. if so, you’re good to go.
You can use the induxpert cooker in the “power” mode to select one of nine wattage settings (between 200 and 1800) or in the “temperature” mode to select one of ten temperatures (from 140°F to 464°f). when you’re done, just let it cool down and wipe it down with a damp cloth.
roccbox outdoor pizza oven »
Ever tried to make a restaurant-style crispy crust pizza with a springy interior in your home oven, but it just can’t get hot enough to do the job? you’ll love the roccbox.
This outdoor pizza oven uses your choice of wood, charcoal, or gas, via one of two interchangeable burner attachments, to reach temperatures above 900°F in just 15 minutes, and from there, you can produce a fully cooked pizza. and delicious pizza in 75-90 seconds, with only a few minutes of recovery time between pies if you’re making multiple.
Despite getting so hot, the exterior won’t burn you if you accidentally brush against it, thanks to the insulated silicone safety cover (which comes in green or grey) that covers the top and sides.
now this is not a cheap pizza oven. however, if you or a loved one is a hobbyist and wants to be able to cook the highest quality homemade pizza anytime, anywhere, it’s a worthwhile investment.
trees knees maple syrup and coffee from bushwick kitchen »
bushwick kitchen is a brooklyn-based company that sells a variety of specialty (and super-tasty) honeys and maple syrups. As for the latter, we recommend their “trees knees” coffee maple syrup. what they do is take an organic-grade syrup sourced from a family-owned sugar bush in the catskill mountains, then infuse it with the “hair bender” blend from the stumptown coffee roasters.
The result is a tasty concoction that offers a world of opportunities: eat it on pancakes, waffles or French toast, top your ice cream with it, mix it into your oatmeal, drizzle some on some fruit slices, maybe even add a little to your glass of bourbon… whatever you want, it’s all delicious. (Maybe don’t drink it alone, though, unless you’re a friend of elf.)
salt, fat, acid, heat by samin nosrat and wendy macnaughton »
salt, fat, acid, heat is a cookbook, written by samin nosrat and charmingly illustrated by wendy macnaughton, which aims to teach and inspire a new generation of cooks about the fundamentals of cooking, along with what really makes food taste so good :
master the use of just four elements: salt, which enhances flavor; fat, which provides flavor and generates texture; acid, which balances the flavor; and heat, which ultimately determines the texture of food, and whatever you cook will be delicious. […]
Echoing samin’s own journey from culinary novice to award-winning chef, salt, fat, acid and heat immediately bridge the gap between home and professional cooking. With charming storytelling, illustrated tutorials, and a light-hearted approach to the science of cooking, Samin demystifies the four elements of good cooking for everyone.
If you don’t need this cookbook for yourself, buy copies for anyone in your life who has expressed a desire to learn to cook. they will love it.
gadgets / accessories
- bluetooth speaker
- mesh Wi-Fi system
- noise-isolating headphones
- portable synthesizer
- portable scanner
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anker classic bluetooth speaker»
we love anker stuff. everything they make is of the highest quality, which is made even more amazing by the fact that their products are so affordable.
The same goes for their “classic” wireless speaker model. it packs a punch for its size, with surprisingly clear and powerful sound, a 33-foot bluetooth connectivity range, and a ~20-hour battery life. It also has a built-in microphone for making and receiving calls within two feet of the speaker.
There is not much more to say. it’s a great little bluetooth speaker that won’t break the bank. get it in black or white.
amplifi hd wifi mesh system »
Does the wi-fi suck in certain parts of your house (or your grandma’s)? amplifi hd is a high-density mesh networking system for consumers, in the style of eero and google wi-fi, that will make those frustrations go away.
In the box, you get a snazzy looking little router box with a color LCD touch screen on the front, plus two self-configuring antennas that honestly look a bit like old Wiimotes. together, the system offers six radios and a maximum speed of 5.25 gbps.
after going through a super simple setup/installation process with the free amplifi companion app and connecting the two mesh points to wall outlets (ideally in places where wi-fi is more patchy), everything connects almost automatically and you will immediately notice a great improvement in connectivity.
If you need additional mesh points for any reason, they are $108 each.
v-moda crossfade m-100 headphones »
For the past half decade or so, V-Moda’s M-100 Crossfade Noise Isolating Headphones have stood the test of time thanks to their excellent sound (especially in the low end), military-grade durability, distinctive hexagonal design, ergonomic comfort and easy portability.
In terms of design, one of our favorite descriptions of the m-100 comes from this entertaining Amazon review:
if i can use cars to elaborate, the [beats studio headphones] look like a nissan altima with all the cool packages, rims, tints and paint; on the contrary, the m-100 look like a bmw m6. you can actually see the difference in quality. the beats seem to be trying to be cool; the m-100 look elegant, sophisticated and sexy.
however, excellence doesn’t stop at its appearance; The m-100s sport incredibly powerful (but not overwhelming) bass that doesn’t distort even when you turn up the volume. A second amazon reviewer gives another description that we love (modified slightly for clarity):
These cans offer fantastic clarity for vocals and high tones, but when you hit the bass, it feels like you’re plummeting into a bottomless cavern. however, they are still “less overbearing” and still offer a fantastic midrange to blend the sound like a creamy milkshake.
The m-100s also roll well as they fold up very compactly and are tough enough to survive just about anything you throw at them, including repeated drops onto concrete. only the cables are reinforced with kevlar, if that tells you anything.
If anything breaks these things, v-moda runs an “immortal life” program where even if your earphones are broken or out of warranty for two years, they’ll apply a 50% coupon toward the purchase of a comparable model.
teenage engineering op-1 mini synth »
It may look like a toy, but the op-1 mini synth is a feat of design that packs a ton of functionality into a small frame. These are just a few of its many features:
- ten different synth engines, plus two sampler engines for recording instrumental and percussion sounds, respectively.
- four-track tape recorder.
- eight high-quality effects, including delays, filters, reverbs, and more.
- built-in fm radio, microphone, and 3.5mm line-in, all of which are useful for recording/sampling.
- 320 x 160 amoled display with bright colors and 60 fps vector-based animations.
- 16 hours of battery life (with two years of standby time).
…and we’re just scratching the surface.
they have a quick guide that shows you some things you can do with the op-1, or if you really want to dig deeper, you can read the 17 multi-section chapters of the complete manual. Alternatively, you can check out Jeremy Blake Leaird-Koch’s Red Media Recording YouTube channel, particularly his OP-1 playlist. he does amazing things with this synth:
doxie portable scanner q »
the doxie handheld scanner that has everything we used to love about the doxie go plus and doxie go wi-fi, plus:
- a flip-down document feeder to automatically scan stacks of paper (up to 8 full color sheets at a time, or up to four 4×6 photos) and create a pdf from each stack. Thanks to the doxie app, the feeder even works well with double-sided documents.
- Improved battery capacity now allows up to 1000 scans per charge (up from 300).
- now includes an 8gb sd card, which has enough space for 4000 scans (about the capacity of the built-in memory for 1600).
As you can see on the doxie product comparison page, the q is a bit larger and heavier than the go plus and go wi-fi, but its auto feeder is a valuable trade-off and makes it easier to never stop using paper.
home / office / decoration
- scented desk lamp
- essential oil diffuser
- kinetic desk toy
- a map of literary history
- block print isometric building
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aerelight a1 oled desk lamp »
tomorrow’s desk lamp, today! (sorry we had to).
the aerelight a1 (pronounced “air light”) bills itself as the “world’s first consumer-ready oled lamp.” whether true or not, it’s a pretty nifty article.
The lamp casts a soft, warm light from an organic led panel, with three brightness stages controlled by touching any part of the aluminum frame. The advantage of OLED is that the light panel never gets hot, even after extended periods of being on, and uses 80% less energy than a traditional 60W bulb at full brightness.
what’s even cooler (heh) is that the walnut base houses a qi wireless charger, so you can simply place a compatible smartphone on the surface to start charging.
the aerelight a1 comes in anodized black and silver. (Unfortunately, the red one shown above is not available at the time of this writing.)
pura sense essential oil diffuser »
pura sense essential oil diffuser works great in small spaces like office cubicles, studio apartments, and RVs. if you are familiar with oil diffusion, this device works as you would expect:
- fill the reservoir with water
- add a few drops of any essential oil you like (such as peppermint)
- twist the cap and press the power button
immediately begins to emit a lovely smelling mist and continues for the number of minutes you set with the timer button (30, 60, 120 or 180). it also offers four ambient light colors (white, blue, green, and red), all of which come in bright and dim settings.
playableart kinetic desk toy “helicone”
playableart, the same people behind the colorful interconnected “ball” toy we featured in our 2016 Christmas catalog, also create something called a “helicone.” is an interactive kinetic sculpture that, with a quick twist, transforms between propeller and pine cone shapes, and is super satisfying to play with:
The helicone is made from 38 laser-cut precision pieces of wood assembled on a brass tube and includes a solid wood display stand. even the box it comes in is cute, making it perfect for gift giving:
+ playableart also offers a plastic and stainless steel version of the helicone, which they called “lollipop”. It comes in various colors.
the “book map” by dorothy »
this one is for lovers of classic literature and cartography. is an imaginary street map, albeit loosely based on turn-of-the-century London, where every street, feature, and district is named after one of the 600 books in the history of English literature.
here’s just a sample of the titles you’ll find throughout:
- catcher in the rye
- animal farm
- bell jar
- nightmare alley
- where the wild things are
- wuthering heights
- slaughterhouse 5
- the legend of sleepy hollow
- norwegian forest
- charlie and the chocolate factory
- moon palace
- harry potter
- the lighthouse
- the ghost toll booth
The four color lithographic map measures 80cm x 60cm (approx. 31.5″ x 23.6″) and is printed on 120gsm uncoated heavy duty art paper.
lego new york printed by j.r. schmidt »
This awesome print from google designer j.r. schmidt represents an isometric new york city represented in building blocks. despite the “lego” in the name, they look like nanoblocks to us. still, it’s a cool piece of art and would look great on just about any wall in your home or office.
The art print comes in various curio sizes, from small (11″ x 8″, $19) to jumbo (56″ x 40″, $199). it’s also available in canvas ($49-$390), aluminum ($59-$690), and acrylic glass ($129-$1,950) versions.
tools / trinkets
- magnetizer/demagnetizer tool
- duct tape keychain
- hand-forged Japanese garden shears
- carbon steel utility shears
- right angle drill attachment
- 7 piece collet set
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magnetizer katzco & demagnetization tool »
This magnetize/demagnetize tool is one of those things that, if you haven’t used one before, will make you think, “there’s no way this really works”, but it does work. If you need a small tool (screwdriver, wrench, drill bit, pliers, etc.) or any piece of hardware (screws, nuts, bolts, nails, etc.) magnetized or demagnetized, just insert it into the appropriate cavity and you’re good to go.
It won’t turn an object into a super magnet or anything like that, but hey, it’ll help you get the job done when you need it. It’s also very small/portable, plus it doesn’t need a battery to do its job. it comes in red, black, and blue.
gearward duct tape keychain »
Duct tape is one of the most useful tools on the planet. Whether or not you’re one of those “duct tape fixes everything!” Folks, at some point you’re bound to find yourself in an unforeseen situation where a little strong tape could save the day. The Gearward Duct Tape Keychain is a stylish way to always have things close at hand.
Available in brass or stainless steel, this lipstick-sized refillable keychain allows you to wrap 18″ of gorilla tape (each roll offers 70 keychain refills) or 24″ of gaffer tape (45 reloads). Speaking of top-ups, Gearward founder Mark Greenman offers some helpful advice:
The best way to recharge your keychain is with a power drill. simply measure 18″ of tape, place the exposed end in the center of the spool, and then insert the key ring into the chuck. from there, run the drill at its lowest speed to wind the tape.
When it’s rolled up, just cut it with a utility knife and you’re good to go. this process takes less than 2 minutes once you get the hang of it, and I usually only need to recharge mine once or twice a month.
Once you’ve done that, you now have a handy roll of duct tape that you can always carry in your pocket, so it’s there when you need it most.
tajika haruo hardware garden mowers »
if you know a florist or home gardener who appreciates a good tool, these iron garden shears sold by nalata nalata should be perfect for them.
They are hand-forged and sharpened from start to finish by a father and son duo, whose family-run tajika haruo smithy dates back four generations in ono, japan. Its blade tips overlap slightly when closed for increased cutting power (ideal for the occasional thicker branches you come across), and the spring-loaded handles are ergonomically shaped for easy handling. They also feature a leather sheath and strap to secure the razors when not in use.
These thoughtfully designed razors feel great in the hand and are absolutely worth a little extra care and maintenance:
To ensure smooth action, these clippers can be lubricated from time to time on the screw connecting the two blades with a standard metal lubricant. To prevent rust, thoroughly clean clippers to remove moisture after each use. place the leather sheath over the blades when not in use to protect them and help maintain a sharp edge.
general purpose/desk scissors from ernest wright and son ltd »
It might seem a bit silly to have a pair of scissors in this catalog, especially ones that cost over $30, but watch this video and you’ll see how much care is put into each set:
They’re made from professional-quality, hand-tempered carbon steel blades, and each pair is guaranteed for life. the company will even resharpen the blades decades after the fact, if necessary. compare that to those cheap scissors you bought at the dollar store and feel nothing for them.
there are different versions to choose from:
- 5″ right handed
- 5″ left handed
- 6″ right handed
- 6″ left handed
- 7″ right-handed (there doesn’t seem to be any left-handed models available)
dewalt right angle drill attachment »
Dewalt’s Right Angle Drill Attachment is a nifty addition to any drill (not just Dewalt’s) that lets you drill holes and drive drivers in tight spaces. it’s a niche tool, but trust us, you’ll be glad to have one in your kit when the time comes. as an amazon reviewer said:
A fancy tool, but when you need it, you need it.
In case you were wondering, the screwdriver bits you use attach to this thing via a magnetic ring instead of a chuck. the accessory also has impact rated gears that should last at least 2000 life cycles.
pixnor 7-piece tweezers set »
Have you ever needed a pair of pliers but the ones you have are never quite right for the job? Pixnor’s 7-Piece Tweezer Set has you covered.
Whether you’re pulling a splinter out of your skin, building model vehicles, or working with electronics, there’s a tweezer in this pack that can do it. They are made of corrosion-resistant, non-magnetic stainless steel and have an electrostatic dissipative (ESD) coating to protect electronic components from static damage.
the set includes:
- fine point, straight (110 mm)
- fine point, straight (140 mm)
- fine point, straight (135 mm)
- fine point, angled (120 mm)
- super fine point, straight (110 mm)
- round spade point, straight (115 mm)
- heavy weight pointed tip (130mm)
They also offer a 9-piece set that includes an extra pair of curved, fine-point tweezers (123mm) and a portable storage bag.
toys/games/kids
- nintendo switch
- spreading coloring books
- app-enabled star wars droid
- whimsical pixar-esque robot sidekick
- super hard puzzle
- chess games inspired by the city skyline
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the nintendo switch »
Strictly speaking, the Nintendo Switch has been harder to come by than a greased pig in a mud pit. er… you know what we mean.
even as this catalog is being written, the neon blue and red joy-con model is again temporarily out of stock, although the gray joy-con model appears to be ready (for now). if you manage to get any of the models, this is the gift that will make you a hero with your favorite loved one, be it a child or a child at heart.
To learn more about the change, read our detailed review.
to the moon and deep ocean coloring books by sarah yoon »
These two coloring books by sarah yoon, titled The Moon and The Deep Ocean, are great projects for people of all ages.
we include these and other interesting/educational articles in our guide, “fun projects for kids”.
Instead of being actual books filled with different illustrations for you to choose from, each one unfolds into a 15-foot tall scene depicting a tower, made up of fantastical creatures, machinery, surreal imagery and more. stretching from a house on the ground to the moon, or from a ship to the bottom of the sea, respectively.
Even when you’re not coloring, it’s fun to pore over all the little details in each book.
sphero bb-9e app compatible droid »
bb-9e is a droid that will appear in the upcoming movie, star wars: the last jedi when it opens on december 15th. he will be an evil counterpart to the lovable bb-8 droid, serving the first order instead of the resistance.
The folks at sphero, the company behind the popular app-enabled toy versions of bb-8 and r2-d2 that you’ve probably already seen, have done the same thing with bb-9e. As with previous droids, you use sphero’s “star wars droids” app to interact with and control your little sidekick in a variety of ways:
- You can move the droid yourself or let it patrol on its own.
- Through your device’s screen, you can navigate holographic environments inspired by the Star Wars movies, including the interiors of iconic ships. .
- While charging your droid(s), use the “watch with me” feature and put on a star wars movie, then marvel as they react to the movie right next to you.
- all the sphero droids interact with each other, with their respective personalities and all.
anki’s “cozmo” robot »
Want a mechanical sidekick that’s a little less… dark side? Anki’s Cozmo robot is a whimsical Pixar-esque sidekick with real personality.
Instead of being controlled solely by humans, Cozmo explores, reacts, interacts, chirps, and gets excited on its own. recognizes faces and reacts differently to each person it meets. shows a variety of emotions, ranging from irritation to confusion, competition, mischief and joy. Using the three power cubes that come with it, Cozmo can play with you, or sometimes he’ll just play on his own. and this is just scratching the surface.
watch familygamertv’s “day one” unboxing video for a quick look at what it’s like to play with cozmo:
if you’re thinking, “wow, that sure looks a lot like something straight out of wall•e”, well, that’s no accident. Anki hired veteran Pixar animator Carlos Baena to be Cozmo’s director/character animator so he could help give the robot’s movements, facial/eye expressions, and overall reactions more personality. thanks to him, cozmo feels like a real living being, more like a pet than a toy.
ravensburger puzzle “crypt” »
Ravensburger’s “Krypt” blank puzzle is not for the faint of heart, with 654 unique solid-colored pieces that you must rely on only for shape to fit together correctly.
Unlike most puzzles, you’re not assembling an image, painting, or even a gradient here. the only other clue they give you is that the pieces spiral toward the center. if you can complete this in less than 12 hours, consider us impressed.
horizon chess »
As the name suggests, the folks at skyline chess offer chess games based on the skylines of two cities, at least at the time of writing. they are…
london:
- king — canary wharf
- queen — the fragment
- bishop — 30 st mary ax
- knight — london eye
- tower — big ben
- pawn — semi-detached house
…and new york city:
- king: a world trade tower
- queen: empire state building
- bishop — chrysler building
- knight — flatiron building
- rook — guggenheim museum
- pawn — brownstone
Each 32-piece set is cast in injection molded acrylic and then finished in classic black and white. each piece is double weighted and has a soft felt base.
if you want to get really fancy, they also offer special game boards with a map of london and a map of nyc, respectively. they cost $92 each.
travel / outdoors
- portable starter
- campfire grilling kit
- plush microfiber towel
- collapsible silicone kettle
- stove two-burner built like a tank
- minimalist but functional dopp equipment
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weego 44 boot engine »
Having to start your car sucks. being stranded with no one around to help you do it sucks even more.
You should have a portable jump starter like the weego 44 on hand for such occasions. It has enough power to start any vehicle with an engine up to 7 liters (petrol) or 3.5 liters (diesel). their so-called “smart clamps” are not only ergonomic and spark-proof, they’re totally foolproof to use, featuring an online contraption that emits a series of lights and sounds (easily heard over traffic noise) to guide you through through a successful jump, every time.
weego 44 can also be used as a handy portable device charger and as a 500 lumen flashlight. there really is no reason not to have one of these in your emergency kit on the road. when you save your butt on some desolate highway in the middle of the night, you’ll be glad you made the investment. (It’s also a great gift for the… er, less mechanically inclined people you know.)
food stick campfire grilling kit »
Do you have someone on your list who loves camping? The Grubsticks Grilling Kit features a telescoping grilling stick with interchangeable attachments for cooking hot dogs, s’mores and more. the “grubfork” attachment is a typical roasting fork for skewering marshmallows and hot dogs/hot links/bratwurst, while the “grubcage” is useful for roasting s’mores whole or vegetables (not together, of course, unless you’re a weird, weird person).
pole extends from 34.25″ to 38.25″ with accessories. Also included is a “release tool” to safely open the collection cage while it is hot. everything in the kit is dishwasher safe and comes with a drawstring backpack for easy travel.
You can see how it all works in their overview video:
packtowl luxury towel »
Just because you like to go camping or travel a lot doesn’t mean you have to give up all the comforts of home. The Packtowl Luxe is a microfiber towel that feels almost as luxurious as a terry cloth towel but is eminently lighter and more packable.
It’s also highly absorbent, dries quickly, and is odor resistant, even after multiple uses or if left rolled up while wet, as Wire Cutter found in their tests:
Not only did [the luxe] dry faster than these towels, but it was good at getting sand off the skin and didn’t absorb any dirt or mud into the fabric. also did not have any odor after smell test. some of the other thicker towels we tested just smelled (testers used the term “rotten fish”) after a couple of days they balled up, but not the luxury.
The Packtowl Luxe comes in a variety of colors and sizes. wear it on the trail, at the gym, at the beach, or wherever your travels take you.
If comfort isn’t your number one priority, but you still find it handy to carry a small towel with you wherever you go, check out the packtowl nano.
gourmia folding travel electric kettle »
The Gourmia GK320B Collapsible Kettle is a silicone kettle ideal for making coffee or tea on the go and then folds flat for easy storage. It works with two different voltages (100-120V and 220-240V) so you can take it wherever your travels take you. holds enough water for 1-2 cups, and the heating element boils water in minutes.
The main drawback is that the silicone interior can initially impart a funny taste and smell to the water you heat in it. to remedy this, you can simply boil water in it a few times, preferably with a couple of teaspoons of baking soda or a bit of vinegar (but not both!) and rinse well afterwards. The silver ring around the top of the base also gets very hot during use, so be careful not to burn your hand on it.
comes in black and white.
camp chef “explorer” two burner stove »
If you like to cook hearty meals outdoors, whether it’s for family gatherings, backyard parties, or when you’re on the go, you need to check out the Camp Chef Explorer Two Burner Stove. you’ll never want to buy another outdoor or camping stove.
It is easy to install and store thanks to its detachable legs. once set up, this thing can handle just about anything you throw at it. The two massive burners (30,000 BTUs each!) are spaced far enough apart that the stove can accommodate impressively large pots side by side. (this also allows you to slide things out of the fire when needed, which is handy). The burners also have fantastic heat control, with dampers behind each temperature knob to adjust between blue and orange flame.
some other good things worth mentioning:
- the slots in the burner grates allow the legs of the dutch oven to pass through, so you can center the pot perfectly.
- the burner knobs are slightly facing each other rather than straight out, so they’re not as prone to snagging or falling off.
- the wide windscreen around the sides and back does a great job of shielding flames from the elements.
- There are plenty of accessories to go with the explorer range, such as a cast iron griddle, a barbecue box and even a pizza oven.
We recommend picking up the heavy-duty carry bag (fully optional) for even easier travel.
dopp kit joshu+candle »
this joshu+vela dopp kit is a sturdy, minimalist yet functional travel bag, made in san francisco. Measuring 8.5″ x 3.5″, it’s a bit more compact than some dopp kits, but big enough to fit all your travel essentials.
It’s made of heavy-duty 18 oz. cotton with heavy American flanged leather accents and sports two interior pockets to help keep things organized. the nylon lining makes the bag easy to clean when you need it.
purses/watches/outfit
- carbon fiber money clip
- recycled fire hose wallet
- discreet and affordable watch
- nato-style watch straps
- nato straps for apple watch
- fitness bracelet for apple watch
- light but very resistant windproof
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carbon fiber money clip “koolstof” »
the carbon fiber designs koolstof is a simple yet amazing money clip made from, you guessed it, carbon fiber, which gives it some unique properties:
- non-metallic: you can walk through metal detectors with it.
- lightweight: on its own, the thing is heavy next to nothing: only 8 grams.
- elasticity: does not stretch like traditional metal money clips, so it can hold 50 folded bills a day and a single bill a next day. and it will continue to work just like it did on day one.
- durability: toss it, drag it, toss it, keep it in the same pocket as your keys… almost no matter what you do to it , this clip keeps moving forward.
here is a video showing what it can do:
a perfect example of a simple product that won’t let you down.
recycled firefighter bag “the sergeant” »
the upcycled firefigter “sergeant” is a slim, minimalist money clip wallet made from a decommissioned fire hose. Crafted by former firefighter Jake Starr, each holds 4-8 cards plus some folded cash on the back, and is designed to fit comfortably in your front pocket.
more importantly, they are built to last. Fire hose material (even the removed material) is incredibly durable and resistant to much higher levels of heat and abrasion than you’re likely to experience in your pocket. For added durability, the wallets are sewn with t90 nylon thread, which has a tensile strength of 15 pounds, similar to decent fishing line, and are edged with a 1″ mil-spec nylon seam. the 1.5″ bill elastic on the back is also military spec. Basically, you’re not likely to use one of these wallets for at least a decade.
what we love is that the material of each wallet has its own story to tell before ending up in your hands. Instead of going to waste after saving so many lives, this material is good for a second tour of duty.
There are a number of ‘sergeant’ colors to choose from, the most popular being the ‘typhoon orange’ model. most are $29 on amazon.
eone bradley watch »
eone’s bradley is a stylish watch that can be read by eye or touch, making it ideal for when you need to discreetly check the time: during meetings, at the movies, under the table while having boring conversations , etc., but it’s especially amazing for people with vision problems.
is named after brad snyder, a former US marine officer who was blinded by an improvised explosive device explosion while serving as a bomb spreader in afghanistan and persevered to become a paralympic gold medalist.
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The way you use it to tell time by touch alone is by feeling its raised markers and the two magnetized ball bearings that travel around the watch face on separate recessed tracks: one for the minutes and one for the hours. hours. if you accidentally knock any of the ball bearings out of their magnetic field, a simple flick of the wrist snaps them back into place.
It takes a bit of practice to master, but once you do, you’ll appreciate the clever and unobtrusive design.
they have several designs available on amazon, our favorite is the voyager silver ($325), which also comes in a cobalt version if you buy directly from eone’s site.
worn and used watch straps adpt rolled up »
nato-style watch straps are making a comeback. There are so many to choose from these days, and if you think we won’t add another to the list, you’re sorely mistaken.
used and used wound adpt watch straps (“adpt” is short for “all day, purpose and terrain”) are a set of nylon straps whose components, such as 420d nylon webbing and hardware 316l stainless steel, and even the packaging, are sourced and manufactured entirely in the united states:
A nice feature is the safety band that holds your watch in case one of its spring bars fails.
each strap comes in your choice of…
- black – black with silver accent thread.
- coyote – dark khaki with burnt orange accent thread.
- forest – dark green with deep red accent thread .
- Navy: deep blue with royal blue accent yarn.
- Sage: silvery gray and slightly greenish with very dark blue accent yarn.
clockwork synergy nato straps for apple watch »
clockwork synergy is a company that manufactures many high quality straps and straps for both normal watches and smart watches. their “classic nato” apple watch straps are especially nice, as are the larger “nato heavy”.
Tough yet comfortable, these two-piece bands are made from high-quality ballistic nylon and fused with stainless steel hardware to create a durable heat seal. They come in a wide variety of color combinations, so you can find one for just about any occasion. even the adapters and buckles have color options to match the color of your apple watch.
The featured image above shows the classic black/tan/navy/red strap, and the image below shows the chunky red/white/blue strap:
twelve shares of the south bracelet for apple watch »
As good as Apple Watch is for tracking fitness, wearing it on your wrist isn’t always the best option. certain activities and workouts (kickboxing, weight training, rock climbing, etc.) involve wearing gear that covers the wrist or simply require full wrist mobility, forcing you to remove your watch and lose all that important tracking data .
twelve south’s actionleeve bracelet lets you hold apple watch higher on your arm (choose your upper arm or biceps, whichever is more comfortable), freeing up your wrist without giving up the screen , the crown and the button. fully visible and controllable.
A secondary benefit is that it can actually improve the accuracy of your Apple Watch’s heart rate tracking, as you’re unlikely to wear it loosely around your arm like you would on your wrist.
the actionleeve comes in black and red, and in 42mm and 38mm versions. There’s also a 42mm “slim” version, but that only comes in black.
goruck simple windbreaker »
In goruck’s own words, his simple windbreaker is the “only windbreaker that looks as good in a dive as it does in a quagmire.”
This jacket is light and comfortable enough to wear outside, yet strong and abrasion resistant enough to withstand rain and drag through mud. the fabric dries quickly, so you could complete a goruck challenge in it, rinse it off afterwards, and when you get to the bar later, no one will notice.
There are only two objections:
- the two front pockets do not have zippers.
- there is no hood.
write
- characterful brass writing utensils
- well-designed panoramic notebook
- full-grain leather apple pencil grip
- notebook covers harris tweed
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ystudio’s “brassing” writing tools »
Each of the items in ystudio’s “brassing” stationery series has a black finish that slowly wears away over time, revealing the underlying raw brass material to a beautiful effect:
- pen (€70 / ~83 usd)
- drawing pencil (€90 / ~107 usd)
- desk fountain pen (€160 / ~189 usd) )
- portable fountain pen (140 € / ~166 usd)
- ruler (15 € / ~18 usd)
- postcard (15 € / ~ 18usd) )
You can use the included extra-fine 600 grit sandpaper to further the “customization” process or just wait it out. either way, each item reveals a type of character unique to you or the gift recipient.
neat studio panobook »
After a very successful kickstarter campaign earlier this year, our friends at studio clean are nearing the final stages of getting panobook pre-orders shipping in time for the holidays.
The panobook’s main selling point is its widescreen format, which is designed to fit between your keyboard and the edge of your desk. you can also place it “on top” of your keyboard if it’s wireless, or you can place it next to your keyboard in portrait mode as a kind of mini legal pad.
However, the little details are also where it shines, which we detail in this post. suffice it to say that panobook is a fantastic and well-designed laptop that we wholeheartedly recommend.
pad and amp; pen leather apple pencil grip »
Made from full grain American oxhide leather with parachute grade nylon stitching, quilting and padding. Quill’s two-piece leather grip for Apple Pencil offers not only a sturdy tactile grip, but also prevents the pencil from rolling thanks to the built-in stainless steel pen clip on the top. That same top piece has a strap that keeps the Apple Pencil cap close to the device even while it’s charging, so you don’t have to search for it all the time.
hilt comes in your choice of chestnut (dark brown), whiskey (tan), and black “gallop”.
harris tweed sleeves and accessories esplanade london notebook covers »
esplanade london is an etsy store whose owner, laura yuan, makes and sells a variety of great looking laptop cases and more, all made from harris tweed. has covers for hobonichi techo planners and a4/5/6 notebooks, all in a variety of patterns and colours.
check out our guide full of great etsy items.
charities
in tools & toys we have always donated 11% of our gross receipts to charity. If you click this link before shopping on Amazon, we will donate 11% of our affiliate earnings during the months of November and December specifically to the three charities listed below.
We also encourage you to consider making some charitable donations this year and invite you to donate with us to these three organizations:
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st. jude children’s hospital: st. jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research center. discoveries made at st. jude have completely changed the way the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. Furthermore, his hospital has been described as “a hospital without walls” where children in need are treated at no cost to their family.
Operation Christmas Child: samaritan’s purse is a Christian ministry, and each year they work with volunteers and donors across the country to pack and ship shoeboxes full of gifts to children in need around the world . .
Girls App Camp: Girls App Camp is a place where girls can put their creative powers to work, design and build apps, while learning more about the business of software and They are inspired by women. mentors in the field. this is an organization we proudly support as it spreads the message that women play a vital role in the field of technology and offer a significant contribution.
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