Here are 25 cool tools, everyday gear, and other types of products and recommendations you might like or at least find interesting!
Some of these are recommendations based on my own personal or professional experiences, and others are a matter of taste – even literally.
A few have been on my topic queue for a while, but I just couldn’t find a fitting time or place to bring them up.
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If you like this guide, or even just the idea of it, please let me know – maybe this can be a regular feature!
I’m also curious – out of the 25 products mentioned here, how many have landed on your own wishlist or shopping list?
Slice EDC Ceramic Blade Knife
Slice’s ceramic-blade cutters and box openers have been around for a while, but this one is new to me. It’s a folding knife and works with the brand’s interchangeable and replaceable ceramic blades.
It comes with a double-ended rounded tip blade, and pointed tip blades are also available.
They claim the blade is finger-friendly and far longer lasting than typical steel blades.
Black & Decker 4V Cordless Multi-Cutter
This USB-rechargeable self-sharpening multi-cutter is said to be capable of cutting a wide variety of materials, such as cardboard, fabric, carpet, vinyl, canvas, denim, plastic, and more.
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The built-in battery delivers up to 40 minutes of runtime.
Milwaukee Compact 25′ Tape Measure with Engineer Scale
This 25′ engineer scale tape measure features 1/10 and 1/100 foot markings on the top, and an imperial scale with 1/16 inch markings.
As with other Milwaukee compact 25′ tape measures, it has nylon blade protection and an impact-resistant 5-point reinforced frame. Its blade measures 1″ wide and has a maximum “reach” (standout plus 3 feet) of 12 feet.
Mora Craftline Chisel Knife with Sheath
Part knife and part wood chisel, this Mora Craftline knife is a popular tool for carpentry and general project use.
Allex Cardboard Scissors, Made in Japan
These spring-action shears can handle thick paper, cardboard, and similar materials.
Metmo Grip
The Metmo Grip is described as a both a fidget toy and tool, and it’s really exactly that.
Metmo sent over a test sample, and it’s truly as fun as they claim. I’ve also used it as a tool a couple of times – it can serve as a quick-adjusting wrench and also as a 1/4″ hex bit driver. In a pinch, it can also be used as a small hammer.
It’s made from 316 stainless steel, 6061 anodized aluminum, and 1020 carbon steel.
It’s a keeper.
SOG PopSocket Multi-Tool
The PopSocket attaches to your smartphone case and pops up for convenient one-handed gripping, and houses a small SOG one-piece multi-tool.
The tool features a mini pry bar, 1/4″ bit wrench socket, and 4mm bit wrench socket.
Color Options: Black, Blue, Green
Vyper Industrial Shop Stool
This robust-looking Vyper shop stool features a large tool tray, 19″ seat height, 4″ casters, 400 lb load capacity, and large 14″ wide and 4″ thick seat cushion.
It’s made in the USA.
I’m not familiar with Vyper; I caught an ad for their shop chairs and stools and they’ve been on my wishlist since then. Their seats definitely look to put all others I’ve used (and am currently using) to shame.
Petzl Tikkina LED Headlamp
Petzl recently launched a new line of Tikkina LED headlamps, which means their last generation models have dropped in price slightly.
The new 300 lumen headlamps are $24.95, and the older 250 lumen headlamps are $17.96.
Sure, of course you can find LED headlamps for less, but with Petzl’s build quality and reliability?
3M Pro-Protect Bluetooth Hearing Protector
What sets these Bluetooth hearing protection earmuffs apart from others is that it has external microphones “for situational awareness.”
In other words, you can make calls, listen to music, or hear more of what’s going on around you.
3M says these earmuffs are “ideal for teams” and “help workers communicate while protecting their hearing.”
They are powered by 2AA batteries.
Diamondback Sax Tool and Parts Bags
The Diamondback Sax tool bags are premium-quality and durable tool, part, and fastener pouches designed to meet the needs of tradespeople and other pros. They’re available in 4 colors.
PB Swiss Coin Driver
The PB Swiss Tools coin driver has a thin and wide-rounded tip.
If you’re not sure if you need one, you probably don’t. But, maybe you can, and simply didn’t know something like this existed.
Klein Tools Stand-up Zippered Tool Pouches
These are like ordinary zippered tool pouches, but with a wider bottom that increases storage capacity while doubling as a stable base, hence the stand-up aspect.
The 2pc set comes with a 7″ royal blue bag, and a 14″ dark gray bag. Both feature an accessory carabiner for easy attachment to tool bags.
The pouches are made from 1670d ballistic weave material, and the reinforced bottom panel is made from 2520d ballistic weave
Mini Henry Vacuum Cleaner
This mini Henry vacuum might be a novelty, but it’s also functional, and said to be able to pick up small crumbs.
Engineer Twin Wrench Driver
This dual-end driver gives you reach on one end, and higher torque delivery on the other. It works with standard 1/4″ hex screwdriver bits.
Mannkitchen Pepper Cannon – The Ultimate Pepper Grinder
The Mannkitchen Pepper Cannon is a highly efficient and adjustable pepper grinder.
It features a double bearing-supported drive shaft, stainless steel grinding burrs, and anodized aluminum housing that’s milled from solid billet.
I found our test sample to be quick to fill and easy to use, and it really did produce the most consistent ground pepper I have ever seen, and this held true from coarse to super-fine, and every setting in between.
(It’s on sale at the time of this posting for $180 after coupon.)
Engineer Compact Scissors
These mini scissors are consistently one of my favorite tools. They’re sharp, comfortable to use (once you get a feel for how to grip them), and take up little space in a tool drawer.
Read Also: 5 Best Scissors for Home, Workshop, EDC
Hemostats
It always surprises me how many tool users don’t have a pair or two of hemostats in their tool kit. These are indispensable for all kinds of small holding tasks, and are inexpensive and small enough for it to not be a big deal if you don’t use them often.
All of the no-name brands I’ve tried have worked well enough, but I have yet to find one I can recommend consistently.
Bessey Ratcheting Table Clamp
These Bessey clamps are very well-made and extremely versatile.
They work well with MFT-style tables, track saw guide rails, slots, grooves, and peg holes in thinner table top materials, and even as a quick work clamp.
Fuego Box Hot Sauce Gift & Subscription Sets
Who doesn’t like flavor?
Fuego sent over their Eco Crate gift set ($59.95), which comes with a spicy honey, 3 hot sauces, and a Himalayan ghost pepper salt. This assortment ships in a custom handmade wooden box, and Fuego pledges to plant 5 trees with every order.
In my opinion, the flavors are nicely balanced and enjoyable. I really like the Zana organic habanero hot sauce, which is also available separately.
Fuego’s hot sauce selection is highly filterable by pepper type, dietary restrictions, and 4 heat levels from mild to extra hot.
You can opt for a subscription, gift set, or individual bottles of small-batch hot sauce.
Tom Bihn Small Travel Tray
Tom Bihn makes fantastic bags, pouches, and lifestyle storage accessories.
They don’t make tool bags (yet?), but some of their tote bags and organizers can handle tool or workshop tasks if you’re careful.
The small travel tray is a fabric pouch with two modes. Shown above is the small tray in its open position. Pull the lower lip up and over, and you can cinch it closed for quick and easy transport.
This size works well for a wallet, keys, watch, and maybe a smartphone charger, hence its description as a travel tray. I use mine for things like small plastic parts and misc. parts things I don’t want to misplace.
Tom Bihn also makes a wide range or organizational accessories, from small wallets and pouches you can wear on your belt, to duffels designed for cross-country work travel.
If you’re into EDC, be warned – it’s easy to get carried away.
Pentel Energel Philography Pen
The Pentel Philography pen is a slender metal-barrel pen that works with their Energel ink refills.
It has a smooth-style retraction mechanism that protects the tip (and your pockets) during travel. Energel ink refills have rollerball tips and a smooth-writing gel ink.
You can buy refills in a wide variety of colors and most commonly with 0.5 mm and 0.7mm tip sizes.
I like this pen in particular for its solid feel. It’s available in different color options.
Rhodia A5 Dot Grid Notepad
This notepad is made with Rhodia 80g superfine vellum paper, and is in A5 size (6″ x 8-1/4″). Each of the 80 sheets are micro-perforated for easy removal.
The paper isn’t blank – it has a dot grid pattern that provides low-distraction structure to the page. If it helps, imagine graph paper with a dot at each grid intersection point, rather than vertical and horizontal lines.
Disposable Transfer Pipettes
If you’re not familiar with pipettes – most people aren’t – they’re basically disposable eyedroppers.
These can transfer small amounts of liquid in measured amounts from 0.5 mL to 3.0 mL.
I use mine for misc. tasks such as adding liquid plant food to watering cans, filling fountain pens, and I recently overfilled a vacuum pump and had to remove just a few milliliters of oil.
Excel USA-Made Hobby Knife
Hobby knives aren’t just for hobbies – they’re replaceable-blade precision knives with broad uses.
Excel’s have an aluminum body with soft handle grip, rear twist-lock blade release, 4-jaw blade chuck, and a shatter-resistant cap.
Scott K
I like this kind of post- these types of lists can be nice when you want to get someone something small. It’s also helpful if I type a keyword or the name of a random item I’m considering into your search bar. It’s helpful to have something pop up from your site because it lends a bit of legitimacy and allows you to briefly mention items that may not warrant a standalone post.
I’ve used those pipettes to add small amounts of water to dried up wood filler to avoid over doing it. I also have an older petzl headlamp that I love- it has a great beam, has held up very well, and the AAAs seem to last forever. I would definitely replace it with another petzl if it goes. That popsocket is going on my wishlist (never thought I’d say that).
AP
Great list! Variety and usefulness of these items is very refreshing. Thanks!
fred
I’m a big fan of those Allex shears – my go to for opening clamshell packaging. They come in at least 2 styles. Canary brand carpet scissors are another favorite of mine:
https://www.amazon.com/CANARY-Wrestler-Carpet-Scissors-NAW-205B/dp/B0091GW6XI
Hemostats and other style forceps also have many uses beyond their original purpose – but they come in all qualities. Some cheap ones rust very badly – but others don’t. there are also double-joint hemostats that provide extra length with less opening distance. But some that I’ve tried are stiff and awkward.
The Ear Polypus style (come in many qualities and lengths) is also worth a look:
https://www.amazon.com/Premium-Hartman-Alligator-Serrated-Instruments/dp/B08R5D6NVX/
And finally – Morakniv makes some very serviceable fixed blade knives. For under $10 – their Craftline is hard to beat for the price. I’ve used their Companion on the boat as a general-purpose knife that has held up well:
https://www.amazon.com/Morakniv-Companion-Outdoor-Stainless-4-1-Inch/dp/B00BTJKB00
MM
Agreed, the “crocodile action ear polypus” aka “Hartmann forceps” aka lots of other names is also a very handy tool.
There is a also a larger, heavier-duty version of that tool known as an “Intraarticular grasper”
fred
The first time that I saw one in use was at a hoppy show. A guy was making ships in a bottle and using a long one. I guess that physicians and surgeons have other uses for them.
fred
Not sure that anyone was hoppy at the hobby show! Fat fingers got me once again.
Matt+the+Hoople
I have that Mora chisel knife. It is great for general woodworking tasks. As for the boat, Mora makes a bright orange serrated version of the companion that we keep on our boat for cutting lines and such. Wonderful knives for the price. Craftline line is a steal.
fred
“Coin” drivers like the PB Swiss also have a counterpart in car racing. Quarter-Turn (Dzus) fasteners benefit from such tools:
https://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Quarter-Turn-Fastener-Tool/dp/B079QN3RSF/
fred
Interesting that Amazon can’t ship the EDC – ceramic knife to my primary residence. My Sate apparently considers its opening mechanism similar to other illegal knives.
Wayne+R.
I needed some micro Visegrips and finally realized it was hemostats I was looking for.
And those Allex cutters are pretty sweet.
fred
My smallest hemostats (for hobby work – not surgery) are also called “mosquito clamps”
https://www.amazon.com/XTRM-CRAFT-Mosquito-Hemostat-Stainless/dp/B098TT9PL3
While not having the same grip-strength – DeBakey Bulldog Clamps (more like cross-locking tweezers) are made in even smaller sizes:
https://www.amazon.com/G-S-DEBAKEY-BULLDOG-CLAMP-STRAIGHT/dp/B00WEGOHHK
David Funk
Viper chairs are the best👍
Drew M
I’m just a little suspicious about those electronic ear muffs. I have the Sport Tac 500 that I bought for shooting but I had hoped to use them to listen to podcasts or whatever while working. Honestly, they just don’t work very well for that type of use, however, they are AMAZING for use with a nail gun. I also don’t like them as general purpose ear muffs because they simply do not attenuate sound as much as the big mickey mouse ear Peltor muffs.
Greg
I like the Klein pouches for putting parts (Wire nuts/Plumbing fittings/Screws/Bits/Etc) in when I’m in an attic or under a home.
Gene
Well there just went 25 bucks at 7am. The Engineer Wrench Driver is something that I don’t need but looked cool so I ordered it on the spot. Its funny how there are things that you never knew existed but once you see it you have to have one. Thanks Stuart.
Plain+grainy
Ha! At first glance I thought the Metmo Grip was vehicle winch, without a cable.
William Adams
It’s a strange looking thing, but I’ve found it a really nice tool, and am looking forward to their next tool release, the MetMo Driver (a ratcheting screwdriver), which I have high expectations of, and which will probably have me re-arranging all of my tool rolls/bags/boxes to make the best use of it.
Farmerguy
Tom Bihn has made great quality travel bags and organizational items that I have purchased over the last 6 years. Toolguyd is right that if you are organizational minded it can be addictive and their items are priced at premium. They even have their own forum for people to converse about their products that I recommend viewing. Recent ownership, retirement, and designer changes have a bit of uncertainty amongst buyers regarding continuity of it’s ethos but so far so good in my mind. Would like to see what a TB toolbag would look like, their Cadet bag could be modifiable.
fred
On my last sojourn to the UK I bought a Brooks bicycle tool bag as a gift to bring back. Probably more luxury than practicality – but still quite nice:
https://www.amazon.com/Brooks-Saddles-Challenge-Honey-Large/dp/B00CQICMSM
William Adams
I’ve been considering getting one for my bike setup for a while — how is it working out in terms of usage?
What loadout do you have in it?
fred
It was a gift to a niece who is into biking. Not sure about anything else. But I can say that the price that I paid for it at a place called Condor Cycles – was about the same as I would have paid on Amazon (even after I got the VAT back). So, while I can recommend London and the UK for visiting – don’t go if all you want is a bargain on a Brooks bag.
MM
I like those 5-caster low shop stools a lot, they’re great for welding and also working on vehicles. However $375 for that one? Good lord that’s expensive, especially given that it appears to be a bolt-together design from bent sheet metal. And it also appears that it doesn’t have a height adjustment? I’ve bought much better stools for half the money from local welding shops.
The Bessey clamps are nice, but I’d advise anyone considering those to check out Strong Hand instead. They are the same basic idea except that Strong Hand adds a tapped hole to the fixed jaw of the clamp. They are available in a ratcheting style just like these Besseys and also with the more traditional screw. The tapped hole is used with various accessories to increase the flexibility of the clamp, allowing it to be used as a spreader, on round or angled parts, etc.
https://stronghand.stronghandtools.com/product-category/fixturing-clamps/
fred
We had a mix of welding clamps from Bessey, Kant-Twist, Strong Hand (Valtra), and Urko.
In my home shop I have some Strong Hand exopandos that come in handy from time to time:
https://www.amazon.com/Expand-Pliers-Reverse-Action-Clamping-Pressure/dp/B000VH805E
and a Jointmaster:
https://www.amazon.com/JointMaster-Degree-Angle-Clamping-Throat/dp/B01FWK27MQ
MM
The Kant-Twists are great too! Strong Hand also makes something similar they call the “Shark”.
fred
There seem to be lots of other “kant twist style” clamps. I’d trust the originals and Strong Hand – no experience with the other knockoffs. The big ones do get pricey:
https://www.amazon.com/Kant-Twist-T-Handle-Cantilever-Clamp-K120T/dp/B07SBXBV2X
Frank
“in a pinch it can be used as a small hammer” – I mean, pretty much anything can be used as a small hammer, can’t it? Probably things that cost less than $150 too.
John
I like the engineer twin driver for the simple reason that I think it’s great to have 2 different driver bits at-the-ready. All too often, I need to switch back and forth between two different bits, and it’s frustrating to have to swap out bits, or even switch tools.
It would be extra great if they made a ratcheting version. That I would snap up immediately.
Ball_bearing
The VIM RBF400K, and the Prestacycle Pro T-handle ratchet offer those capabilities. Ratcheting side, inline bit holder at the end of the handle, and with the extensions, the option to use them as T-handles for extra torque, and reach. The VIM also has a locking flex head design. They lack the nice grippy coating.
The price is just five to ten dollars more than the engineer twin wrench, but might be worth it for the extra features.
fred
The Vim RBF400K – is clever. You get 3 pieces:
1) A 6-inch-long ratchet with flex head and 1/4 hex drive – plus 1/4 hex socket at the back end of the handle
2 Vim’s ADT14 plug that converts 1/4 hex to 1/4 square drive
3) Vim’s ME14 – 4 inch long by 1/4 hex magnetic bit extension that can be used as a sliding T-Bar or extension handle for the ratchet or an extension for a bit/socket
William Adams
A similar ratcheting design is the Silca T-ratchet — I have the version w/ a torque bar and the setup is one of my favourite tools ever.
Steve
Thanks for the article. I did enjoy it. I bummed my first forceps (hemostats) off my dentist some 50 plus years ago for fishing and have a variety of them still. I can’t see 150 for a fidget toy but got sucked in by the cardboard shears. Merry Christmas all.
KokoTheTalkingApe
Nice list! IMO gift lists should be a little extravagant, especially if the money gets you something that works better, rather than just a brand name.
I’d add Knipex pliers-wrench and Cobra pliers. Expensive but actually worth it. A pair of each in 5″ or 7″ would be great, or a pair of pliers-wrenches in different sizes.
The Veritas DX60 block plane Stuart already posted would make a dandy gift too, but it’s spendy. Planes from Lie-Nielsen would also be good.
Mike
I bought a Mannkitchen Pepper Cannon during the kickstarter campaign, so I didn’t pay full price, but man that thing is solid and very well made. Best pepper grinder I have every used.
John
Stuart,
In reading about the Engineer twin wrench driver I came across this:
UNICHE Stepless Bicycle Ratchet Mini Tool with Reversible Function. Multitool Repair Kit Road & Mountain Bikes. Handy Wrench Tool for Bicycles + Home. Include 7 Hex bits, Extension bar, Flat4 and PH1 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BKQHB7G
I hope you can get your hands on one and will consider a review. Seems really useful and well made.
Stuart
Thanks! That looks interesting, but I’m not sure how practical it would be, even for bike maintenance.
HC
I like this stool. 400lb capacity. https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200937683_200937683
jake
The Allex Cardboard Scissors have been absolutely wonderful for cardboard and clamshell packaging. Thank you Stuart and Fred very much for recommending them.