A little wedge-shaped thing that opens jar lids without effort (especially now that I've done weight training and have a grip).
this post was submitted on 29 May 2025
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What kinds of exercises are you doing for your grip? I use one of those handheld devices that you squeeze, and have managed to finally surpass my partner (now I am the one who opens the stuck jars ๐ค), but I crave greater gains still.
Either I take a heavy barbell (like the level I can deadlift minus a bit) and roll it in my hands, or I use a special tool I've got that's got a strap connected to a stack of weights where I roll up the strap until the weights are up to the bar, then lower it again by reversing the roll.
These are both BRUTAL exercises, I should warn you in advance.
Oof yeah I can understand that. Anything that works the little muscles burns like hell.
And thank you for sharing!
Not a problem! I enjoy spreading pain! ๐
Small gadget? An angled high-CRI pocket flashlight with a magnetic base. I like the Manker E02 series but it's just one option of several.
It's small enough to fit in the tiny pocket on my jeans, gives good light, can be used right from the pocket if I need my hands free, and runs on AAAs (or a 10440 lithium battery for brighter light but worse endurance).
The magnetic base is super useful because I can often just plop the flashlight down while working on something. When I'm upgrading my desktop PC I can just stick the light to some part of the chassis and get light right where I need it.
That's pretty damn good for something that cost me thirty bucks with the 10440 included. And the battery even has a built-in USB-C charging port.
As others have said, it depends where you draw the line on what is a "gadget". But ignoring some of the obvious ones that have already been mentioned several times: I think I might have to go with my desktop audio mixing board. It lets me easily mix sound from multiple computers/devices and run them all into one set of headphones or speakers. I can adjust the volume of each input independently and without futzing with the settings in individual software applications/systems.
My other mention would go to my Raspberry Pi's. Incredibly compact, low-power-usage, but potent, versatile computers. Even just one or two can power a broad suite of at-home/self-hosted services, removing the need for costly, privacy-invasive/insecure, third-party services.
This is a noob question but what would be a good thing to use a raspberry pi for with self hosting?
A small webserver for a personal website, a shared folder that acts as a cloud (or a fully fledged Nextcloud installation if you dare), a vpn to check your computer from outside and if you are content limited abroad (be careful with this one), a pi-hole to remove ads in your home network...
Noise cancelling in ear headphones. I have had various Sony ones over the years but recently switched to some B&W PI8s as my last Sony ones the batteries had gone. Being able to take my own personal space with me in my pocket is a god send. Sure bigger headphones are better at noise cancelling but they are nowhere near as portable.
Cheapest would be a switch alignment comb for building plateless keyboards. Its basically a big comb that keeps switches aligned, sounds like you do not need one? Try soldering plateless especially if the switches do not have the extra alignment nubs.
Practical is my leatherman crunch. I have had it more than 25 years now and its locking jaws are amazing for its size. Got me out of so many holes with stuck nuts or nuts that need stucking. Bonus points for it supporting hex bits.
Depends on what you consider a gadget.
If you include anything that does small tasks, a multitool is the single best gadget on the planet. I picked up a victorinox multitool years ago. Damn thing is the Cadillac of multitools, but doesn't sacrifice durability to get the comfort and handling. It's a tank with heated leather seats lol.
If electronics are the limitation of gadget, I gotta go with a thermometer. A thermopro probe thermometer means you get perfectly cooked foods, every time. If you get one that's got an alarm on it that you leave in the food, it's even more dummy free.
But even an infrared thermometer helps a buttload in the kitchen. People rarely realize that pan temperature matters as much on the stovetop as it does in the oven, when it comes to reliable, predictable outcomes. That alone will reduce how often you ruin food as you learn how to cook. And once you do, it allows you to dial in exactly the results you want.
Ever? Probably a bit boring answer but a Leatherman. That thing has countless times spared me the time and effort of walking back to my toolbox to get the tool I need.
Soundcore p40i earphones. The active noise cancellation is a blessing. Being isolated from noises is a must for me, but they also have a transparent mode that use internal microphones to let the external sounds enter if you need to be aware of your surroundings or are talking to someone.
Bone conduction headphones.
I can run and cycle more safely being able to hear my surroundings as well as have some entertainment.
I can wear ear defence whilst working with industrial machines and still listen to music / audiobooks so that time doesn't drag so much. 15 years ago I'd be wearing over ear headphones with everything turned up so loud to try and drown out the machines that it was in no way good for my ears.
I can take acid, go for a walk in nature and soundtrack my trip as well. I love being able to hear the world around me but also mix in music to a good background level so I don't miss out on either audible delights.
I pretty much wear and use them for 8 - 12 hours, 6 days a week, love them!
I have 3 pairs of bone conduction headphones.
My cheapest pair is the lowest quality so I thought I wouldn't use them. Turns out they're also the smallest and I can sleep with them on.
I put on an audio book I've already read and lay to sleep. Knock right out.
I took a year from finding out they were a thing before I actually pulled the trigger on getting some as I just wasn't sure about how they would be and if I would like them or not, I just wish that I had tried them sooner.
I always buy Aftershokz which are the most expensive ones but they are really well made and I can't recommend them enough!
Can you actually hear the Aftershokz while wearing ear protection? The cheapy ones I got don't seem that effective with any ambient noise.
Yes, 100%. It has to be quite loud around me for me to not be able to hear them when I have them turned up to Max, I can hear them just fine cycling around in heavy traffic for example unless maybe I was stopped directly next to an idling lorry or something like that.
Ear protection only enhances your ability to hear them because of the way they work, putting in ear plugs shuts out all of the ambient noise around you and isolates you with the sound. I will usually have to turn them down considerably once I put ear defence on otherwise they would be way too loud as they aren't competing with anywhere near as much sound entering your ear canal through the normal route.
I have also used them before at the same time as over ear headphones so that I could play games and talk to people on the phone at the same time, you have to balance the volumes but once you get it right it works perfectly.
I never tried the cheap versions so I can't comment on the difference between them.
Yeah I got shokz for $180 and returned them due to the USB connector not automatically reconnecting.
Bought 3 different brands of $30 ones and I'm happier.
Miniature handheld paper shredder from Muji
A pen
I'm glad I got myself noise cancelling headphones. Ah, the peaceful isolation from the noisy world.
Ooooh which ones did you get? Also are you neurodiverse?
Just prone to headaches, so I appreciate noise reduction. I got realme t310 - they're decent, I think, and weren't very pricey.
Good tip thanks
a Smartphone