35 of ’em are their lowest price of the year. Things worth owning at full price that happen to be cheaper this week.
Every guy has a running list of stuff he means to buy and never does. The 501s with the blown-out knee he’s still wearing. The espresso machine he has priced out so many times Amazon probably thinks he’s a bot. The vacuum that smells faintly of burning every time it runs.
Then a sale comes along and, instead of fixing any of this, he stands there wondering whether that’s the real price, whether Black Friday will be better, and whether he actually needs pants. Yes, you need pants. Here’s the sale.
Prime Big Deal Days kicked off at 12:01 AM this morning and wraps Wednesday night. The prices are for Prime members only, though a free trial counts (sign up, buy the jeans, cancel, we won’t tell anyone).
The deals worth your time this round are from brands you already know, which is rarer than it should be these days. Levi’s has 9 picks on sale. Apple took $200 off the new M5 MacBook Air and $70 off the higher model AirPods Pro 3. Around the house, there are Breville espresso machines, smoothie-shop level blenders and Dyson vacuums, which should take care of the smell.
A word of caution. When a brand you’ve never heard of is suddenly 60% off, remember that it’s 60% off a number somebody made up last Tuesday. And if you’re after a TV or a game console, Black Friday is 7 weeks out and sometimes beats these prices, especially on last year’s model. But holding out until November on a pair of jeans you need today, to maybe save $6, isn’t prudent if it means going without pants for 2 months.
The Picks
There are 61 items below, and 35 of them are sitting at their lowest price of the year. We marked each one. The only rule for making the list was that we’d tell you to buy it at full price anyway. The sale just makes the decision easier.
Highlights
Levi’s Laurel Cable-Knit Crewneck, $25.88 $59.99
The cable-knit crewneck we used in our 90s post, cut relaxed so it sits right over a tee.
Dockers Workday Smart 360 Flex Khakis, $37.97 $80.00
I bought these as a budget casual chino: looser cut, dark tan, and the stretch keeps them comfortable all day. Black tee and boots and you’re done
New Balance 515 V3 Sneaker, $39.99 $79.99
The budget New Balance retro runner, sea salt with a red rock N. Looks like the expensive one from across the street.
Positive Grid Spark 2 Guitar Amp, $244.00 $349.00
I’ve had one for over a year and as a living-room-only guitar player it’s been awesome, which is why it made our Father’s Day list. You can describe the sound you want and it whips it up, no pedals for that one Eagles song, and it doubles as a big, handsome Bluetooth speaker.
Amazon Essentials Western Denim Snap Shirt, $14.01 $18.68
An all-cotton western shirt with snaps and flap chest pockets. Open over a black tee, it does most of the work of a fall outfit for you.
LEGO Speed Champions Back to the Future DeLorean, $22.42 $27.99
I got this for my birthday: 357 pieces, Doc and Marty included, and it rebuilds into the flying version.
Skagen Mellem Three-Hand Steel Watch, $92.36 $190.00
Soft-square steel case, gray sunray dial, 40mm, the watch from our hibernation outfit. The kind of minimal Danish piece people assume came from a jeweler, with a bracelet you size at the kitchen table.
Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit Jeans, Black, $41.38 $84.95
Black shrink-to-fit 501s. They start stiff and end up fitting like they were cut for you, and our internet favorite STF guide walks you through the soaking process. Size up before you buy: the guide’s table calls for 1 inch in the waist and 3 in the inseam for most of us.
Levi’s 501 Shrink-to-Fit Jeans, Rigid, $35.83 $84.95
The original rigid shrink-to-fit in raw indigo. Same soak, same guide.
Amazon Essentials Full-Zip Polar Fleece Jacket, $13.40
A full-zip polar fleece with a mock neck and 2 zip hand pockets. Lives in the car from now until April.
Method Men’s Body Wash, Sea + Surf, $5.19 $10.19
The one from our 7 Budget Scents post. Sea + Surf is the scent to get, and the coupon gets you body wash at 2009 prices.
Aveda Men Pure-Formance Grooming Clay, $25.50 $34.00
I’ve been using this for about a year: a textured matte hold that still moves when you run a hand through it.
Amazon Essentials Resort Knit Shirt, $12.87 with coupon
Pictured from our Under $25 Casual Summer Shirt post. Buy it now and bank it for spring, or wear it under a jacket until then.
Style
Levi’s Classic Worker Shirt, $29.83 $35.15
Levi’s take on the chambray work shirt. It goes under a field jacket as well as over a t-shirt.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Jeans, Light Stonewash, $43.72 $59.46
The regular 501 in a light stonewash, pre-faded so there’s no break-in. It’s a straight leg with a button fly and we made the case for it years ago.
Levi’s 501 Original Fit Jeans, $42.96 $84.95
The standard 501 in a dark rinse.
Levi’s 505 Regular Fit Jeans, $38.17 $52.10
The 505 is like the 501 but has a zip fly, some feel the seat is roomier in the 505.
Amazon Essentials Pocket Oxford Shirt, $16.57 $19.84
An all-cotton button-down oxford, the one from our done-with-winter outfit. The blue goes with every pair of pants you own.
Eddie Bauer Rainier Active Performance Pants, $29.91 $70.00
Ripstop stretch hiking pants with a zip thigh pocket and a DWR finish, cut slim enough for town.
Sailwind Classic Crewneck Sweater, $23.90 $29.88
A plain gray crewneck, machine washable and thin enough to go under a blazer without bunching at the shoulders. Featured in our done-with-winter outfit.
Thompson Tee Sweatproof V-Neck Undershirt, $35.60 $42.99
A slim rayon V-neck with sweat-blocking pads built into the underarms, the fix we landed on in our sweating-through-your-shirt piece. Your light blue oxford stays light blue through the afternoon meeting.
Clarks Bushacre 2 Chukka Boot, $57.19 $110.00
The suede chukka that keeps showing up in our fall outfits, most recently the warm tones spring outfit, here in taupe distressed suede on a rubber sole that handles rain.
Nike Revolution 8 Running Shoes, $56.13 $75.00
Nike’s basic running shoe with a mesh upper and a chunky rockered foam midsole. Fine for the gym, better for the walk to get coffee.
Nike Run Swift 3 Running Shoes, $59.72 $85.00
A simple but not boring plain white Nike runner, which is rarer than it sounds.
Levi’s Classic Western Shirt, $36.54 $69.95
Levi’s classic western shirt in a dark rinse: snap front, pointed yokes, flap pockets. Dark enough to wear to dinner and still a work shirt at its core.
Amazon Essentials V-Neck Sweater, $9.39
The chunky V-neck from our 90s post, pictured over a crew tee. Cotton blend, regular fit, and the tee collar showing is the move.
Eddie Bauer Woven Leather Belt, $40.00
This braided belt has shown up in several of our outfit posts, including Fall Getup Week. No holes to line up.
Levi’s 4-Pocket Cotton Field Jacket, $64.83 $119.99
A classic-looking cotton 4 pocket field jacket in olive with a drawstring hem and a hidden snap placket. Our M65 article explains why you want one.
Ted Baker Bradley Leather Sneaker, $63.66 $180.00
A white leather sneaker, leather-lined, with a memory foam insole. For the guy wanting something a little different than a Stan Smith.
Gap Vintage Soft Boxy Tee, $18.59 $29.99
Pictured under the cardigan in our 90s post. Washed-soft cotton, boxy cut, and the room is intentional.
Columbia Steens Mountain Full Zip 2.0, $24.10
The Steens Mountain full zip, the fleece Columbia has been making for as long as anyone remembers. Hard to find a warmer layer this light.
Amazon Essentials Straight-Fit Jeans, $16.11 $18.95
Midweight straight-fit jeans in a grey wash that levels up most smart casual looks.
Amazon Essentials Cotton Tank Top, $8.84 $10.40
A basic tank in charcoal heather for gym, undershirt, or bed.
Amazon Essentials Rigid Denim Utility Jacket, $22.95 $30.60
If you’re looking for a denim jacket that is a little different than a standard type III trucker.
Fossil Steel Box Chain Bracelet, $45.00 $65.00
An easy-to-wear polished 5mm stainless box chain with a lobster clasp. New to jewelry? Read how I finally figured it out.
Amazon Essentials Fisherman Cable Crewneck Sweater, $TK
A classic all-cotton cable-knit fisherman crew in off-white is an easy uniform pull in fall and winter.
Watches and Accessories
Casio A168WA-1 Vintage Digital Watch, $29.92 $39.95
The square Casio from our done-with-winter outfit.
Fossil Malachite Beaded Bracelet, $23.99 $40.00
Green malachite beads on a black cord with a slider closure, so one size fits everyone. We wore it in Workwear, but Make It Spring.
A Man & His Watch, $16.64 $45.00
Famous watches and the men who wore them, in hardcover. We reviewed it back in 2017 and called it a work of art.
Tech and Audio
Sony SS-CS5M2 Bookshelf Speakers, $153.00 $279.99
The newer version of the Sony CS5 pair I have, long considered some of the best bookshelf speakers you can get for the price.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5, $1,399.00 $1,599.00
The new M5 Air with 16GB and a 1TB drive, the configuration you buy when you need zip and don’t want to worry about offloading all of your photos.
Apple AirPods Pro 3, $179.00 $249.00
The current era AirPods Pro, with noise cancellation Apple rates at twice the last pair and heart rate sensing for workouts. I basically live with mine in.
Apple Magic Mouse, $59.99 $79.00
I’ve used one of these every day for years. The Apple mouse with the swipe-and-scroll top and about a month per charge.
DJI Osmo Pocket 3 Vlog Bundle, $406.00 $532.00
I have the first version and it’s a cool little gadget, a unique take on the pocket video camera. This bundle adds the Mic Mini transmitter.
Anker MagGo 2-in-1 Qi2 Charging Stand, $37.79 $53.99
Phone and earbuds charge on one stand, and the head tilts so you can read the screen from the pillow. Bring your own 30W adapter.
JBL Go 4 Portable Bluetooth Speaker, $34.95 $49.95
A palm-sized waterproof speaker with 7 hours a charge.
Audio-Technica AT-LP60X Turntable, $143.20 $199.00
The fully automatic belt-drive turntable most people start on, with a built-in preamp so it plugs into whatever you already have.
Apple AirTag 2nd Generation, $24.00 $29.00
The newer AirTag at its lowest price, with a louder chime and a longer finding range. Keys, bag, the checked suitcase.
Elgato Stream Deck + White, $149.99 $179.99
Configure shortcut keys and custom knobs for the pro user who hates extra clicks. I’ve had one for a few months and love customizing it.
Kitchen
Breville Barista Express Espresso Machine, $499.95 $689.99
The espresso machine with the grinder built in, PID temperature control, and a real steam wand. The one most people picture when they say home espresso.
Ninja CREAMi 7-in-1 Ice Cream Maker, $169.99 $219.99
I got this for my birthday: freeze a pint for 24 hours, press a button, ice cream. Best part is mixing in some protein powder or making your own concoctions.
Ninja Professional Plus DUO Blender, $109.99 $149.99
A 1400-watt pitcher blender with 2 to-go cups and 3 presets that handle the pulsing for you. Turns ice to snow.
TempPro Instant-Read Meat Thermometer, $8.53 $19.99
A 1-second instant-read thermometer with a fold-out probe and a magnet for the fridge. The end of guessing on steak.
Home and More
Govee RGBIC Smart Table Lamp 2, $53.99 $79.99
A bedside lamp you pat to turn on in the dark, with warm-to-cool white and HomeKit through Matter. The color modes are there if you want them.
Philips Sonicare 5950 Electric Toothbrush, $64.96 $109.99
A Sonicare that buzzes at you when you scrub too hard, which for most of us is every morning. 3 weeks per charge, 2 heads, travel case.
Coleman Snap ‘N Go Collapsible Cooler, $164.99 $219.99
A 45-quart hard cooler that can hold 76 cans and keeps ice for 55 hours, plus it folds to a third its size. The ideal keep-in-trunk cooler.
CATAN Board Game 6th Edition, $29.99 $49.99
The longest road, the robber, the sheep nobody wants…this is how friends become enemies and Catan becomes the house game.
Cremo Spice & Black Vanilla Cologne, $17.35 $21.69
The scent from our done-with-winter outfit, and nobody will guess its price. Spice, dark woods, and black vanilla.
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum, $269.99 $389.99
A cordless vac seems like a nicety until you have one, and then you’ll never go back.
Roborock Q7 L5 Robot Vacuum and Mop, $119.99 $249.99
A LiDAR-mapping robot vacuum that mops at the same time. The easy way to never vacuum again…or to actually vacuum if you never can get yourself to do it.
Govee RGBIC Floor Lamp, $59.99 $99.99
A corner floor lamp that does 16 million colors and syncs to music, or just sits on one color behind the couch.