For someone who’s been around the block, these have become the tools of the trade.
You wouldn’t know it if you looked in my closet, but I really am trying to embrace minimalism these days. I look around the house and I think My goodness, whose stuff is all of this? Truth be told, most of it is mine.
As I’ve started going through the old boxes in the basement, tools in the garage, and yes, even my closet to see what stays and what gets donated or hopefully sells at the next neighborhood yard sale, I’ve found there are a few items that you couldn’t pry from my cold, dead hands. Those staple must-haves that once you have them, you use them endlessly. Here’s my list; what’s on yours?
Pocketknife
Unless I’m at work, I have a pocketknife in my pocket. Seldom does an hour go by that I’m not opening an Amazon package, taking the foil seal off the top of the new whatever, or cutting the tags off a piece of clothing or a toy my girls just got. It’s become so commonplace in my house that my girls have taken to just walking up and saying, Daaad, pocketknife! because they know I have it on me.
I have two pocketknives that I use: one for camping and one for pretty much everything else.
Kershaw Wharf Folding Pocket Knife, $33.40
This is the knife I take camping. It’s an assisted flipper, which means it opens effortlessly with the flick of your finger, and the blade comes sharp. For $31, I don’t care if this knife takes a beating. Carving sticks for marshmallows or just for fun, cutting ropes, even the occasional throw at a tree so I can feel like a ninja – this knife hasn’t let me down yet.
Microtech Hera II Automatic Knife, $262
This is the pocketknife I carry almost all the time. It’s expensive, but that’s because it’s made in the USA (Right outside Asheville NC), the blade comes sharp enough to shave, and it’s an out-the-front (OTF) action with spring loaded deploy and retract. This means that with the flick of that little thumb switch, the blade will travel in and out automatically. Microtech also puts a lifetime warranty on the knife, so don’t worry about the mechanism failing. My wife calls it my fidget knife because I find the spring action quite addicting. Just make sure it’s legal in your state.
First Aid Kit in the Car
This is the easiest ten dollars you’ll ever spend. Kid gets stung by a bee on a hike? Check. Scraped knee? Check. Splinter? Check. The only addendum I’d make to this and every other car kit is to add a few more bandaids because somehow there are never enough. Seriously, did we go through this many bandaids when we were kids?
Penny Loafers
I know, I’ve written more about penny loafers than should be permissible, but they really are just about the perfect shoe. Wear them with jeans, khakis, shorts and no socks. They just look so damn good and they’re comfortable.
A few years back I got to have a sit down with the Vice President of Oakstreet Bootmakers, and I’ve been smitten with their shoes ever since. Entirely handmade in America (even down to the thread), it’s hard to beat the quality and comfort that these offer.
Logan Suede Weejun Loafers, $149
The last two years, G.H. Bass has been undergoing brand restructuring with a new VP of Design, and let me tell you, they are killing it. They’ve kept their American style roots while adding in some fresh leather choices and expanding their range of craftsmanship options. These affordable Weejuns are perfect for spring and summer.
Zippo
Zippo Classic Chrome Pocket Lighter, $17.56
I don’t smoke, and I don’t plan on starting. But it’ll be a cold day in hell when I get rid of my Zippo. For less than $20, a Zippo is a no-brainer. The flints and fluid are cheap; the butane inserts are fantastic, and the *clink* of that lid is perhaps the most satisfying sound known to man. Zippos have a lifetime warranty as well; when I was in college, my lid detached from the body. I sent it in to Zippo (headquartered in Bradford PA), and they had it back to me in under two weeks, good as new.
A Good Flashlight
Luckily, a good flashlight need not look like the police torches of the eighties, large enough to beat down a bank robber and then light an entire city block. This one from is cheap, offers 1600 lumens of brightness, and it’s waterproof. And call me old fashioned, but I prefer a light that takes AA batteries like this one. Why? AAs are available anywhere for cheap, but if your light is rechargeable and the internal battery is dead, you’re not seeing in the dark until it charges.
When I bought my first house, my dad took me to Lowes to get a toolbox and the essential tools that every man should have. I realize I may get some hate for this, but I’ve become a big fan of Harbor Freight for hand tools (and some power tools), as a homeowner can get most of what they need without having to break the bank. Here are the tools I consistently use (yes, guys, I know this list could be much longer; I’m just listing the basics).
Watch this video, and tell me you don’t need a speed square:
7 in. Laser Etched Aluminum Rafter Square, $12
Glasses Cleaning Cloth
Classic Art Microfiber Cleaning Cloth, 5 pack, $10.99
I realize this is just for those of us who wear glasses, but if you know, you know. I don’t leave the house without one of these in my pocket. As a glasses wearer with long eyelashes, I see the world through consistently smudged lenses. Having a cloth on the ready ensures that I can see and that I’m not scratching my glasses by using my t-shirt to clean. I like this set because they’re interesting to look at, and they hold up well after getting thrown in the wash.
Camera
Ricoh Digital Compact Camera, $1,046.95
Ok, I realize I’m biased because I’m a photographer, and I know this little guy costs a lot of money, but everywhere I go, this camera is on my person. It’s small enough to fit in a pocket, houses an APS-C sized sensor (which is ridiculous in this small of a package), and the lens is almost too sharp. Yes, I know that your iphone takes pictures, but…this is better, trust me.