I’ve never compiled a gift guide before, but with the holidays around the corner and two years of “3 Things I’ve Loved” in the Snafu newsletter, I thought I’d give it a try!
Best Mechanical Pencil: Pentel GraphGear 500 Mechanical Drafting Pencil
I’ve been using the same mechanical pencil since high school. They used to cost $40, but have substantially decreased in price in recent years. Now that my fiancée has begun borrowing (read: stealing) mine, I find myself ordering more and keeping them stashed around the house.
Best Marker: Paper Mate Flair Pen, 0.7 mm Medium Tip
I take a lot of physical notes. Even though my Zoom calls are recorded with Fathom, and I keep my To-Dos in Asana, I think better when jotting down ideas on note cards. For that purpose, I love these markers and keep a box on my desk.
Voice Dictation: Wispr Flow
I’ve tested voice-to-text dictation apps since Dragon Dictate came out in the late 1990s. None have worked well enough for daily writing until a friend recommended Wispr Flow. After a week of testing, it’s easily the best voice-to-text app I’ve ever tried.
Best Green Tea: Numi Organic Gunpowder Green Tea
Sadly, I’ve stopped drinking my beloved pu-erh in favor of green tea. I’m sure I’ll return to it, but the unknown quality of the tea (there are concerns about buying tea from unknown origins in China) combined with a deep dive into my gut health has led me to drink only green tea for my daily caffeine. For that, I love this bulk gunpowder green tea from Numi.
Best Gut Aid: Seed
Speaking of gut health, I’ve continued to enjoy Seed DS-01, since first starting to use it daily early this year. I’m intrigued by the science behind their product, and have also heard a lot of good reports from friends who’ve tried the supplement.
Best email tool: Superhuman
I don’t love paying for email, but Superhuman is an email app that I can’t live without. It really does save me a lot of time managing my inbox – their promise – and continually reminds me that there are a lot of behavioral cues that can (and probably should) be built into any technology.
Best newsletters (besides Snafu, obviously)
- 5-Bullet Friday – I’ve never been disappointed by Tim Ferriss’ five recommendations each week. His weekly 5 inspired me to include my “Three Things I’ve Loved” in each Snafu newsletter.
- Ryan Holiday’s Reading List – I’ve been on Ryan’s reading list since 2010, and read hundreds of books he’s recommended. He’s never steered me wrong.
Best Gym Tool: Timebirds Timer – I’ve recommended the Timebirds Mini magnetic timer before. I use one anytime I’m working out, and keep another on my desk as a writing timer. They’re nearly indestructible, magnetic, rechargeable and keep you from using your phone as a timer at the gym.
Best multi-tool: Leatherman Wave
I’ve owned and loved a Leatherman Wave for more than two decades. Now that I own a house, there are a lot of household projects that call for a multi-tool, and I keep my Leatherman handy.
Best knife: Kershaw Leek
My everyday carry knife is the Kershaw Leek. It is small enough to be unobtrusive, handsome, and sturdy. I own several, and have used them for everything from opening mail to gutting fish.
Best Kitchen Knife: Victorinox Swiss Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
This is the kitchen knife everyone should own. Don’t take my word for it. Just search “Victorinox Swiss Classic Chef’s Knife” and you’ll come to see why normal people love it and most chefs have it in their kit.
Best Finishing Salt: Maldon Sea Salt
Everyone needs Maldon sea salt. It is the default sprinkling salt in fine dining, and I consider it a kitchen staple. Pro tip: buy the 20 oz. tub, and not the 8.5 oz. box.
Best Specialized Salt: Beautiful Briny Sea
If you want something a bit more unusual, I discovered Beautiful Briny Sea back during the pandemic, and have used their salts regularly since. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, this little company makes a variety of salt blends. Their Sultan Papadopoulos Sea Salt remains my favorite – I use it on air fried chicken, in stir fry, on eggs, and just about anywhere else that occurs to me.
Best Supplements
Fish Oil: Nordic Naturals ProOmega, Lemon Flavor
When I’m asked my favorite supplement, it’d be a hard choice between fish oil and magnesium. Most people are deficient in both! For fish oil, I like Nordic Naturals as a well-sourced, single-source fish oil that has the Omega-3s we need.
Magnesium: Doctor’s Best High Absorption Magnesium Glycinate Lysinate
Humans used to get a lot more magnesium through our food, but there isn’t as much in the soil as there was pre-Industrial Revolution, and so we all need more magnesium. While a lot of people recommend magnesium citrate for sleep, I find this magnesium is excellent for the blend of recovery, sleep, and mood stabilization.
Best flashlight: Fenix PD36R Pro High Lumen Tactical Flashlight
Whether I’m running in the dark or trying to find something in the closet, my iPhone light just doesn’t suffice. This tactical flashlight – highly recommended by a variety of reviewers – has been the best flashlight I’ve ever used.
Best Barefoot Shoes: Whitin
Back in the early 2000s, I was one of those weirdos sporting toe shoes. These days, I prefer my barefoot shoes less ostentatious. The Whitin brand of barefoot shoes looks perfectly ordinary, cost $40, and last longer than many of the more expensive brands. I currently own three pairs.
Best Cold Plunge: The Plunge
This is the one item on my gift guide that’s more than $100. It is, in fact, in the range of $6000. But cold plunge is as hard to do as it is worth doing. While it is possible to make your own, anything that makes this already difficult task harder means that you’re less likely to do it.