Seven Products I Can't Live Without

Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission for purchases made through the links. I only recommend products I have personally used or recently purchased, but not yet used.

Black Friday

Every Friday is Black Friday for some of us, but I digress.

As a thank-you for reading this newsletter, I’m going to, as some folks say, “put y’all on some true game” with a special post on seven things you can buy that have made my life so much better.

Yes, consumerism is the devil, and we all live in capitalist systems built on exploitation. We can have some effect, individually, but we all have to eat, and we all deserve nice things.

Use any guilt you might be feeling to make the world a better place, and let’s get to this list!

Merino Wool Clothing

I’ve already written about this in another post this year, but it’s worth restating that quality merino clothing is now the only clothing I buy for my regular wardrobe. The benefits far outweigh the considerable cost of these clothes; namely, reduced laundry, lightweight packability, comfort, and the interchangeability of a wardrobe.

Right now, my favorite brand, Unbound Merino, is having its one-a-year sale on all its clothing. There’s never been a better time to try out these clothes. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.

Wool & Prince is another dope brand. For some reason, they have a separate site for men’s and women’s clothing. I like and wear their stuff too.

A Good Backpack

I haven’t written about this extensively, but my Peak Design Everyday Backpack is the best backpack I’ve ever owned, and it’s not even close. I take this thing everywhere, from international travel to the Thar Desert in India, to my friend’s land to hunt white-tailed deer, to a one-bag trip to Oakland for a conference, if I’m going somewhere, this bag is coming with me.

Peak Design's Black Friday Sale runs until December 1st, and you can get this bag for $60 off! Everything in their store is discounted this week, and everything they make is dope AF. I have their new roller bag, which is outstanding if you’re feeling splurgey.

A Journaling System

I’ll let my favorite content creator explain his system that I’ve adopted.

The Travelers Notebook and Maurice’s system of journaling have changed my life in profound ways. Pair that with a dope fountain pen and daily journaling, and task organizing has gone from something I’ve avoided all my adult life to something I genuinely enjoy.

Minimalist Shoes

My favorite brand, Lems, has a sitewide 25% discount on all shoes now. As I explain in my article on minimalist shoes, it typically takes your body some time to adjust to a shoe that works with human foot anatomy rather than against it, but the benefits are substantial. Just like with merino wool clothing, I don’t plan to ever go back to conventional shoes.

Lems are stylish, comfortable, and a joy to wear. Xero shoes is another brand I’ve bought in the past, and they have a similar 25% off sale going on, so check them out too.

AirPods Pro

I listen to a lot of audiobooks. Like…I lot. My AirPods are always with me, as important as my wallet and phone. What’s surprising about these (I have the AirPods Pro 2) is how well they cancel ambient noise. Flying with these headphones is a must, and when I have them in, the plane's noise is almost nonexistent.

If you’re going to fly with these, use the AirFly Bluetooth device (right now it’s 30% off!) to tap into in-flight entertainment and never use the awful wired airline headphones again.

Fully Clad Cookware

Y’all know I love to cook. If you even like to cook a little bit, buying a set of restaurant-quality cookware that will last longer than you will is a tremendous investment in your happiness and well-being. There are several brands that do this sort of thing well. One of my favorites, Made-In, is having a Black Friday sale (up to 30% off) on most of its products. They have sales frequently, but this one tends to be one of their better ones.

Buy once. Cry once. Cook forever.

Darn Tough Socks

I was shocked when a friend introduced me to this company’s lifetime warranty policy, and I’m still amazed by how few people know about this. Every pair of Darn Tough socks you buy will be the last pair of those socks you ever buy, because the company guarantees them for life. When they wear out, send them in and receive another pair. Seriously, I can’t believe this is a thing! Also, their socks are lovely, stylish, and fun.

A Few More Recommendations

Business Class: Read my article on this, but I’m changed forever. On all flights over 6 hours, I’m doing everything I can to book a ticket in the class that should be the baseline for all travelers.

Therapy: I started back again after over a decade, and it’s been amazing. Better Help is a popular platform that I know has issues, but it's just getting started. You need it, everyone needs it, be good to yourself

Vacuum Sealer: Properly storing your food is a must for any home cook. You can level up that process with this vacuum sealer, which works better than any other I’ve seen at this price point.

3-in-1 Charger: Clutter makes me itch. Buying a 3-in-1 charger for your mobile devices is like a salve to the soul. This one sits on my night table, and this is the one I travel with.

Action Camera: I couldn’t create the content I produce without a reliable, durable action camera. I started out with a GoPro, and it wasn’t up to the task, so I switched to DJI and haven’t looked back. DJI is better in my opinion, and they just released a new Action 6 that I’m contemplating getting. The Action 5 Pro is dope, and the Action 4 is still a great camera, especially for those just starting.

NEW ON YOUTUBE!

Whole Hog Butchery!

Part 2 of my epic North Carolina hog adventure is now up on the channel! I still have 100lbs of pork in my freezer, so the content from this project will keep flowing into next year. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

-Jonathan