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Why do you need an aluminum lunch box? Who knows. Maybe you’re a little clumsy, and tend to drop your lunch bag repeatedly to the point where your sandwich, fruit, and/or chips are no longer recognizable. And that’s no fun, is it? With an aluminum lunch box you’d be hard pressed to do any damage, unless there’s a car or other heavy machinery involved in your daily commute, in which case I wish you the very best of luck. Too bad this box doesn’t have a handle, though, as that would make it a little easier to carry around, don’t you think?
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You know what’s so special about this backpack? It’s pared down to the absolute essentials- that’s important to those of us that prefer a minimal look- and there’s a few thoughtful design details that makes packing and unpacking a breeze. Sounds good, right? There’s also a feature that hides away the backpack straps for a more professional look so you can go straight from the airport to business meetings. See Minaal’s video below, or visit Kickstarter to learn more and/or back the project.
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When I don’t want to carry a wallet or bag, I use a rubber band to hold a couple of credit cards to my phone. And, yes, I often wonder when that method will fail, because, let’s face it, a rubber band isn’t the most reliable in terms of security/longevity.

So am I interested in the Wally Case from Distil Union, which secures one’s cards to the iPhone via a snap-on hardshell case with a pull-tab action slim pocket? You betcha. However, don’t go thinking you can carry all your cards; it’s recommended that you keep it down to 3 cards plus a folded bill (or two). Back the campaign on Kickstarter for $40 or more to receive a case for your very own.

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I know you don’t need yet another thing to put in your wallet, but what if this extra thing could fit all sorts of handy tools like a bottle opener, ruler, spoke wrench, protractor, metric and standard ruler, metric wrenches, drill guides, and a 1/8″ hex drive, all in one slender credit-card-like shape? Maybe then you’d find some room? Laser cut and etched from 18 gauge stainless steel or titanium, the Ollie arms you with the tools to do all sorts of everyday odd jobs. Back the project for $25 for the stainless steel version, or $35 for the titanium.
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A tote that transitions into a messenger bag sounds like a winner. Made from waxed canvas and vegetable tanned leather, Modern Industry’s Faraday Tote will hold all manner of your gear thanks to its generous proportions. The messenger strap stows away when not in use, and in either formats a 15″ laptop easily fits. There looks to be a limited number in each color available, so don’t dawdle around.

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September means sweaters, right? And, if you’ve ever found a rather worn spot or a moth hole on your favorite sweater, you know the sinking feeling once you know it’s headed for the donate pile. So, get ahead of any disappointment and get some Cashmends– either in an Elbow Patch or Band-Aid shape (the flowers and moths are a bit too decorative for my taste)- and know that you can fix it right up with a quick iron-on patch. Also, as an alternative, don’t forget about the Woolfiller Kits, as they can provide a less obvious fix option.
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How to carry your various pens and pencils and tools? In an organized fashion, of course. This Roll-up, designed by Winter Session, is the perfect size for small tools and accessories. Maybe your drawing tools will be at home nestled away in the waxed cotton canvas, or maybe your bicycle tools or makeup brushes, it’s your Roll-up, so you decide.
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Hmm, this looks quite similar to the Noble Glass Thermos posted over a year ago, and if deductive reasoning is correct, we’ll assume it’s made by the same manufacturer. Made of borosilicate glass, this bottle will keep your beverages the temperature you want- hot tea or coffee will stay hot, cool ice water/beverages will stay cool. The double-wall feature keeps the outside surface free of condensation and heat, and it comes with a removable stainless steel tea strainer.
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Do you see the interesting pattern on the back side of these pouches/bags? It creates a sort of elastic mesh that accommodates all sorts of odds and ends that you carry around for travel- cables, adapters, or even your passport and other important documents. I picked up the smaller size for the cable/adapter storage purpose from a retailer in Sweden, and, unfortunately, I can’t seem to find any stateside store that has them in stock. So, get used to the idea of extra shipping fees or start bugging your favorite retailer to order a few.
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If you’ve ever lost luggage while flying, you know it’s beyond annoying. How do you fix that problem? Put the Trakdot™ inside your bag to ensure that never happens again- you’ll know exactly where it is when you take off and land. The Trakdot uses micro-electronics to connect to local cellular networks and gives you a text message to report the location. Learn more at Trakdot.
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Simple and utilitarian are two of my favorite adjectives when describing gadget sleeves and bags, so of course this collection by Charbonize gets a spotlight. Using vegetable tanned leather and recycled wool felt, each piece is created by hand in their workshop and follows the aim of “being simple, timeless and functional”. And don’t worry, the wool is anti-piling & water repellent. Now available in the US via HORNE.
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Remember the crocheted laptop case (The Steven) from Krochet Kids International? Well, there’s iPad and iPad Mini sleeves as well, and remember, not only will each sleeve protect your device, but with each purchase you’re empowering the people of Uganda to rise above poverty. That’s what we call a win/win situation.

There’s also a couple of crocheted clutches (The Auburn and The Wendy), a card/coin purse (The Dixon), and various other clothing, hats, and accessories worth checking out.
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If you have half a grand to spare, then you’ll probably want to spend it on a travel pillow and blanket, because, hey, why not? In reality, if you are actually in the market for a travel set, you’ll definitely be able to find several that are in the two digit price range, but I’d wager you’ll not find many that have such a pleasing geometric pattern. There’s also a pocket inside the blanket for your phone or eye mask- clearly that warrants the extra few hundred, right? Perhaps add it to your list of things to buy when you get your next raise/promotion/winning lottery ticket.
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What’s with the recent resurgence of Mason Jars? Who knows. Those of you who tinker with electronics might scoff at the container, but, for those of us that aren’t quite sure about circuit boards, we can marvel at this completely self-contained little speaker-in-a-jar-we-recognize. There’s something so, well, friendly about it, and though it’s small, it claims to have a pretty big sound.
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So smart! If you travel often, you know how difficult it can be to pack light and keep your clothes clean, but, now, thanks to this wash bag, you’ll be able to do your laundry quick as can be. Add water and a little detergent to the Scrubba bag with your dirty clothes, close the bag, and ‘scrub’ the bag back and forth. Hundreds of small nodules on the inside of the wash bag efficiently clean your clothes in just a few minutes. The Scrubba folds to pocket-size and weighs less than 180 kg (0.4 lb). Video below with demonstration.
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