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Here’s yet another water bottle for your consideration. The Eau Good Water Bottle features a stick of ‘Binchotan’ active charcoal which purifies tap water for up to 6 months. The bottle is made from BPA-free plastic and has an indent to keep the charcoal in place (smart) while a cork stopper keeps the water fresh. There’s also a carry tag for convenience. There’s a short video below so you can see a little more of the shape/size/etc.
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A hollow coin is a low tech tool for transferring sensitive messages or perhaps also a perfect place for a tiny transmitter (not that I know anything about those sorts of things). Sort of fun, no?

$40.00, Buy it here.

Originally posted Aug 5, 2009.

We’ve posted this pen before (Space Pen), but the black and gold options are eyecatchers. Also, if anyone cites the Russian Space Pen (a pencil) as an alternative, just be sure to note it’s not safe in outer space. See original post for details.
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Hip flasks seem to go hand in hand with the holidays, just like mistletoe, family visits and frantic shopping. If you’re still not finished crossing off your gift list (get a move on!), consider this flask, or, if it’s a bit pricey, just plug in ‘flask’ into Amazon or your local search engine and you’ll find all manner of flasks that can be shipped overnight to wherever you desire- maybe even your own home.
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This small flat lens (called a Fresnel Lens) magnifies up to 2.5, making it ideal for tiny print. Now, you might not need a magnifier every day, but perhaps you’d like to stop smoking? Or know someone who would? You could take a page from the designer’s book by using the magnifier to light a smoke, which would cut down on the habit significantly if you live in a cloudy climate… or if you are just an impatient sort of person.
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I’ve always thought of the umbrella as a good example of our throw-away culture. After every rainstorm in the city, you’ll be sure to find a blown-out, discarded umbrella on the street. A properly built umbrella is an investment in a product that won’t fall apart and will guarantee to keep you dry for years to come, not just through the next rainy day. Bulletproof and hard-wearing workwear manufacturer Filson applies their rugged and practical design standards to the Cover Cloth Umbrella. It’s made with heavy-duty construction and water repellant Cover Cloth material which will only look better with age. Available in Tan at Blackbird and Otter Green directly from Filson.
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This umbrella by 25togo from Taiwan has a goggle-shaped window for seeing (or spying, as is suggested), no doubt helpful when you want to keep dry yet not crash into other pedestrians. Topped off with a periscope-shaped cap, it’s cute enough to get some smiles and funny enough to be admired (no scoffing allowed).

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If you’ve still not found a water bottle that meets your aesthetic expectations, take a look at the Bkr Bottle. It’s a glass bottle with a silicone sleeve and has all the bullet points you need (see below) when it comes to a personal drinking vessel. Plus, the label/brand is unobtrusive, so you’ll not be a walking billboard.

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Add some solar power to the top of a water bottle and voilà, you have yourself a lantern. FastSolar technology allows for up to 8 hours of light time and the one liter bottle could also double as a waterproof container for your wallet or cellphone. It’d be perfect for camping, wouldn’t it? More details below.
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So, now that most of us have eschewed paper towels in favor of clever/artistic washable tea towels in the kitchen, is it time to convert back to cloth when it comes to our noses? Before paper tissue became de rigueur, everyone had a handkerchief for personal hygiene, and perhaps all we need to return to the old fashioned habit is a little encouragement from this set. I especially like the idea of giving this as a gift to someone going through a semi-tough time (Dear John letter = heartache, Insufficient funds statement = broke, etc.).

Set of 5 hankies: a bad report card, a pink slip, and insufficient funds statement, an actual war-time Dear John letter, and a parking citation.

Running around with scissors just got a whole lot safer. This pen-like device houses a pair of compact scissors: remove the cap, slide up/out the flexible handles and cut away. Handy addition to a pencil case, I’d say. Green appears to be sold out, but black and pink still have some in stock.

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You’ve most likely seen or heard of the recently launched Tattly, a site offering decently designed temporary tattoos compiled by none other than Tina Roth Eisenberg, otherwise known as swissmiss. My favorites: Knucks by Frank Chimero, Tattone by Josh Smith, Cursors also by Josh Smith, and Rabbit by Marc Johns.

$5 for a set of 2 or all 15 for $35.
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You must have used a key at some point to open a letter. I know I have, many times, mostly because I misplace the one letter opener I have, and I am too impatient to go and find it. This little guy lives on your keychain, at the ready for any envelope that comes your way.

Sure, there’s the Brelli and then there’s the SUNbrelli (or rather sunBRELLI). The latter will protect you from the sun’s rays as well as the rain, with the same biodegradable plastic canopy.

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I posted this key-that’s-also-a-key-ring while back, and now that it’s got a new site/price/info update it’s worth another look.

SC1 Keybrid blank for SC1 keys/locks, $8.99
KW1 Keybrid blank for KW1 keys/locks, $8.99
SC1 & KW1 Bundle, $16.99

by Scott Amron