Behind the Craft Holiday Gift Guide
17 products that have genuinely made my life better
Dear subscribers,
Happy Black Friday!
I hate clutter, but here are 17 products ranging from $10 to $3,000 that have genuinely made my life better.
Many of these products are on sale today and there are no affiliate links in this post. Here’s the complete list organized into 3 sections:
Everyday essentials
Family gifts
Health and fitness
How I research what products to buy
Before we get to the list, I just wanted to share how I research what products to buy. It’s very simple, I just search for 3 things:
“Wirecutter best (item).” This is my source for professional reviews.
“Reddit best (item).” This is my source for actual user reviews.
Deep research “I’m thinking of buying (item), research professional and user reviews and give me your recommendation.” This is what I do in Claude when I really want to make sure that I’m buying the best product in its category.
Now let’s move on to the list 🙂
Everyday essentials
YouTube Premium ($14) — If I could only keep one subscription, it’d be this one. Going ad-free is a no-brainer if you think about how much we all watch YouTube. Premium also comes with YouTube Music (now my default music player) and background play. I’ve cancelled Netflix multiple times but would never cancel this.
Owala FreeSip water bottle ($23) — I’ve tried dozens of water bottles and this has become my go-to bottle. I love that I can sip through the straw which is really convenient when driving. The bottle maintains temperature well, looks great, and doesn’t leak if you secure it properly. Pro tip: If you’re prone to night snacking like me, have this bottle around and just sip water instead.
Baggu shopping bags ($42) — $42 for three bags sounds expensive, but I think they’re worth it. My wife and I use them constantly for grocery shopping, library books, and carrying stuff to the car and around town. They’re sturdy enough to hold heavy loads, easy to pack into a tiny pouch, and the designs look great.
Shure MV7 USB microphone ($269) — The Blue Yeti mic that everyone buys is a scam that picks up all your background noise. Instead, get this Shure mic which sounds much better. I use it for podcasting, but you should get one even if you only do Zoom calls. I attach it to an Elgato Wave Mic arm so that I can easily move it around.
Toto washlet bidet ($324) — Imagine never having to sit on a cold toilet seat again 🙂 I think a heated bidet is genuinely life changing. At the risk of TMI (too much info), it’s also much cleaner to use a bidet than just toilet paper. I’ve already replaced two toilet seats at home with these and might replace my last one too.
TravelPro platinum elite carry on luggage ($368) — If you love to travel like me, then you know that good luggage is important. This is my favorite so far — the wheels glide so well that I can just push it and it’ll roll on its own for a long time. The handle is ergonomic and I love the easy-access pocket on top.
Breville Barista Express ($499) — This might look like a splurge purchase but if you’re a coffee lover the machine will pay for itself within a year. I love using it to make espressos, lattes, and more in the mornings. It tastes 100% better than Starbucks slop.
Family gifts
Aura digital picture frame ($139) – This is by far the best gift I’ve given my parents. I periodically upload new photos and videos of my kids to it. Whenever I visit them in Canada, they tell me how much they love it. The frame looks beautiful too.
Shutterfly family calendar ($25) – If you don’t want to splurge on a digital frame, this is a great budget option. Every year, I make these calendars for both sets of grandparents by uploading pictures through the app. The calendar is always hanging on their wall whenever I visit.
LL Bean wicked good moccasins ($89) — These are amazing slippers to wear around the home, especially during winter. My feet usually are freezing when I’m working downstairs in the mornings. With these on, I don’t feel cold at all. They’re super soft, warm, and built to last. I got one for my mom too, and she loves it. Another solid pick is this Glare up wool slipper ($100).
Lululemon ABC pants ($138) — $138 sounds insane for pants, but after wearing ABCs I can’t go back to jeans anymore. They look professional enough for meetings but feel like wearing sweatpants. If you have a family member who’s still wearing jeans buy this for them and they won’t go back.
Magformers magnet toys ($49) — The most important part of a toy is how easy it is to clean up. 😅 Unlike Play-Doh or kinetic sand (never again), these magnets stick to each other and cleanup takes seconds. My kids have played with these from ages 2 to 7 and they still love building things with them.
Health & fitness
MZOO luxury sleep eye mask ($10) — I wear this $10 mask every night and they’ve improved my sleep way more than fancy sleep pods. Just putting it on triggers sleep within 15 minutes, and it stops me from doom-scrolling before bed.
FlipBelt zipper running belt ($30) — I’m not a marathon runner, but going on 3-5 mile runs once a week (to 80s power hour music 🔥) does wonders for my mood. I used to just hold my phone while running but this belt is so much better. It sits right above my waist under my shirt so no one can see it. I also use it around town to carry my keys and wallet, much to my wife’s embarrassment.
Currex RunPro insoles ($48) — Even if you don’t run, it’s worth buying shoes and these insoles from a professional running store because they make walking more comfortable. A good running store will measure your feet and give you the right insole for your arch height. Trust me, they make a world of difference.
Legion+ plant protein powder ($50) – Getting enough protein (0.8g / lb body weight) is harder for me than actually working out. As an Asian with lactose intolerance, my stomach can’t handle whey protein. This plant protein gives me 24 grams per scoop and the apple pie flavor tastes delicious mixed with yogurt every morning.
Tonal ($3,295) — This is the most expensive item on my list and it also comes with a $59/month subscription. Sounds insane but if you’re strapped for time, this is one of the best fitness purchases you can make. I’ve had mine for five years and logged over 4 million pounds on it. Being able to just go to my garage to work out with a video coach is a game changer if you’re busy. You do have to push yourself to get results.
Wrap up
Can you believe I recommended 17 products without a single mention of “AI”?! 😅
If you found something useful here, I’d love to hear about it. And if you have your own favorite products that improved your life, please share with us in the comments below!
Love a great gift guide from someone I admire and trust. Thank you!