Awesome Tools

Introducing the uber-flashlight: the Tactical 5.11’s batteryless Light for Life takes only 90s to charge, is impact resistant, works from -40° C to 65° C, and has a peak output of 270 lumens.

They look ready to explode out of an unsuspecting victim’s chest, but these Alien LED Jumper Cables are purely benign; a high-intensity LED lights up when you squeeze the clamps.

GP has an excellent review up of Craftsman’s Cap Wrench Bottle Opener; it’s basically a opener that acts as a fulcrum, albeit weighing a solid 0.64 lbs and made from solid steel.

Make my day (a little brighter): the Flashlight Speed Holster is designed for torch quick draws with left/right-hand mounting, a triple battery compartment and three size adapters.

Alright, so the name could use some work unless you fancy a perm, but the PowerCurl is a potential godsend for MacBook owners; it’s a clip-on cord wrap for MagSafe Adapters.

Bloxygen is a can of compressed argon and a lifesaver for painters; a two-second blast before sealing a can sprays enough argon to effectively block oxygen from spoiling paint.

Hand-tooled and printed, ThinkGeek had to start from scratch since no factory exists for this authentic 50s-60s Slide Rule; it measures 12.5″ and comes in a vinyl sleeve with retro box.

Designed to be mounted on your bike’s handlebars, Garmin’s Edge 500 weighs a scant 2 oz; it’ll not only track distance, speed, location and elevation but is ANT+ compatible.

Propaganda’s Bookmark II has us wondering, “Why didn’t I think of that?!” it’s a rubber band that straps around your book with one killer feature: an arrow to keep your place in the text.

5 gallon buckets are a dime a dozen on job sites, but BucketVAC turns them into commercial-grade wet/dry vacuums; it uses the bucket’s own handle as a lock and weighs 7 lbs.

If the Elise is out of your budget, these Lotus L42 Lighters mix European design and feature triple wind-resistant torch flames, a fuel level gauge and integrated 8 mm punch.

Stat Key’s Designer Keys are an elegant solution to a age-old problem: they let you distinguish one Kwikset key from the next with easily recognizable shapes.

Hot on the tentacles of the Gorillamobile, the Gorillatorch is a 65 lumen LED flashlight on a tripod; it comes with magnetized feet and rubberized surfaces to prevent scratching.

The screwdriver-on-a-keyring idea isn’t new, but it’s tough to beat this pair of Screw Keys: it’s affordable, low-profile and made out of durable blackened steel that’s been heat treated.

Forget those sissy Post-Its, real men use Jumbo StickIt Pads which are 36x larger than normal and include 80 12″x12″ pages. Still not convinced? Listen to Vat19’s We Do It Jumbo Rap.

Smith’s Pocket Pal is a multi-function compact sharpener for tool and tackle boxes; it features reversible and replaceable carbide and ceramic stones, plus a diamond coated rod.

The Striker Folding Multi-Blade is a utility knife done right: a big but pocket-friendly handle, striking cap, crosscut file, and on-board blade storage make drywalling a cinch.

Coming soon: Wicked Laser’s 2010 PRO Series increases safety and power for their Spyder, Evolution and Executive lasers, with the Spyder III going Class IV with 500 mw of output.

The Brewzkey essentially sells itself: the key-shaped bottle opener is designed to be carried on your keychain, and is durable; it’s as thick as a nickel and made out of stainless steel.

It may not have as many tools as modern knives, but Victorinox’s 125th Anniversary Heritage Knife is a historical treasure: it’s a replica of an 1884 Swiss Army Soldier’s Knife.

Light, portable and designed to be hung from your keychain, Swiss+Tech’s Utili-Key XT is an 8-in-1 stainless steel multi-tool with a wire cutter, screwdrivers, knife blades, and more.

Designed for the modern caveman, Matthias Kaeding’s ceramic Neolithic Knives will turn you into very old-school chef–minus the loincloths, bad teeth and grunting, of course.

Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Flashlight is the ultimate fake-out: instead of slicing you in half it’ll light the way with four red LED bulbs, leaving you to scare Jedi with its sound effects alone.