Awesome Living

Many inventions make you wonder how their creator came up with them. That’s not the case with Scott Salzman’s Desk Nest Cat Bed. It’s very clearly a cat bed stuck to a monitor arm. Can you make your own for half the price? If you have the skills, absolutely. But for everyone else, this might keep kitty off your keyboard. The bed rotates 360° and holds 25 lb.

This trio of titanium pocket tools combines a pry bar with a flip-out mini knife. The tiny M390 steel blade comes in handy for cutting off price tags, opening boxes, and stripping wires. Each model has a sturdy pry tip, with various wrench configurations. The largest one, the Xbar Sid, provides greater leverage and has a built-in bottle opener.

One hazard that crosses over many professions and activities is getting a splinter stuck in your finger. These precise metal tweezers are purpose-built for removing splinters, thorns, glass, metal, and other tiny things embedded in your skin. They’re made from stainless steel and retract into a brass handle.

Thailand bladesmith Wanchana Kanrangsee makes this absolutely stunning chef’s knife using the San Mai steel method. Its 325 mm blade incorporates folded layers of stainless and high-carbon steel to create a bold, one-of-a-kind design. Finishing things off is an ebony wood handle with a titanium liner. A special knife for a special person.

This rubberized mat is ideal for maintaining firearms, knives, pocket tools, and mechanical gadgets. Its divided trays keep parts and tools organized, while magnetic panels in its top right corner keep metal parts from rolling away. Its soft polymer surface resists damage from oils and has a non-slip backing, while built-in hooks make it easy to hang and store.

This flashlight is styled to resemble the kind seen around campsites in the mid-20th century. But instead of a dim incandescent bulb and D-cell or C-cell batteries, this model has a modern LED light source and is powered by a rechargeable 18650 battery. It’s made from aluminum and steel with a real glass lens. Barebones also makes a vintage-style lantern.

OpenAI’s new ChatGPT language model GPT-4o can respond to and with text, audio, images, and video. But perhaps more scarily amazing is that in Voice Mode – which allows it to respond using an AI-generated voice – it’s as snappy and natural-sounding as a human. GPT-4o is available even to free users, but using it in Voice Mode is limited to paid subscribers.

This tiny, palm-size pocket knife measures just 2.24″ long when closed and weighs just 0.19 oz. Its handle is made from titanium with carbon fiber inserts, and its flip-out mechanism accepts replaceable scalpel-style blades. It also has a loop for attaching to a lanyard or keychain. Great for opening packages, cutting paracord, or shaving wood.

This minimalist stainless steel tool from Gear Spool has a tapered end that’s great for prying things apart as well as removing labels, turning flat blade screws, opening cans, and cutting through packing tape. It can even be used to split logs when hit with a hammer. Measuring just about 3″ long, it’s a great addition to any keychain.

Wuben’s new T4 tactical flashlight is substantial despite its compact size. The heavy-duty light packs an OSRAM LED that cranks out 850 lumens. In addition to steady light mode, it has momentary-on and strobe capabilities. Available in a black 6061 aluminum or bronze in 7075 aluminum. The optional tactical grip ring has a built-in tungsten glass breaker.

This modular storage system from Klein Tools lets you build your perfect toolbox. Its small, medium, large, compartment, and cooler boxes stack and click together. The biggest box rolls on heavy-duty rubber wheels for easy transportation. Side-mounted add-ons include hooks, racks, bins, and a magnetic tool holder. There’s even a cupholder option.

This handsome bamboo valet tray is the perfect spot to empty your pockets. The right tray features a built-in Qi-compatible wireless charger for your phone, while the left side offers plenty of space for your wallet, keys, watch, and other everyday items. It supports 15-watt charging, and its base has non-slip pads.

If you’ve got to take prescriptions, it’s good to store them in a pill caddy. CountyComm’s limited-run Med Weekly PillSafe is way cooler looking than typical pill organizers. Each box is machined from a single brick of Ultem, known for its durability and translucent amber hue. It has a sliding lid with a topo engraving and date markers in each pill compartment.

This mechanical pencil forgoes the normal plastic body for one made from maple hardwood. That means each pencil has a unique wood grain and is one-of-a-kind. It accepts any 0.5 mm pencil lead and has a simple click-to-dispense mechanism. It also comes in a dark-stained version.

This Nite Ize gadget makes quick work of tying down objects. It has a carabiner clip on one side and a ratcheting cam mechanism for tightening a length of rope. It can work in a fixed-end or looped configuration and has a working load limit of 250 lb. The kit includes 10 feet of smooth-gliding 1/4″ rope.

Freitag’s versatile everyday backpack is the brand’s first to be made entirely from a single material, from its fabric to its buckles, making it much easier to recycle at the end of its lifespan. The water-repellant bag’s main compartment has roll-top access, and it comes with a pouch that can be attached to the outside of the pack or shoulder straps.

Class up your yard with a steel-reinforced garden shed from Keter. The durable, lockable double-door units keep gear organized and protected, and come with upper windows and a heavy-duty floor. Weather-resistant DecoCoat finishes look like wood but need no upkeep. Three sizes come in Walnut or Ashwood. Occupant-approved for gnomes only.

Luxury automaker Genesis thinks dogs should be just as calm and comfortable as humans while on the road. Their X Dog Concept is an accessory unit that sits in the cargo area of the whisper-quiet GV70 Electrified SUV. It features a heated dog bed, a ramp, ambient lighting, and an electric shower and hairdryer for cleaning up after muddy adventures.

Stanley partnered with streetwear designer and musician Hiroshi Fujiwara’s FRGMT to create this limited edition of their slim, stainless steel flask. It features a pebbled green finish and a wide mouth for easy filling. Its screw-on cap has a leakproof seal and is attached to a tether, so you can’t lose it. Holds appx. 8 oz. of liquid.

This electric plasma arc lighter stands out from the crowd with a metal case and a fold-out arm to extend its reach. Powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it sparks fires using an arc of electric plasma. Its case is made from die-cast zinc and tumbled brass, and it offers about 280 seconds of arc time per charge.

This beautiful lighter from Zippo’s Japanese product line features a deeply-embossed titanium coating that looks like rippling waves. It comes in a black or blue finish with Zippo’s famously reliable lighter mechanism inside. They also make versions with swirl and abstract geometric patterns.

No sensible human has asked for a peanut butter-flavored tequila, but here it is: Chica-Chida, a peanut butter and espadin agave spirit. Co-creator/Barstool Sports personality Caleb Presley calls it “peanut butter, butt better.” Puns aside, it pairs well with PB&J sammies and uses allergen-free peanut butter extract, so no-butty gets hurt.

This slimline flashlight won’t bulk up your pocket and is small enough to carry on your keychain. It outputs a crisp white 100-lumen beam and also has a red light mode for nighttime reading or navigation. It’s just 8mm thick, and its 800 mAh battery and built-in USB-C connector provide an emergency power source for your phone.