Sometimes it’s the little things that have the biggest impact. Today I’m sharing my favorite small things, the ones I actually use, at home and on the road.

None of this is sponsored. These are things I bought myself and kept using.

Everyday Carry and Jewelry

1. A Quality Measuring Tape

One thing I have with me whether I travel, I’m at home, or I’m on the road. I go with fiberglass because it doesn’t stretch, so I always get an accurate measurement, and it’s foldable, packable, and stashable.

I use it for clothing measurements, product measurements, measurements on my body, and whatever else I need.

2. Pinky Rings

I love pinky rings. They’re small, they’re made of gold, and you can change them with your outfit and your personality. They’re unique to you.

Because they’re gold, they’re also sellable. I bought most of mine when the gold price was under $1,000 an ounce, and it’s now over $4,000, so it’s an investment you can actually wear. Definitely the most classic piece of men’s jewelry there is.

3. Cufflinks

The other piece of men’s jewelry I really love. They upgrade any shirt, and they’re beautiful objects in their own right. These are the eagle and snake from the Fort Belvedere Predator and Prey line, and they go easily into a French cuff shirt.

Not many people wear cufflinks anymore, so if you do, you stand out. I always get compliments when I wear them.

4. A Slim Card Holder Wallet

The Fort Belvedere slim wallet is super practical when you travel. Always handy to have, and I keep a KeySmart card in it.

Travel Essentials

I always bring a lot of small things when I travel, because they make life more pleasant and easier.

5. A Luggage Scale

Mine is from Etekcity, rated to 110 lb, which is more than my suitcase has ever weighed. I’ve found a lot of scales aren’t accurate, and when I pack, buy things, or get rid of things, the weight changes. I hate paying airlines for overweight baggage.

This little scale has probably saved me several thousand dollars.

6. A Travel Tray

I have ADHD, so I always bring a travel tray. Keys, cufflinks, change, metro tickets, all in one organized place so I can find them again. Otherwise I’m lost.

7. A Manicure Kit

TSA approved for carry-on, and it helps me stay well groomed, especially on a longer trip.

8. An Eye Mask

You never know how bright it is outside. I don’t want to travel without one anymore.

9. Sleep Pods

Basically an earplug with a built-in noise machine, so you don’t hear anything. It connects to your phone. They’ve saved me many times and given me hours of good sleep when it was loud and annoying outside.

11. An Old-School Luggage Tag

I don’t just want to rely on the AirTag, so I use a proper luggage tag with my address. It’s nicely hidden, it has double-folded edges, and it’s made to last. It doesn’t just look good, it gives me peace of mind.

12. A Passport Holder

Keeps my passports in one organized place. It gives me peace of mind every time I travel.

13. A KeySmart Card

It fits into a credit card slot, connects to your phone like an AirTag, and charges wirelessly. The battery is good for a year, so I can always see where my passport is if I misplace it. It’s been a lifesaver more than once.

14. A Travel Jewelry Box

For keeping everything together and protected on the road.

15. A Soft Leather Glasses Case

I always bring a pair of sunglasses when I travel, and they go into a soft leather case that works with the rest of my accessories.

16. Cologne Samples

At 2 ml they’re not heavy, there’s no issue with flammable goods, and they work just as well as the big bottle. That’s plenty for the duration of any of my trips.

17. A Second Scent for the Trip

Mine are from The Nose Behind, the collection by Herbert Stricker. Suits is the one I reach for most: fresh, citrusy, and about as versatile as a fragrance gets.

Grooming and Personal Care

18. Native Deodorant

When I stopped using aluminum-free deodorants I often got a rash, until I found this one. It smells good and causes no skin irritation.

19. Your Own Shampoo

Hotel shampoo gives me dandruff, so I always bring my own. Nizoral, in my case. That way I get exactly the product I want and don’t come back from a trip with dandruff.

20. Refillable Silicone Bottles

Small enough to get through TSA, and much better than the travel-size bottles the brands sell, because they’re soft and you can squeeze everything out.

21. A Water Flosser

Most people floss with string, and the problem is it often breaks. I use a water flosser instead, every day.

22. MUHI MOPIDICK-s Itch Relief Lotion

Whenever something itches or I get a bug bite, I reach for this. It’s from Japan. I don’t know exactly what’s in it, but it works.

23. A Tide To Go Stick

You undo it, put it on the stain, and it gets a little solvent out. A great first aid item that has saved me from embarrassment many times when I had a spot of tomato sauce on my tie or shirt.

Tech and Charging

24. A Fitbit

No subscription fee, and the battery lasts a week. It gives me data on my sleep and oxygen levels, keeps me honest about my workouts, and motivates me to do more.

25. AirPods Pro 3

The battery life is much better than the older ones, and the noise cancelling is good enough for most flights. I use them every day for hours.

26. An Anker Travel Charger

I used to think a small all-in-one tool was best. They’re usually not powerful enough, and if they are, they fall out of the outlet.

I switched to this one from Anker. It’s relatively flat, and the key is the cable: lightweight, and I can add an international adapter and plug it into the wall where it stays put all night.

I can charge my computer, iPad, phone, and AirPods at once, and there are two American outlets for the heavy chargers meant to plug in directly. Everything is charged and I don’t have to think about it.

27. Long, High Quality Cables

The cable is the key, which is why my charger never comes unplugged. I like the Anker ones for their length, and this one has a bit of silicone to it.

28. Cable Matters Thunderbolt 4 Cables

Short, but very good for transferring large files quickly, like from a camera to a computer. There was a time when I thought all cables were the same, until I transferred data and realized these are genuinely better.

29. Rechargeable Batteries

You can use them over and over, they come in all sizes, and they last longer than conventional alkaline batteries. With the size of modern chargers you can even bring them when you travel. Most of mine are Eneloop or Energizer.

Kitchen and Home

30. Canned Fish

A tiny consumable thing I love. Beans, tuna, mackerel, mussels, whatever you name it, I eat it.

31. A Quality Corkscrew

One with a little knife on top and a double-hinged mechanism, so you brace it on the bottle, screw it in, and it works every time. Mine is a Pulltap’s from Spain. Nice weight, good quality, had it for years.

32. A Damascus Steel Paring Knife

Mine is from Shun. Beautiful thing, and it lives at home.

33. An Inexpensive Paring Knife

The Victorinox is much cheaper, and that’s the one I bring when I travel, because I’m not worried about losing or damaging it. It’s so much better than the knives you get at an Airbnb, which always suck, without exception.

34. A Full-Size Peppermill

Freshly ground pepper is so superior to the pre-ground stuff, and you can decide how coarse you want it. Mine is from Cole & Mason. The bigger ones give you more pepper more quickly.

35. A Compact Peppermill

For travel, or simply for a smaller table, the compact version will do just fine.

36. An IKEA Plastic Bag

One of the cheapest things on this list, and one of the most ecological. It costs about $2, it’s made of recycled plastic, and I use it for the farmers market and for travel. It comes apart easily. A perfect example of how a tiny thing can turn out to be a big one.

The Detail That Changes Everything

37. A Spare Set of Shoelaces

Often underrated. Change the color of the lace and you change the entire look of the shoe. It’s easy, it’s cheap, it’s reversible, and you can bring it when you travel.

One pair of shoes, four pairs of laces, four different looks.

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