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GEAR IS CORE to the identity of us LIVE A LITTLE guys. Gear encompasses all of the gadgets, tech, bags, and watches that make life that much more sweeter.
Sweeter how? Well, through function and utility of course, but also through making us feel like we’re James Bond or Ernest Shackleton.
In other words, we feel frickin’ badass.
The Best Gadgets, Tech, & Gear of 2025 (So Far)
This guide I’ve put together includes all of my favorite gear I’ve found halfway through the year. There’s going to be an insane amount of releases as we roll into fall and winter, and I want to give justice to all the great gear that’s been released (or newly discovered) so far this year.
One more note: I’ve made an effort to highlight my favorite Kickstarter campaigns in this guide. Kickstarter is one of my favorite ways to look for new gear. I can get a direct view of what other people are excited about by tracking the progress of the project fund. On the good Kickstarter campaigns, there’s always a very clear business plan that states how and why their product belongs in the market.
With that all being said, let’s get to the gear. LIVE A LITTLE Paid, you’ve got full access to this story, plus the full list of the guide in the “Rundown” section of this post.
The Wild Outdoor Watch That’s Under $170: Casio Pro Trek PRJB001-B2
One of the lightest Pro Trek watches Casio has ever made, the PRJB001-B2 is designed for ultralight hikes and camping. It’s made from a bio-based resign case. It’s also got a rotating bezel that will cover the watch’s buttons, which prevents any accidental pressing.
My favorite feature is the band: a bungee cord attached to a soft cloth. $160.
For the Gym Guy: KNKG Gym Duffel Bag
Pronounced “King Kong,” these gym bags feature a divider system to break up all your workout gear. In one divider, you can keep a water bottle, while in the others you can store pre-workout powder, a weight belt, jump rope, etc.
KNKG bags are a pretty penny. Priced at $300. In a world where all gym bags are the same, KNKG is at least doing something unique (and doing it well).
The Canada-Tough Gear Box: NANUK Trail 30 Case
NANUK, pronounced “na-nook,” is a Canadian gear-maker that is for “campers, hunters, anglers, and everyday adventurers.” The Trail 30 is the first NANUK product I learned about. The trunk’s rugged roller wheels and eco-friendly hardshell design immediately caught my eye. (The wheels are definitely outfitted to go over dirt and gravel with ease.)
My two other favorite specs about the case is: the case is entirely floatable, and it’s weight (empty) is under 12 pounds. Priced at $280-$300.
A Reliable Running Watch Under $250: SUUNTO Run
The Run is SUUNTO’s newest pure running watch. It’s $249—a generous price point for a wearable these days. It’s got 12 days of battery on Daily Watch Mode and 20 hours in training/GPS mode. My favorite features include: an AMOLED screen, a 4GB of music storage, and a 1-hour fast charging mode. The the Lime and Coral Orange colors go hard.
German Design at Its Finest: Ortleib Duffel Lite
Ever since buying a bike in January of this year, I’ve been in a deep dive on Ortleib bags. Through browsing the site, Ortleib’s travel gear has also caught my eye. Specifically this Duffel Lite.
It’s a water-resistant bag with one long zipper and convertible straps to turn it to a backpack. The 40L is priced at $230.
For Trusted Tunes: Turtlebox Ranger Speaker
Released at the beginning of 2025, the Turtlebox Ranger is essentially a mini version of the Original. The Original is one of my all-time favorite outdoor speakers.
My favorite features of the Ranger include: IP-67 waterproof, up to 3 full days of battery, and a left/right stereo pairing with the Gen 2 Turtlebox. Priced at $220.
(Another side note about Turtlebox, I’m liking their marketing strategies lately. One of the latest moves is this subtle sponsorship of a Campfire Concert with GothBabe.)
Best Gadget Under $20: Gerber Driver
Gerber’s everyday tools are super useful and price-friendly. The $10 Shard DT is one of their tools I love. Another tool that’s newer is the Gerber Driver.
It’s similar to the Shard DT but has a little more utility: bottle opener, package opener, pry bar, and screwdriver that comes with Phillips & flat head bits. The Driver is priced at $16.
Most Underrated Golf Gadget: Caddy Classics Royal Reds Tees
If you’re looking for gifts for golfers and don’t want to spend a ton, Caddy Classics are an easy choice. They’re wooden (bamboo) golf tees packaged into spoof cigarette boxes. The boxes are reusable, so you can keep refilling them once you’ve purchased. $20.
Best “Hell Yeah, Brother” Gadget: SOG Throwing Death Cards
The 12-year-old me would’ve had thought these were insanely cool. The 28-year-old thinks the same. This 4-pack of stainless steel throwing cards have a fixed-blade edge for throwing into wood and other surfaces. Priced at $30.
The Most Unique Gadget: NestOut Carabiner Battery
The Nestout Carabiner Battery is one of my top gadgets on this list. The rugged charger costs no more thna $50 (priced at $45) and has 5,000 mAh power—which is about the same power as an Anker 621 MagSafe.
Clip this bad boy onto your travel duffel or camping backpack.
If You Need a Sturdy Phone Stand: UAG Magnetic Ring Stand
Urban Armor Gear has always made solid phone cases, but I’ve really enjoyed seeing them level-up in their accessories. They make great iPhone charger cables, Apple Watch bands, and phone stands.
The phone stand (pictured above) is the Magnetic Ring Stand. It’s not technically new, but UAG keeps releasing new colors in it. I’ve been using the Magnetic Ring Stand for about 8 months now. It’s incredibly strong, but at the hinges and also on the magnetic piece. Super useful when I’m at work and want my phone propped up on my desk. Priced at $40.
Too Wild Not to Mention: No Normal Coffee Paste
No Normal Coffee is coffee paste that comes in a tube. I’ve seen it across a few outlets now (Gear Patrol first, but a recent Bon Apetit mag feature prompted further curiosity). Each tube has about 20 cups of coffee and a shelf life of 12 months.
What’s interesting is No Normal advertises the paste can be consumed via tube, or on toast—kinda like how Australians consume Vegemite. I’d probably just mix in hot water and make a regular cup of Joe.
Keep in mind the paste is more concentrated in caffeine than regular coffee. So if you eat it directly, I’m sure you’ll give yourself a pretty good buzz. Starts at $17 a tube.
The Pouch I Use Daily: Evergoods Civic Access Pouch
Based in Montana, Evergoods is one of my favorite gear brands. I’ve been using this Civic Access Pouch for work and for travel here living in Austin. I store my charging cords in it, along with my work mouse and other small goods.
The pouch is tough and weather-resistant thanks to a 420-denier nylon and a polyurethan coating. As far as design configuration, there’s tons of pocket space and compartments. I love how the open-shell design lets the pouch sit upright when fully opened. Priced at $75.
Slide-Action Wallet, Engage: Groove Wallet
Slide-action wallets are super fun. I’ve yet to find one as good as Groove Wallet: all-metal design, holds up to 8 cards, and has a card lock that keeps all your plastic in place.
To use it, all you have to do is press upward on the built-in thumb grip and the mechanism will fan out all your cards in one smooth motion. Priced at $75.
The IYKYK Backpack: Seven Peaks All Versions Backpack
I learned about the Kickstarter campaign for the Seven Peaks All Versions Backpack via a shared post on Instagram. It’s a versatile pack that adapts to city and hiking conditions, made from a strong nylon that’s waterproof and abrasion-resistant. I love its premium features: two insulated pockets for food, three small pockets on the front straps, a 15” laptop sleeve, a cushioned and ventilated back, and an open-access compartment so you can pack all your clothes inside similar to a carry-on.
It works best when you buy the accompanying sling bag, so I’d recommend the late pledge of the backpack and detachable sling bag. That’s about $204 right now.
For the Digital Nomad: Xebec Tri-Screen 3
Xebec was founded in 2019 with a simple mission: make it possible for anyone to work from anywhere. Their original Tri-Screen allowed a user to instantly add two full monitors to their works station no matter where they were. That could be at a coffee shop or off-the-grid somewhere in your digital nomad camper van.
The Tri-Screen 3 is currently being funded on Kickstarter, and it packs some seriously good updates to the last Tri-Screen 2.
You can vertically adjust the monitors, which is helpful those who are in spreadsheets and finance roles. The integrated kickstand also keeps the whole display sturdy, so you don’t have to worry about it tipping over or being fragile. The new system is under two pounds in weight and is super packable. Priced at $599 for early backers.
