Reddit Recommendations for Geeky Essentials Under $ 50
Every geek worthy of his ( Taco Bell ) salt has a stock of tech gear he can’t live without. And it’s not just a pile of expensive items: old game consoles, a stack of hard drives, or a forgotten box of old smartphones. There are plenty of essentials to pack in a tool belt, belt bag, or backpack – or at least have on hand for those few critical moments when you need a particular item to complete a technological task.
I recently came across a large Reddit recommendation thread – a better technical product yet, because the thread’s focus was on an amazing mechanism that you can get for $ 50 (and in some cases way under $ 50). I went through every recommendation that was voted on to compile a list of things to consider for your own customization, and added a few of my personal recommendations to a mix that didn’t seem to get any Reddit love.
Since Redditors’ recommendations cover a wide range of items, I’ve also grouped them into categories to make it easier for you to scan. And before I get down to the list, I have one more caveat: I’m not going to recommend that you buy certain products. I haven’t tested many of them and I don’t want you to buy something terrible. Instead, I’ll talk about the type of product and its importance. (Photos serve as illustrative examples, not product recommendations.)
Tiny, annoying technical basics
Cables
I have bags and bags with various cables and even backups because I know that as soon as I throw one away, I will need it for some project next week.
They all have different devices that need to be connected to something else, I understand. If I were collecting cables (and I do!), I would focus on at least these:
- USB Type-A – mini-USB (preferably USB 3 Type-A)
- USB Type A – micro-USB (preferably USB 3 Type-A)
- USB Type A – USB-C (USB 3 Type-A preferred; also USB-C for most new third party devices)
- USB Type A – Lightning (preferably USB 3 Type-A; also applicable for Apple fans only)
- USB Type A – USB Type B (for devices like your old printer)
- USB-C to Lightning (for charging iPhone from Macbook)
- USB-C to USB-C cable (getting expensive!)
- Thunderbolt 3 cable (although it probably won’t work for most people)
- Standard three-pin power cable
- DisplayPort to DisplayPort or Mini DisplayPort cable (those that connect monitors to desktops or laptops)
- HDMI cable (cheapest, supporting latest HDMI standard)
- 3.5mm male audio cable (who knows!)
- Flat Ethernet cable (Cat.5e is at least flat because it is much easier to handle and store than regular cable, especially at longer lengths)
Dongles
What good is a great cable if your device doesn’t support it? Only you will know what inconvenient combination of cables and keys you need for your devices. Some that might be worth picking up include:
- USB Type A to USB-C adapter (or vice versa, depending on your settings)
- 3.5mm Lightning speaker adapter (which I often lose)
- USB Type A or USB-C to Ethernet adapter (if you need a convenient wired laptop connection)
You can also opt for a cooler hub containing a bunch of ports that you connect to your laptop via USB (probably USB-C). Buy one of these and you’ll be ready for whatever you need.
Longer cables for your favorite device
Even if you already have most of the cables you need for the devices you charge or plug in at home, consider updating the tiny cables that come with your favorite device’s packaging.
You can probably find a cheap version of the same cable from Amazon (the AmazonBasics brand, that is) or Monoprice – and get something much more than what you already have. This will give you the opportunity, for example, to charge your smartphone in new and interesting places inaccessible to your shorter charging cable.
Power bank
The first thing I think about packaging when going on vacation is my reliable portable smartphone battery, big enough to power my laptop and Nintendo Switch when needed. I never have to worry about finding a place to recharge when I’m not traveling, and I don’t have to waste precious time connecting to my local Starbucks as I can just charge my phone in my pocket while I am out and about.
The exact laptop you get depends a lot on the devices you want to charge – how much charge they need, as well as how quickly you want them to charge. For example, you don’t have to carry around a heavier and cumbersome portable battery that can power a laptop if you just want to pocket something that can effectively double your smartphone’s battery life.
Some Reddit users have suggested a new type of portable charger – newer to me at least – that can be used as both a wall charger and a portable device . I love this concept as it kills two birds with one stone. Plug it in and you have a useful adapter for charging multiple devices at the same time. And while it does this, it also charges itself. Unplug it and you now have a convenient charger to carry with you.
Cheap backup headphones (or earbuds)
How many times have you lost your headphones? Broke (or forgot) your favorite headphones? It never hurts to have a cheap backup pair to leave in your bag or backpack. Buy something cheap – no Beats – and you won’t be upset if you lose or break both .
In addition to this, some Reddit users have recommended buying a cheap pair of Bluetooth headphones. No wire; don’t fuss.
Wall sockets with USB charging ports
Instead of lifting some kind of multi-port adapter plug into an outlet, why not replace your wall outlet with the one that comes with built-in USB ports ? While you may not want to use them in, say, your power-hungry laptop, they are a great option for your smartphone or tablet. Plus, you can still use real power outlets.
LED headlamp
Old school flashlights. While the “flashlight” built into your smartphone is incredibly convenient, holding it and the tool while you fix something can still be awkward. Pick up an inexpensive LED headlamp and you’re good to go. Since it is a speakerphone, it will be as comfortable as it is bright.
Magnetic screwdriver
This is my addition, so I will be brief. Once you witness the power of the magnetic screwdriver holding your screw in place while you place it over what you are working on, you will never go back.
Bonus points if you find a magnetic screwdriver, which is also one of those crazy six-head-in-one setups that gives you a lot of flexibility when you’re working on something.
Bulky (or more expensive) gear for your geek lair
Great extension cord or surge protector
Surge protectors will not protect your electronics from lightning strikes , but they can help protect your electronics from less intense power fluctuations that can damage your equipment.
And I have a giant storm roll in your area, it is much easier to pull one overvoltage protection (or power strip) out of the wall, which you want to do in the event of lightning does strike, than have to unplug and plug in a bunch of separate devices.
SSD
If you’re still using an old mechanical hard drive in your laptop, desktop, or game console … don’t. The speed gains you’ll get from upgrading to an SSD are noticeable and worth every penny, especially if you’re getting a smaller-capacity drive that isn’t very expensive. To really get your money’s worth, spend some time with Storage Review to make sure you’re getting the fastest SSD for your investment.
Light switches with motion sensor
I am an automation lover. If it were at my discretion, I would connect every room in the house with smart plugs and smart lights so that I can control different “sets” of devices with a voice command or touching my smartphone.
If that sounds too much, you can automate your home or apartment at least a little by replacing your regular light switches with motion-sensor light switches. This saves you the minor annoyance of having to turn on the lights when you enter the room, and ensures that you don’t accidentally leave anything on when you leave the house – unless you have a pet, of course.
Decent desktop microphone (or headset and microphone combination)
Whether you’re a gamer, a budding podcaster, or just love chatting with people on the internet, it’s time to upgrade your headphones or that crappy business one-ear microphone you’ve been using for years. Buy a good and inexpensive desktop microphone or a new all-in-one headset and microphone combination and your friends and guildmates will be thrilled to finally understand half of what you are saying.
Chromecast (or similar flash drive-sized streaming device)
If you have an old, crappy TV but HDMI streaming works with it, you’ve suddenly turned an obsolete artifact into a smart TV. The same is true if your smart TV starts to show its age a little, and its interface is clumsy, or for other reasons the manufacturer no longer updates it. One Chromecast later (or Roku, or Nvidia Shield, or Apple TV, or whatever) and you feel like a brand new device.
Car stuff
USB starter
If you want a regular starter for your car – and can find one for under $ 50 – great! However, one of these bulky devices is a little cumbersome to carry around with you, even if you stuff it in your trunk and never think about it until you really need it. Instead, try buying a portable starter that can be charged via USB and can be used as a portable power bank for your other USB devices. Not only will you have an extra battery that you can carry with you on the road (or use in case of emergency), but you also no longer have to look for another car and plug in jumper cables.
Dashboard camera
Why would you ever have a camera recording every minute you spend on the road? How boring. At the very least, you are likely to think so until someone drags you off and lies to the police claiming that you are to blame (or share the blame). A small investment in an always-on dashboard camera can save hundreds, if not thousands, if you’re a safe driver.
OBD II device
What? Unless you’re too passionate about cars, you probably don’t know that your car – and all cars built after 1996 – have an on-board diagnostic system. This is the “OBD” bit. Connect one to your car’s OBD II port, for example:
You will then be able to use the smartphone app to see what many of your vehicle’s sensors are trying to tell you. For example, you can get a little more information about why your car’s Check Engine light comes on, and you can even get a bunch of details about your car in the event of an accident (especially useful if this information helps show that you are not at fault). Wired OBD II devices will probably cost less than wireless ones, but they are probably more for diagnostics than for keeping track of the condition of your vehicle or where you have been.
Various household items
Hand blender
Yes, there are tons of immersion blenders out there that cost just over $ 50. If you’re an aspiring chef who just needs a quick, easy way to turn solid foods into great pasta – or whatever – then getting something you can hold in your hand and twirl around a saucepan is great cuisine. Refresh. A regular blender will work as well, but it may have a little more firepower than what you need, and cleaning is not that easy.
Waterproof bluetooth speaker
If you don’t like smart speakers but need something to carry and spank around wherever you are at work, that is, something with better sound quality than your smartphone speakers, consider getting a portable. (and waterproof) bluetooth speaker.
The waterproof part is great if you plan on taking the speaker to the shower (or to the beach). If you just need to carry something with you while you prepare, fold your clothes, or work outside, you can probably get by with a portable speaker that is not waterproof, but you’d better get a big discount for that trade-off.
Home security camera
Chances are high that your house or apartment will never be penetrated, but you never know. And while a home security camera may not be enough to stop the theft, it is possible that you will get enough evidence to help the police catch whoever stole your belongings. Apart from this, there are many other good reasons for buying a CCTV camera. Maybe you don’t trust your roommates (or the friends they bring). Perhaps you want to create an Instagram video of all the stupid things your pets do during the day. Maybe you just need some peace of mind when you’re on vacation, everything is in its ideal places – and that of course nothing leaks while you are away.
When looking for a camera, try to find one that can deliver at least 1080p resolution, capture images day and night, and can record continuously to an SD card (rather than a cloud service that you may have to pay for). Motion detection is also a plus, as well as the ability to speak through the camera if you need to give something you’re viewing, some instructions (or, in your pet’s case, a slight reprimand).