Cutting Board with Collapsible Bin

From the “so-obvious-it’s-genius” file comes this cutting board from Progressive with an attached scraps bin that catches all the bits you’re cutting off. No more cleaning stray vegetable chunks off the floor or scrambling around searching for that finger you accidentally chopped off.

The bin is detachable if you like, but when attached it has a secure seal so no liquids get through the crack, and it hangs over the edge of the counter to make sure gravity works in your favor. And the “collapsible” part comes from how the bin nestles neatly against the cutting board when in storage. Just make sure you take that finger out first. You don’t want to be finding that thing in there later.…

$25-$50, Kitchen

By Doug Sinclair on February 4th, 2012

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$27 BUY

Bash | Unbreakable Sledge Hammer

Bash, an appropriate name for what the company claims is the most durable sledge hammer in the world, outperforming both wood and fiberglass handled hammers.

The Bash hammer has a steel core design, high-visibility green flat head that stands upright, textured handle for a secure grip, lanyard hole for securing the hammer around your wrist, safety plate that prevents the head from dislodging, and an anti-vibe, ergonomically designed neck.

Wilton is so confident in their sledge hammer being unbreakable, they’ll pay you $1,000 in cash if the handle breaks during normal use within two years after the date of purchase.…

$100-$250, $25-$50, $50-$100, Tools

By Jason Bacchetta on January 27th, 2012

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$40-$160 BUY

Gerber Folding Shovel

The Gerber E-Tool folding shovel is one tough little bastard.

“Tough”, because it’s reinforced with military-grade powder-coated carbon steel. I don’t know what that is, exactly, but I know I want everything I own to be reinforced with it. It also has a serrated blade to rough up really hard earth, and a pick on the back to tear through roots and rocks. If you want to dig all the way to China, not even the core of the Earth is going to stop you.

“Little”, because it folds up for easy transport, and even unfolded it’s only 24 inches long and weighs 2.3 pounds. Perfect for digging foxholes on the go. Size doesn’t matter when you’re this mean.

And “bastard”, because this is clearly not the kind of shovel that negotiates with dirt. Brute force, baby.…

$25-$50, Tools

By Doug Sinclair on January 14th, 2012

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$41 BUY

SpareOne | Emergency Mobile Phone

SpareOne is the only cell phone in the world powered by a standard AA battery (the most widely available and inexpensive battery). Admittedly, that’s not very intriguing…

Until you find out that it has up to 10 hours talk time and keeps its charge for up to 15 years. It’s designed to be used for sponsorship, hotel use and emergencies. Simply put in the battery and either a GSM SIM or microSIM, and then toss it in your glove compartment. If your car ever breaks down or you find yourself stuck in the middle of a zombie apocalypse with a dead iPhone, just whip this baby out and call for help.

Add this along with the Energizer All-In-One Jump-Start System and you’re good to go.…

$25-$50, Mobile Phones

By Jason Bacchetta on January 12th, 2012

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$49 BUY

CanvasPop Instagram Photos

Thanks to a mix of a secret algorithm and good ol’ fashioned business savvy, hipsters across the US and Canada can finally display their Instagram masterpiece in physical form. Blown-up onto a canvas to hang on their wall, these quasi-paintings come in many different sizes and options. CanvasPop, the company behind the idea, is a spin-off of the folks at DNA 11 who blew up strands of DNA into gorgeous portraits.

Users of the popular photo-sharing service can integrate their account with the CanvasPop site and easily choose the photos they wish to print. Though some of the photos posted to Instagram should be forgotten and never seen again, there are a lot of talented people who use the service and will appreciate that their art can live a truly offline existence.…

$25-$50, Art & Decor

By Andrew Kalinchuk on January 9th, 2012

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$30+ BUY

Slimmy

Okay, okay I know what you’re probably thinking—”just another gimmick to sucker my money from me”. Don’t worry, though, that was even yours truly’s initial judgement.

Slimmy: It bills itself (dig the obvious pun, yeah?) as “The Slimmest Front Pocket Wallet On Earth”, and claims “faster and more secure” access than a bulky, bulgy, traditional wallet. Slimmy sports three side-by-side spaces and touts that its unstitched (on one side) pockets negate having to fold items. Like its counterparts, “regular” wallets, though, Slimmy only stores drivers licenses, business cards, debit/credit cards, receipts and so forth.

I’m not sure about the next guy, but I still prefer the traditional, butt-clinging wallet for now—even as James Bond-ish as Slimmy’s operation might seem.…

$25-$50, Wallets

By Michael Bock on January 6th, 2012

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$35 BUY

Roll Up Travel Charger

In a perfect world, every electronic device would use exactly the same kind of charger with exactly the same kind of connector. You’d carry one charger with you and if your phone, ipod, toothbrush, or any other gizmo ran out of juice, you’d just yank that charger out of one device and plug it into the other. But we don’t live in that world. Our world has multiple incompatible connectors which demands that you build up a spaghetti mess of different charger cables, and it makes this world suckier.

The Roll Up Travel Charger from Restoration Hardware aims to de-suckify the world just a little bit. It puts multiple charging outlets on a single bar, with connectors for all the most common stuff: iPhone, miniUSB, microUSB, and Samsung. There’s only one power cord for the whole thing, which means you can charge all four devices at the same time on a single AC outlet. And when you’re done, the bar rolls up into a stylish polyurethane mat that’s easy to carry and never gets knotted up like power cord hell.…

$25-$50, Travel & Luggage

By Doug Sinclair on December 24th, 2011

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$49 BUY

Secret Passageway Switch

Secret passageway switches are a necessary component in everyone’s dream library. The room opened by the switch could be anything: a panic room, man cave, or even a parisian bakery (if that’s your thing). This switch in particular, uses the classic “hinged book” as its activator.

Of course, if you don’t have access to a hidden room (not many of us do) you can always use it to switch on your light. Illuminating a room won’t be nearly as awe-inspiring as revealing a secret passageway, but it will at least keep the dream alive.…

$25-$50, Gear

By Andrew Kalinchuk on December 14th, 2011

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$50 BUY

Star Wars Holiday Lights

The Christmas Spirit is strong in those, who choose to make Star Wars Holiday Lights a part of their annual celebration. Now you can choose your favorite Star Wars characters to adorn that holiday tree, as long as your favorite Star Wars characters are Yoda and R2-D2. The 11.5-foot long strand of lights contains 10 Yodas or R2s on each one. It’s all officially licensed by the bearded one, so no fear of getting slapped with a lawsuit.

It also runs only $30, a small price to pay for special themed lights. Add one strand a year, and maybe by the time your kids are grown, you’ll be able to have the whole friggin’ galaxy from far, far away up on your tree. We’re holding out for the Darth Vader Tree Topper. Come on, guys. Make that happen. Also not a bad Star Wars holiday idea: the Xbox 360 Limited Edition Kinect Star Wars Bundle. Tad more expensive, though.…

$25-$50, Art & Decor

By Aric Mitchell on December 4th, 2011

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$30 BUY

Shadow Hawk 100 | Soft Splat Rifle

The Shadow Hawk 100 Soft Splat Rifle is a healthier alternative to paintball guns, and while that may be a bad thing if you’re some kind of masochist, or just attracted to the danger, we can see the value in this gun. The soft splat ammo tags don’t stain like paintball chips do, and the gun fires up to 100 feet. The accuracy is up to you, hotshot.

Of course, you could go with the polar alternative and get a StressVest. If that’s the case, then we’d say the Shadow Hawk 100 isn’t for you. But if you’re just getting involved with the survivalist games and want to know whether or not you’ll like it, we can think of no better alternative.…

$25-$50, Toys

By Aric Mitchell on November 22nd, 2011

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$40 BUY

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