Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

I like this question because I come at it from a very different lifestyle. I’m a digital nomad and I have mostly lived out of a backpack and carry on for the past 10 years. My philosophy is that things have to be worth carrying and they should be very easily replaceable if anything gets lost, stolen or breaks. A few of my under $100 favs:

Universal GaN travel adapter: One of those square bricks that converts from any AC outlet to any AC outlet and has 3 or 4 USB charging ports built in. I got enough wattage to charge my usb-c laptop as well, so one brick takes care of all my devices.

Backup android phone: Our phones are so critical that I keep a hot swappable spare phone on me, currently a Moto G 2025. It’s already logged into all my apps and 2FA. I could throw my iPhone into the Seine and keep on trucking. It even has backup NFC credit cards. I keep a cheap travel eSim plan active on it so that if I am somewhere sketchy I can leave my main phone at home.

Logitech MX Keys Mini: Great portable keyboard. Backlit, usb c and multi-device. Typing this post out on my phone now.

GL-iNet Beryl: The do anything travel VPN router running OpenWRT out of the box. Great for securing and extending sketchy WiFi connections or if you have to work off your phone’s hotspot all day.

Decathalon Quecha Escape 500 23L: Such a great personal item size backpack for the price, less than 40 euros.

Gazoche · 24 days ago

The backup phone is a good idea, I do this too but unfortunately some banking apps refuse to allow more than one "authorized device" for 2FA :/

GaryNumanVevo · 24 days ago

+1 I tried the backup android phone thing and I got blocked from logging into my Chase and Fidelity apps on my phone!!! Took like 2 weeks with support and a visit to a physical bank branch to resolve the issue.

BatteryMountain · 20 days ago

Same here with the GAN charger. I got myself a 145W GAN charge with one Type-A USB port (charges mouse, bluetooth speaker, toothbrush, body trimmer etc, max 18W) and two Type-C USB ports (45W (charges N100-based Tablet), 65W (charges Ryzen 7 -based HP Laptop)) - it can charge all these things at the same time, while generating almost no heat, no electrical noise. It weighs much less than the 3+ chargers/cables needed by the original setup. I'm amazed about how efficient the GAN charger is. My only irritation with them is that when you plug something in, it re-negotiates all the connections to decide how much power to deliver to each port, so when that happens the devices see a disconnect/reconnect event which can be irritating at times (which can also happens when a device reaches 100%.. and then dipping to 95% and then reaching 100% again.. over and over). But overall best money I've spent on my tech backpack goodies. And maybe 240W/8K/20gbps USB-C cables.

BrandoElFollito · 25 days ago

This is a fantastic, fantastic backpack. I use it when flying and it fits perfectly in the Ryanair & co limits. I took one for each of my kids and all together we pack everything needed for a week+.

cromka · 24 days ago

Isn't Ryanair limit more like 40l?

panos_news · 24 days ago

Universal GaN travel adapter" I actually realized that it's better just having simple adapters, which take up very little space, because the brick tends to fall of the plug.

4d4m · 24 days ago

I'll save everyone two hrs of research: rolling square currently makes the worlds SMALLEST 65w GAN adapter, game changer for macbooks and travel or everyday carry bag

It's about an inch square in all dimensions with a folding plug - amazing.

rkhassen9 · 24 days ago

Awesome list. Do you publish more somewhere? Great stuff and thought processes.

Backup phone, vpn router, etc.

Thank you

3abiton · 24 days ago

Great list (totally agree with backup phone). I now want to know your 100+ gadgets

Rechargable, motion sensing led strips for inside my wardrobe. Not a big thing but improved my ability to find things no-end. The only issue is they don't turn on when it is light enough to see and we slightly disagree on how light that is.

Ceramic head tweezers. ~$3 on AliExpress, indispensable for some tasks.

An import die grinder that cost about the same as a new power switch for my Dremel. More powerful, better speed control, better chuck.

The dirt cheap rechargable die grinders. Noisy, not much torque, but cheap enough that you can have a few lying around for odd-jobs. Their low power also means they lack the ability to completely destroy your work in 0.3 seconds. Whereas the one mentioned above managed to shear off a shaft spinning in air when I accidentally turned it up instead of off.

Generaly replacing anything AAA powered by rechargable USBc

atombender · 24 days ago

What's the brand of LED strip? I got several battery-powered motion sensor LED bars on AliExpress for use in closets. After the first charge they lasted maybe three weeks, then they rapidly faded, and no longer last more than maybe a day, so I've taken them out. I'm curious to hear if there are high quality versions, maybe something that can run off regular AA or AAA batteries so they can be changed when they inevitably burn out.

Speaking of tweezers on AliExpress: I love my $5.99 nail clippers that collect the clippings in a small compartment so they don't fly off everywhere. Super solid stainless steel construction that's considerably nicer than the cheap classic clippers I already had; it it had "Swiss made" on it or something I would have believed them. The ones I found are in a store called OURINER, but there are lots of weird brands making the same thing.

Lerc · 24 days ago

I just selected a bunch on AliExpress. Some were microUSB some were USBC. Some were a bit temperamental about charging. I usually take that approach with the really cheap items getting things from multiple suppliers so that at least one works. In general the worst I have received is poor quality items, nothing completely broken or fake yet*

I got two seemingly identical super bright panels and one now emits only 5% of the light. They look the same, have been run in the same conditions (and indeed the same housing now) run parallel off the same source. The other one is as bright as when I got it. Maybe one dodgy LED bringing the team down? I'm not yet skilled enough to diagnose problems like that.

*except for the time the store sent me a message to say I should cancel the order because they ran out. I couldn't find anywhere in the ever changing AliExpress user interface to cancel the item, so they sent me an allen key, I logged it as "item not as described" and they paid the refund.

lugvruzzle · 24 days ago

Second the rechargeable motion sensing led strips! Dime a dozen on Ali Express. I have them in all the hallways in my house, garden shed, at the front door so I am not fumbling with my keys in the dark. If you mount them with the supplied adhesive magnets you can take them with you as a torch, feels like you are using a minecraft torch.

tim-tday · 22 days ago

I bought a couple and liked them so I bought 4 more.

futureshock · 25 days ago

* A USB KVM that lets me share my keyboard/mouse/webcam between my two computers (work and personal), and switch at the press of a button.

* One of those IKEA wall-mounted grate things (SKÅDIS) that you can hang stuff to. IKEA sells hooks for it that turn out to be the perfect size to hold a PS4 controller securely, plus various boxes and mini-shelves that have helped declutter my desk.

* A cheap bluetooth-connected Xiaomi temperature/humidity sensor. You're supposed to use it with the Xiaomi app, but turns out those devices just broadcast their data as an unencrypted BLE feed, so I can just intercept it with a Raspberry Pi and redirect the data to my own Postgres+Grafana setup for recording and monitoring.

LUmBULtERA · 22 days ago

Ikea's new matter over thread temperature/humidity sensor has been pretty great for me so far. For $10, it has a nice pixel display that turns on with you press it, and it paired very fast and easily to HomeKit for me. The standard AAA battery will probably last a long time using Thread -- we'll see.

Lerc · 25 days ago

sodapopcan · 25 days ago

Shoehorn!

Particularly a long one if you'd like to avoid bending down at all when putting on slip-ons. Of course they are primarily great for saving the backs of your shoes. The IKEA one is perfect (at least for 6'1" me).

IAmBroom · 25 days ago

STEEL long shoehorns.

Once you break one, you'll spend the money.

Yes, good callout! The one from IKEA is metal (usually not an IKEA fan but some good stuff like this and it's under $100, but of course there are tons of other options).

WithinReason · 24 days ago

wood is better, it doesn't bend

jermaustin1 · 24 days ago

Every time I move, I lose mine and get annoyed for years until I buy a new one, then get further annoyed because I waited so long to splurge on a $3 stick.

ultrasandwich · 25 days ago

Aeropress coffee maker. Look up the James Hoffmann recipe on YouTube and you can never drink another coffee style again

LeafItAlone · 24 days ago

I’ve tried most of the coffee making tools and fads, including the above mentioned recipe. I’ve spent thousands and hours and hours of time chasing the feeling others like you describe.

It was so easy for me to go back to a cheap drip coffee maker and pre-ground coffee. I realized that I’ll never appreciate the flavors and process as much as the investment would call for.

rurp · 24 days ago

My dad is adamant that coffee beans should only be ground right before use because the resulting coffee tastes so much better. I, on the other hand, can't taste a bit of difference; there's no way I could pick out the pre-ground coffee in a blind taste test.

ThrowawayR2 · 24 days ago

James Hoffman's pourover and immersion dripper recipes are less muss and fuss, I would say, while still producing coffee that's far better than average.

While on the topic of James Hoffman and coffee, a <$100 device I'd nominate is the insulated heated mugs. I believe he tested the Ember Mug but there are competing models. For those who tend to drink their coffee while working, it's quite a decadent feeling to take a sip without ever having the unanticipated shock of your coffee having gone cold and having to trundle over to the microwave to warm it up (in my case sometimes more than once).

Scottn1 · 24 days ago

I recently upgraded the cheap plastic version to the robust glass one and feel so much better about having hot liquid simmering in it now.

anotherevan · 24 days ago

I have two Aeropresses so I can make two cups at once for the two coffee drinkers in the house.

I recently got a second shelf rack[1] so they can hang side by side instead of needing to put a plunger in the tube when one is hanging behind.

[1] https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B09NL9GDTQ

sceptic123 · 24 days ago

I make two cups in one Aeropress, am I doing it wrong?

jahnu · 25 days ago

Aeropress is great. If you like a large mug of coffee have a try of the Clever Dripper. Had Aeropress at home and CD at work and eventually bought a CD for home because it’s so good.

phoobahr · 24 days ago

It's even better with a "AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap". No dripping, no inversion, and a little extra resistance improves the cup (I think).

wasabi991011 · 24 days ago

Love the clever dripper So simple but so easy to repeatedly make a great cup of coffee.

nicbou · 24 days ago

After a failed apartment search, I set to make my current apartment as comfortable as possible. These are my game changers:

- French press and v60. Coffee became a ritual I look forward to, not something I drink to achieve a goal.

- Speakers and amp. I got mine used. They are over 50 years old. The amp is a gorgeous object. Listening to music became a full activity. I do it with my coffee. I cannot overstate how much better it feels.

- Wiim Mini. Airplay for 70 year old speakers

- Plants. They make the whole space look better and give you a sense of the passage of time.

- Good pillows, soft sheets. The best of ikea’s sheets is already a massive upgrade. So soft!

- Motion activated leds. It’s nice to reach into the pantry and get light, or use the toilet at night without being blinded. They are magnetic and charge with USB C.

- Robot vacuum. I have a used Roborock S5 that keeps the whole flat spotless at the press of a button.

bergie · 24 days ago

This thread is going to be very contextual. I'm currently sailing on a small sailboat, and hence the items will be quite different than what would be useful ashore:

* Wacaco Nanopresso - manual espresso pump. Great coffee anywhere off-the-grid. We also have their grinder but that's not listed as it is above the $100 threshold

* Klean Kanteen insulated water bottle - fill up from watermaker water, stays nice and cool

* Seeed T1000-e: waterproof Meshtastic radio that allows me to communicate with our boat and crew also when out of cell coverage

* Shelly 1: WiFi/Thread relay that makes it easy to automate navigation lights and other circuits

* Ruuvi Tag: waterproof battery-powered Bluetooth temperature/humidity/pressure sensor. Battery lasts arpund two years. We have a few of these around the boat, including one in the fridge

I should get one of those Ruuvi Tag...I use a similar cheap Xiaomi sensor currently but the battery doesn't last anywhere as long (probably because it has an LCD screen and isn't made to broadcast via BLE continuously).

GaryBluto · 25 days ago

An old, pre-online activation copy of Photoshop that I still use today.

jjcm · 25 days ago

I was a very heavy photoshop user for ~20 years.

These days I just use photopea for when I need to make a small edit. It suffices for 95% of what I need to do.

I think I'm still using a version that was on a magazine coverdisk that was weirdly distributed as a full-version freebie to advertise the release of the all new lock-in edition.

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