While I prefer to write reviews of water filters and ski boots, the truth is that I spend most of my time alternating between my apartment and my office, not on expeditions into the backcountry. But great products don鈥檛 have to feature Space Age鈥搒ounding materials like graphene, Koroyd, and Grilamid. Here are four聽unsexy but incredibly聽practical products聽I use just about every day.聽
Action Wipes ($25 for 25)
I spend my lunch breaks running or at the gym. And because I鈥檓 lazy, I usually skip taking a shower before returning to my desk. How do I get away with this without smelling so bad my coworkers complain? . Once over with one of these nine-by-ten-inch wipes and I feel clean enough to work for the rest of the afternoon.聽I keep a box of them on my聽desk, but they also come in individual packs that are great for camping and backpacking trips.
Wave Tool ($50)
I鈥檒l be the first to admit that I don鈥檛 take care very good care聽of myself. I haven鈥檛 been to the doctor in a decade, I don鈥檛 drink enough water, and I still have a nagging pain from聽dislocating my shoulder while skiing in high school.聽But I鈥檝e started using the a few times a week and there鈥檚 been a dramatic difference in the way my body feels. The semi-star-shaped plastic tool is designed to help release stress and pain from the soft tissue. When you rub聽one of the nine different surfaces across your skin, it feels sort of like a massage, except it鈥檚 a fraction of the price and you can do it to yourself. I particularly聽like using it on my聽neck after a stressful day at work and on my quads and hamstrings after long bike rides.聽
Bee鈥檚 Wrap ($18 for 3)
of beeswax-covered organic cotton are environmentally friendly alternatives to Ziploc聽bags and cling wrap. I use them to close off half-used cat-food cans, wrap up my lunch, and cover half-eaten fruit and vegetables. They鈥檙e hand washable and they can be reused聽for a while鈥擨鈥檝e used mine every day for about six months and they鈥檙e still in pretty good shape. Bee鈥檚 Wrap comes in multiple sizes and styles, but if you want to give them a try, I suggest the assorted three pack, which contains small, medium, and large wraps.
Packbands ($20 for 3)
are essentially 聽but with a more home-ec vibe.聽They鈥檙e聽made completely of silicone (read: no metal hook that can scratch your gear) but work in a similar hook-and-eye fashion. I use them around the house to keep things like yoga mats and extension cords tidy.