Here’s the second part of the above topic (Part 1 here), this time of 50 excellent things costing less than $750. Some of these might be decent / affordable Christmas presents…
51. LG CM4590 XBOOM Audio Set – $250
52. Zassenhaus Manual Bread Slicer — $220
53. L.L.Bean Snow Sneaker Boots — $140
I’ve been wearing these since 1987, and I’m only on my third pair (purchased last month). They are comfortable, last almost forever, are waterproof and astoundingly warm. Best of all, they are much lighter than regular winter boots like Sorel. If you live in a cold climate or are traveling to a cold country, I cannot recommend them highly enough. (Pro tip: use cheap Dr. Scholls inserts to make them even more comfortable and easier to pull on.)
54. Mont Blanc Meisterstück Classique Fountain Pen — $725
55. Saddleback Doctor’s Leather Duffle Bag — $600
56. Naked Armor Straight Razor — $120
57. Ruger Single-Six Convertible Revolver (.22LR/.22WMR) — $700
58. Marks & Spencer Linen Shirt — $50
Every time I go Over There, I buy half a dozen of these, and they last until the next time I cross The Pond. Best casual shirts in the world.
59. Steiner MM1050 Military-Marine 10×50 Binoculars — $500
I’ve tried almost all of them — and these represent the best cost / performance / ruggedness option. I never travel anywhere without mine.
60. Barton Leather 3-Watch Case — $110
…which may not be sufficient for serious watch collectors (like Reader Weetabix), so there’s this one:
61. TAWBURY 24-Watch Case — $220
62. Standard of London Antique Brass Desk Compass — $70
63. Stainless Steel Water Pitcher with Ice Guard — $35
64. Wheeler Space Saver Screwdriver Set — $15
65. Scandal — $20
The Christine Keeler story, and very close to the actual history.
66. Armored Steamer Trunk — $250
Mine has wheels, but whatever.
67. The Last Detective Complete Collection — $150
68. Caldwell DeadShot Front and Rear Bag Set — $20
69. Jack Pyke Fleece Gilet — $45
70. Braun Series 9 Pro 9465cc Electric Razor — $300
71. Russell Hobbs TR9250WTR Retro Style Toaster — $120
72. Thursday Boot Co. Captain Model — $200
73. Chopin Nocturnes — Valentina Lisitsa — $90
74. AeroPress Original Coffee Press – $45
75. Foyle’s War: The Complete Saga — $50
76. Springfield 1911 Mil-Spec — $750
77. Barbour® Bede Wellington Boot — $150
78. The Second World War (Hardcover) — $120
79. Roland CUBE 120XL Bass Amp — $600
No link because Roland stopped making it, the idiots [2,000-word rant deleted]. But it’s unquestionably the amp I would have carried around and used back in the 1970s, if they’d made it then.
80. Husky 18″ Wide Mouth Tool Bag — $65
I actually use one of these as my range bag; stronger, more accessible and doesn’t advertise that it’s a gun bag. Also much cheaper than most of same from one of the “operator” brands like 5.11.
81. Marks & Spencer 10pk Pure Cotton Cool & Fresh™ Trunks — $68
I buy these every five years, two packs at a time, and I wear them exclusively. I’ve tried other “premium” brand undies from time to time, and they’re lousy, all of them. Life is too short to be uncomfortable. And yeah, only in black. Because life is also too short to waste time deciding on the color of an undergarment.
82. The Colony Hotel, Miami Beach — $120/night
Art Deco decadence, found in the right place for it.
83. Straw Fedora Beach Hat — $35
I’m on my third or fourth one of these, since about 2004.
84. Estwing E15S Leather-Gripped Hammer — $60
85. Pelikan Classic 200 Fountain Pen — $200
86. S&W 686-6 PLUS .357 MAG — $750
87. LP-099 Multi-Region PAL/NTSC HD CD/DVD Player — $30
…backup for when you-know-who starts “offlining” your online streaming purchases.
88. Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 — $600
This is the camera I’ll get when my Olympus and Nikon finally bite the dust — or maybe even before then. (It’s called the ZS in Murka, and TZ in furrin countries.)
89. J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variationen — $20
Okay, if not Barenboim is not to your taste, then Klára Würtz is wonderful, as always.)
90. Waterman Expert Ballpoint Pen — $80
91. Stag Arms AR-15 Left Hand Upper Receiver — $600
…for the kack-handers amongst us.
92. Wire in the Blood: The Complete Series — $40
Scariest and most intellectual detective series I’ve ever watched, and Robson Green is excellent beyond words.
93. DOVO 5/8 Bergischer Lowe Buffalo Horn Razor Set — $500
94. Ariat Heritage Round Toe Boot — $200
95. Fender Acoustic 100 Amp — $450
96. Minnetonka Moosehide Classic Moccasins — $100
Most comfortable shoes I’ve ever worn; been wearing them nonstop since 1996, and replace them every other year or so. If I could only wear one kind of shoe for the rest of my life, it would be these. (In winter, #53 Snow Sneakers as above.)
97. Buffalo Jackson Roosevelt Leather Pilot Bag — $350
98. Barbour Classic Beaufort Jacket — $450
As with so many things on this list: buy it once, buy it for life.
99. GALC No.2 Shave Kit — $350
Last, but most certainly not least:
100. Citizen Steely Dan (box set) — $60
Nothing like ’em, before or since.
That was fun. And Oprah? Eat my nuts.
your list is far better than Oprah’s. Do you really want her mouth near your nuts? Considering her habits and size she may devour them.
Check out the Japanese fountain pens. They get great reviews especially brands like Sailor and Pilot.
JQ
A comment about my once favorite shoes.
Finding comfortable and durable shoes can be hit or miss. I’d stumbled across a pair of lace up Nike tennis? shoes, waterproof with a traction type sole. Great shoe, I wanted another pair but I never found them again.
Then Merrill Jungle Mocs did it for me. Relatively inexpensive, reasonably durable, good fit, comfortable, waterproof, and they just slip on but never fell off. I’d wear them until the leather cracked open and they were still comfortable. Over the years, I’d worn out several pairs, hiking where other people would wear hiking boots, the puppies ate several pairs and I’d worn out several more.
Then something changed. I don’t know if Merrill’s Q.C. slumped or my feet changed with age. The last 2 pairs I’d purchased, broke down and my heels would slip to the lateral. I can’t wear them.
Nothing feels as good anymore.
+1 for Dr. Scholls. I have a pair of 5.11 arid desert boots for outdoor stuff here in Texas. I use the 3/4 length “heel” inserts in them. I buy the boots 1/2 size over to allow for them. For me, they really do cut down on fatigue, giving a tiny bit of “spring” in each step which adds up through the day.
Ruger S.S. convertible. I bought a blued three-screw from a deceased friend’s estate long ago. Thankfully I was able to acquire a stash of 22WMR over time.
Wheeler. Nice kit, but like so much these days, appears to be made in China. Hard to find tools that aren’t too soft or brittle.
Jeff Baxter, formerly with Steely Dan. Likely I’ve posted this before, but this performance never gets old–
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xN0hmNS_IU
Oprah. What JQ said. Be careful what you “ask” for.
I’ve a hat much like yours, a Kooringal. We have both been a little bit had. The descriptions for both yours and mine read “Ultra Premium Fine Paper Straw And Polyester.” We got ourselves papier mache hats. Oh well. Have you had yours in the rain? I’m afraid mine will melt.
As for linen shirts, mine wrinkle too much.
As for shoes, I have the same problems as ignore amos and RHT447. I find something comfortable for old deformed, flat feet, wear the shoes out, then go back for another pair and they’re gone. Lately I’ve had fairly good luck with Skechers, so last time I bought a pair, I wore them for 3 months as a test and went back for 4 more pairs.
Do tell.
https://www.amazon.com/Skechers-Sport-Vigor-Memory-Sneaker/dp/B00FF5AM1W?th=1
Work great for me. No extra inserts needed.
“Have you had yours in the rain?”
Rain? RAIN? I live in north Texas. We know not this “rain” thing, except when it floods.
Everything is better wet.
“I wore them for 3 months as a test and went back for 4 more pairs.”
You are a wise man, Señor.
I’m wondering why you need / want a gimballed boxed compass on your desk. I’m pretty sure your apartment doesn’t move much or change direction.
It’s not the apartment, it’s my head that’s all over the place.
The Panasonic Lumix: I’ve had the LX-3 since 2006 or 2007, it’s been to 3 other continents with me, including Iraq and Australia, and it’s still going. I’m really tempted to buy the newest version (LX-10) before they stop making them. The lenses have very wide aperture, the LX3 is 2.0, the LX-10 is 1.4. This makes shooting indoors or low light MUCH easier.
Stupid cell phone “cameras”. Spit.
Thursday Boot Company:
Unless you’ve got personal experience with them, I’m going to disagree. For that kind of money boots should come in *widths*.
For a little more money, Allen Edmonds makes *really* good shoes and boots, they come in a wide (no pun intended) selection of widths, and they are “recraftable”. They’re pricey, but they have regular sales.
Alden is another company that builds *really* good shoes and boots in a variety of widths, and IIRC they’ll do “custom” shoes where the heel is set to a different width than the forefoot. They’re about 2x the cost of the Allen Edmonds, and seem to never go on sale. GORGEOUS shoes though.
+++ on the Allen Edmonds for dress shoes. They have several different lasts within their lines, and you can pick the one closest to your foot shape for superb comfort. I have a half dozen pairs from my office working days, and 25 years later, they are still going strong and feel heavenly all day long.
I would imagine their boots are just as well crafted.