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.
