Handy tools and gadgets, from measuring meters to everyday-carry bits like carabiners.
Unlike my other sensors that don't show when a reading was taken, the UNI-T Mini Temperature Humidity Meter (UT333BT) gives real-time room readings. The BT suffix marks this as the Bluetooth version of the meter.
While renovating our new HDB resale flat, I laid Cat 6 cabling and needed a way to verify the runs. Having used UNI-T gear before, I bought the UNI-T Cable Tester (UT681C) from Lazada for S$19.
UNI-T has become my go-to brand for cheap meters, after the sound-level meter I got in 2020. I bought the UNI-T Mini Light Meter (UT383) from Lazada for S$18.90, supporting both Lux and Foot Candle readings.
I bought the UNI-T Mini Sound Level Meter (UT353BT) from Lazada for S$31 to measure noise from gadgets like my new PC. Most useful phone apps cost money, so a dedicated meter felt worthwhile.
GPCA is a San Francisco Bay Area product firm designing outdoor and adventure gear, the name standing for General Purpose California. I backed their multipurpose GPCA Carabiner on Kickstarter in August 2019.
The Spinner Drive is my fourth Kickstarter backing from mininch. It's a compact screwdriver with removable bits and a torque-maximising spinner wheel, which widens the handle's diameter to let you generate more torque without adding bulk.
Out of gadgets to buy during Lazada's 9.9 sale, I had a S$26.40 coupon from cancelling my LiveUp membership. I put it toward the Victorinox Super Tinker Red, on sale for S$39.75, down from S$53.
The Lulabop Heroclip is a clever rotating, folding hook carabiner for hanging your gear anywhere. Made from aircraft-grade aluminium, composite, and steel, it holds up to 22kg, though it isn't rated for climbing, and weighs just 29g.
Inspired by US YouTubers with their unboxing knives, I went hunting for one when an Amazon Gold Box deal on Kershaw blades caught my eye. I ended up with the Kershaw 1660 Ken Onion Leek.
Wiha is a leading German hand-tool maker, founded by Willi Hahn in 1939 (the name from his initials). In October 2017 it partnered with Xiaomi to produce the Mijia Wiha 24-in-1 Screwdriver Kit, praised by Xiaomi's CEO Lei Jun.
The Jackyled 45-in-1 Precision Screwdriver Toolkit usually costs US$10.99, but a Kinja Deals coupon dropped it to US$6.92 in January 2018, shipping directly to Singapore. Despite the name, the 'upgraded' kit actually packs 48 items.
The KeySmart MagConnect is the brand's latest accessory, a magnetic take on the Quick Disconnect that lets you easily attach and detach key fobs from your KeySmart. The magnet is strong, and it retails for US$9.99.
I've used the original KeySmart since March 2017, impressed enough to buy Li Xiang one after a month. So when KeySmart announced the Pro with Tile location tracking in June 2017, I pre-ordered as an early bird without hesitation.
Like the KeySmart Nano Pen, the KeySmart Nano Torch is a KeySmart accessory, a small stainless steel LED torch. Its NICHIA LED puts out 25 lumens, powered by four included LR521 button cells, and it retails for US$19.99.
The KeySmart Nano Pen is a compact accessory for your KeySmart, a small stainless steel pen with a magnetic cap for easy closure. It ships with two refills and retails for US$13.99, slipping neatly alongside your keys.
KeySmart began as a Kickstarter in May 2013, raising US$329,862 from 8,900 backers. This compact key organiser holds between 2 and 8 keys, or up to 100 with expansion packs, eliminating annoying key jingle in your pocket.
Bagel is a smart tape measure with three modes, String, Wheel, and Laser. It saves up to 100 measurements and voice memos to built-in memory and syncs them to a mobile app. Its lithium battery lasts up to 24 hours.
I bought the Etekcity Digital Kitchen Timer during an Amazon Black Friday discount, a two-pack for US$10.79, now US$12.99. Since it doesn't ship to Singapore directly, I consolidated it through HopShopGo. It has a large 2.56-inch display.
WRENCHit is mininch's third Kickstarter, after the Tool Pen and Tool Pen mini, both of which I backed. I backed WRENCHit in March 2016, choosing the Full Set at US$38 plus shipping. Each set packs 10 multi-size wrenches.
After being impressed by the Tool Pen I backed last year, I backed mininch's Tool Pen mini when it launched on Kickstarter in April 2015 without hesitation. The mini is aimed at smaller gear, electronics, game consoles, phones, and toys.
Tool Pen is a smart, versatile multi-tool that feels like holding a sleek pen, with a unique Pop-A-Point design for swapping bits. I backed it on Kickstarter in July 2014, and it funded, raising US$274,794 against a US$7,000 goal.
Blockey is a key management system that simplifies your pockets without sacrificing design or practicality. It's made of Aluminum 7075, prized for its strength and scratch resistance, the same material used in bike shafts, rock climbing gear, and aerospace.