Our 20 Favorite Gadgets and Gizmos for Under $20 [Updated August 2020]

[Karlston]

Our 20 Favorite Gadgets and Gizmos for Under $20

Do you need a small way to improve your life? These are the affordable pick-me-ups we can't live without.

 

 

One of my favorite parts about working in the Gadget Lab is how gearheads have strong opinions on … pretty much everything. We're just as likely to hash out our favorite kinds of tape as we are to discuss ebikes, mechanical keyboards, or Android phones. But not everything we love costs hundreds of dollars. I've pulled together some of our favorite cheap gizmos and gadgets that make our lives better every day.

 

Check out our buying guides for more of our recommendations. For example, if you need to improve your work-from-home setup, we can help. We can also teach you how to disinfect like a pro.

 

Updated August 2020: We added a few more of our favorite budget finds.

 

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

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  Photograph: Black Diamond 

  A Versatile Clip

  Black Diamond Locking Carabiner

   

  Yes, I was an emo kid who clipped her keys to her pants. But long afterward, I recognized the usefulness of this light, indestructible piece of rock-climbing gear. For a mom of two with a dog, carrying a carabiner is like having an extra pair of hands. I keep one wound with a piece of webbing on the handlebar of my kid’s wagon. I can use it to clip my dog’s leash to my pants or strap a stray scooter to the back of a stroller. I keep one on my backpack to carry wet kid shoes. And if any of us ever go into a bar or on a plane again, they’re also useful for hanging coats and bags on hooks or the backs of seat pockets. —Adrienne So

   

  $15 at REI

   

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  Photograph: Invisibobble

  Keep Your Hair Up

  Invisibobble

   

  Gone are the days when a hair tie would snap just as I was trying to fix a bun, leaving me to MacGyver something together in a public bathroom. I refer to that dark time as Before Invisibobble. After Invisibobble, the sun shines, the birds sing, and my hair loves me. I was initially scared to put this telephone-cord-looking object into my curls, as I was sure it was a knotty disaster waiting to happen, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that it holds my hair without any pulling or tangling, and it leaves me with zero hair ache after a long day. Plus, they’re almost immune to breaking. —Medea Giordano

   

  $9 at Target

   

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  Photograph: Aukey

  Experiment With Your Phone

  Aukey Ora iPhone Lens

   

  For folks who love to read the cereal box at breakfast or the back of the shampoo bottle while doing your business, this Aukey camera bundle is a great way to pass the time indoors. Snap the 10X macro lens to the back of your phone (make sure it lines up with your main camera), and you’ll be able to get extra close to … well, just about anything. I love using it to snap super-close-up photos of plants in my home and my dog’s colorful eyes (when he stops licking the camera). There’s also an ultrawide lens to take in sweeping scenes, which you can save for when we all go outside again. —Julian Chokkattu

   

  $20 at Amazon

 

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  Photograph: Atlas Coffee Club

  Cycle Out Your Beans

  Atlas Coffee Club Coffee of the Month

   

  Looking for fresh beans? Atlas Coffee Club is a subscription service (under $20 a month) that sends you one 12-ounce bag every month, and each comes from one of the more than 50 countries in the company’s curated collection. Also included are pretty postcards from the coffee’s country of origin, the flavor notes of the beans, and brewing tips in case you need them. I need a cup of joe every morning before I get to my home workstation, and Atlas has been keeping me awake for more than a year. —Julian Chokkattu

   

  $14 at Atlas Coffee

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  Photograph: Vistaprint

  Personalize Your Months

  Vistaprint Wall Calendar

   

  My partner and I have been printing our own calendars for the past three years with Vistaprint. Last year’s calendar was filled with photos from our trip to Japan, but the year before and 2020 have nothing but snaps of our dog to cheer us up month to month. You can get calendars in various sizes (I recommend the large for nice, big photos). All you need to do is set aside 12 photos and assign them to a month, but make sure they’re good quality. You can even set special events to any day, like your dog's birthday. —Julian Chokkattu

   

  $18 at Vistaprint

   

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  Photograph: Amazon

  A DIY Necessity

  Gaffer Tape

   

  Imma let duct tape finish, but everyone who’s ever worked at a music venue, play, or any other production environment knows that gaffer’s tape is the true king of the tapes. This is the stuff your favorite band uses to fix a broken mix stand, tape their cables to the floor, and reattach their front bumper. It’s fabric-y and easy to tear, adheres super well to most surfaces, and comes off with minimal residue (looking at you, duct tape). It’s also incredibly easy to write on if you get it in a color other than black. Trust me: Get yourself a roll, and ascend to DIY heaven. —Parker Hall

   

  $17 at Amazon

   

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  Photograph: Dop

  Stick Your Phone Everywhere

  Dop Mount

   

  I’ve had a long love affair with PopSockets, the grips you attach to the back of your phone. But the $17 Dop mount made it much more intense. Dop is a repositionable suction phone mount (compatible with PopSocket grips) that can stick to almost any flat surface. Place it on your bathroom mirror when following along with a beauty tutorial. Pop it on your tile backsplash when cooking dinner to keep your recipe in view. Twist it and stick your phone to the wall when you’re video chatting (or filming a video). Or, if you’re like me, get extra lazy and use the Dop to hang your phone horizontally at eye level while you’re in bed watching YouTube videos. I can attest that even six hours later, it’ll still be holding strong. —Louryn Strampe

   

  $17 at Dop

 

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  Photograph: Mr. Coffee

  Hot Coffee

  Mr. Coffee Coffee Mug Warmer

   

  For years I’ve been going through a tired routine with my morning coffee: pour a cup, take a few sips, reheat it in the microwave because it got cold, repeat at least three times a day. Finally sick of that cycle, I bought a Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer and now my days are dramatically different. It keeps my java at a perfect temperature, never dipping into iced coffee territory but also not making it too hot to drink. The warmer’s plate cools down immediately after turning it off too. Some of the black coating on the plate has already started to wear away, but it’s under $10 and those scratches haven't affected its usability. —Medea Giordano

   

  $9 at Amazon

  $11 at Bed Bath & Beyond

   

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  Photograph: Muji

  A Slick, Eco-Friendly Pen

  Muji Ballpoint Pens

   

  The Japanese brand Muji makes all sorts of dope housewares, from cute little dust brooms to gorgeous alarm clocks that would make Dieter Rams blush. But I want to steer you to Muji's stationary aisle, so you can have a look at the 0.38-millimeter gel pens. These are smooth-writing ballpoint pens that are comfortable to hold and make an attractive stroke. Muji sells a six-pack for $8. I always keep a cup filled with these at my desk. Maybe the best part—at least for those of us who recoil from single-use plastics—is that Muji sells refills of the ink cartridges that screw into these pens. So buy the six, then keep the casings alive (and out of landfills) forever. —Michael Calore

   

  $8 at Muji

   

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  Photograph: Amazon

  Your Best Friend in the Kitchen

  Kiwi Brand Chef's Knife

   

  If you're researching kitchen knives, you're going to end up reading a lot of websites that instruct you to spend north of $100 on a fancy blade from Japan or Germany. You can ignore those websites. Yes, a fine Global or Wüsthof is a delightful addition to any kitchen, but if you want something cheap that doesn't compromise too much on quality, get a Kiwi. I first learned about these knives years ago, when I worked at a Thai restaurant staffed with prep cooks who proudly swore by them. (They're manufactured in Thailand.)

   

  Just know that the stainless steel blade of this 8-incher is pretty thin and does not stay sharp for as long as pricier specimens. But if you can sharpen your own knives—or if you have a machine that does it for you—then you'll be able to keep it in continuous service for decades. —Michael Calore

   

  $10 at Amazon

   

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  Photograph: Funko

  Trinkets for Your Desk

  Funko Pop

   

  I have to admit, I didn’t really see why people liked Funko Pops until my daughter brought one home from school (a distressingly long time ago). A classmate had given it to her, and she was so thrilled by its cuteness, its smallness, and its durability that she carried it in her hand for days. Even if you’re not a collector or a kid, you can find a fun Funko Pop that will appeal to just about anyone—from the expected movie characters to Bob Ross. Like my daughter’s friend showed me, it’s an easy way to brighten someone’s day. —Adrienne So

   

  $15 at Funko Pop

 

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  Photograph: Amazon

  A Nostalgic, Useful Can Opener

  P-38 Can Opener - 15-Pack

   

  The P-38 can opener hails from 1942. It was designed to be a cheap, simple way for soldiers to open their field rations during World War II. In a testament to its perfection, it is still being produced today. I have several of these. One was a gift from my grandfather and lives safely (albeit somewhat uselessly) in my desk drawer. The others live in car glove boxes, camping gear bags, and on my keychain, next to the Swiss Army knife. You know how you always have to remember to pack the can opener before you go camping? I don't. Hey, remember when we could go camping? That was fun. Hopefully, we'll get back to it soon. But in the meantime, grab a P38. You won't regret it. —Scott Gilbertson

   

  $10 at Amazon

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  Photograph: Anker 

  One Cable To Rule Them All

  Anker Powerline II

   

  The Anker Powerline II is the only cable I keep in my daily carry. It has Micro-USB, USB-C, and Lightning connectors, so it works with all of my gadgets (even the ones that still use older charging methods). The lifetime warranty is icing on the cake. —Louryn Strampe

   

  We're also all big fans of Anker's wall chargers, which are small, cheap (and weirdly cute?) ways to maximize outlet usage in your home. —Adrienne So

   

  $18 at Amazon

   

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  Photograph: Slice

  A Safe, Small Box Cutter

  Slice Auto-Retractable Box Cutter

   

  These days, it seems as though my recycling pile could become sentient and take over my home at any moment. (I get a lot of packages.) Slice's box cutter is the best I've ever used. It's ergonomic, it crushes through cardboard and packaging material, but most importantly, it's safe. The ceramic blade retracts automatically, so it won't cut you if you accidentally slice yourself. While I use it weekly to make my box pile more manageable, the tool has also been my sidekick for dismantling the upholstery on an old sofa. If I ever lose it, I'll buy another one immediately. Just like you probably should right now. —Louryn Strampe

   

  $20 at Slice

  $20 at Home Depot

  $19 at Amazon

   

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  Photograph: Victorinox

  A Must-Have for Your Keychain

  Swiss Army Keychain Knife

   

  I use a knife every day. I can't tell you exactly what I use it for, but trust me, I use it every day. I have several knives, but the one that's always in my pocket is the good old Swiss Army keychain knife. The knife blade is small, and you'll lose the toothpick and tweezers after a month. That's OK. The real marvels here are the mini scissors and the screwdriver tip on the nail file. Snip dangling threads, tighten screws, open boxes … this list could go on forever, but you get the idea. I pry the colored plastic sides off to make it a little slimmer. —Scott Gilbertson

   

  $16 at REI

 

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  Photograph: Milwaukee

  Another Useful Knife

  Milwaukee Fastback Folding Utility Knife

   

  The best knife I’ve owned is the Milwaukee Fastback folding knife, which you can pick up for $12. The push button on the side locks the blade closed and open for safety; not all folders do that. The gut hook is a nice touch for when you want to cut a plastic tie or twine without opening up the blade. You can change the blades–Milwaukee’s are pleasantly sharp–without having to get a screwdriver to take it apart, and there’s a well-shaped finger cutout for when you need muscle to slice through something thick, like drywall. None of these features on their own are groundbreaking, but having them all together in a solidly built knife that doesn’t rattle, with a tough powder coating, makes the sum greater than its parts. –Matt Jancer

   

  $10 at Home Depot

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  Photograph: Thermipaq

  Wrap It Up

  Thermipaq Hot & Cold Pain Relief Wrap

   

  My best friend brought me this ceramic cold pack 12 years ago when I was recovering from knee surgery. It still lives in my freezer to this very day. This is the first, best weapon in my home first-aid kit, and my kids know to grab "Mommy's purple ice pack" whenever they're faced with life's inevitable bumps and bruises. The thermal pack was developed by a former NASA engineer from clay-based materials. It comes in a washable cloth cover that has a thinner or a thicker side, depending on how much cold you want on your bruise. It's pliable and comes with a Velcro strap that holds it securely to any body part—when my 5-year-old banged her hip on a table edge, she was able to strap it to her body and carry on. It may be cheap, but as we've demonstrated, it will also last forever.

  —Adrienne So

   

  $15 at Amazon

  $13 at Rite-Aid

   

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  Photograph: La Backbeat

  Bang the Drum

  La BackBeat The Burnside Drumsticks

   

  I’ve been searching for the perfect drum sticks since I was 6 years old, and I finally found them: the Revival “Burnside,” handmade in Louisiana by LA Backbeat for Revival Drum Shop. Hand-selected hickory, a ball tip, and classic 5A hand-sizing make them extremely comfortable, but the real secret sauce is the 16.5-inch length, which is just a tad longer than most other sticks. It makes reaching cymbal bells that much easier and also helps out when I need a rolling pin in the kitchen. —Parker Hall

   

  $8 at La BackBeat

   

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  Photograph: Matt Jancer 

  Strum Along

  V-Picks Tradition Lite Guitar Pick

   

  I started playing guitar when I was a kid, and I've always hated picks. What garbage are they made out of? Then, in college, I wandered into a boutique guitar shop, the kind a poor 19-year-old had no business walking into, and saw a counter display of V-Picks. “Five bucks for a pick?” I think I fainted several times before I could ask the cashier what made them special. Whatever he said was convincing, because I bought one and took it home. It felt so much better.

   

  V-Picks are handmade in Nashville out of acrylic, the same stuff they make fish tanks out of. Acrylic is nice and grippy once your body heat warms it up. They're made in an enormous range of thicknesses, shapes, and sizes, but even the thinner ones are thicker than a regular pick. They’re expensive, but they last forever compared to the typical celluloid picks. You get your money’s worth. I’ve never gone back, and I have a small collection of rounded, pointy, and ultrathick V-Picks. If they’re good enough for Billy Gibbons and Carlos Santana, then I guess they’re good enough for me. —Matt Jancer

   

  $4 at V-Picks

 

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  Photograph: Plunkett + Kuhr Designers

  Breaking News

  WIRED 1-Year WIRED Print + Digital Subscription

   

  I apologize for the plug, but as our reviews editor Jeffrey Van Camp points out, a print and digital subscription for a year now costs less than a pizza. A subscription funds not only the Gadget Lab's hard work testing phones and drones, but the rest of our news team. Months into a world-changing pandemic, the value of rigorous reporting and data-driven journalism has never been more clear.

   

  $10 $5 at WIRED

 

 

Our 20 Favorite Gadgets and Gizmos for Under $20