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Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

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Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#91

gotta be a tire inflater (not sure what brand) that came with a flash light and works rain or snow powered by car adapter

Be careful buying those, and test them on multiple tires IMMEDIATELY. I bought a series from Slime brand; every one failed within two tire inflates. Went to Harbor Freight, and bought their most expensive one; it has earned the price since (still under $100).

Project Farm on Youtube for the best reviews of items like tire inflators:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwbQ8eEBn68

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#93

Shoehorn! Particularly a long one if you'd like to avoid bending down at all when putting on slip-ons. Of course they are primarily great for saving the backs of your shoes. The IKEA one is perfect (at least for 6'1" me).

STEEL long shoehorns. Once you break one, you'll spend the money.

wood is better, it doesn't bend

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#94

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would _love_ to know what espresso machine can be had for less than $100.

This is what I have. It's not less than $100, but not much more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP1WXVK8?&linkCode=sl1&tag=lydan...

Than you.

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Guessing the hygenics depend on your local water supply, but some varieties of tea (and coffee actually) want to be brewed at below-boiling

You can still boil it and just wait a couple of minutes and use a food thermometer, no?

Yes, it's just really nice to be able to push a button and have it hold at the right temperature; sort of like how boiling water on the stove or in the microwave and using an electric kettle are functionally equivalent but the kettle is way more convenient.

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#96
- darn tough socks https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000XG34G8

merino wool, always good temp and dry winter or summer

- fiskars shop scissors https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VYOISU

cuts through stuff forever, easily, no slip etc

- 3-in-1 cables https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07R3R7QDL

(various brands) these make travel easy

You can also do 4-in-1 with usb-a/usb-c

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#97
post #67

Rechargable, motion sensing led strips for inside my wardrobe. Not a big thing but improved my ability to find things no-end. The only issue is they don't turn on when it is light enough to see and we slightly disagree on how light that is. Ceramic head tweezers. ~$3 on AliExpress, indispensable for some tasks. An import die grinder that cost about the same as a new power switch for my Dremel. More powerful, better s…

Second the rechargeable motion sensing led strips! Dime a dozen on Ali Express. I have them in all the hallways in my house, garden shed, at the front door so I am not fumbling with my keys in the dark. If you mount them with the supplied adhesive magnets you can take them with you as a torch, feels like you are using a minecraft torch.

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#98

gotta be a tire inflater (not sure what brand) that came with a flash light and works rain or snow powered by car adapter

Be careful buying those, and test them on multiple tires IMMEDIATELY. I bought a series from Slime brand; every one failed within two tire inflates. Went to Harbor Freight, and bought their most expensive one; it has earned the price since (still under $100).

Walmart $22 pump - difficult to put on the valve stem but pumps OK. Beats a bicycle pump!

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#99
post #70

Aeropress coffee maker. Look up the James Hoffmann recipe on YouTube and you can never drink another coffee style again

Aeropress is great. If you like a large mug of coffee have a try of the Clever Dripper. Had Aeropress at home and CD at work and eventually bought a CD for home because it’s so good.

It's even better with a "AeroPress Flow Control Filter Cap". No dripping, no inversion, and a little extra resistance improves the cup (I think).

Re: Ask HN: What are your best purchases under $100?

#100
My latest favorite gadget is a Wuben G5 light. Very compact, very bright, and has lots of handy features like a swivel and magnet. $20 on Amazon right now.

I have 3 for myself as I like to keep them around the house. I've also bought a couple as gifts for my sons who both really liked them.

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