by Thomas Wilde on December 15, 2021 at 2:22 pmDecember 16, 2021 at 2:19 pm

Sometimes it’s about the little things. Whether it’s a workplace Secret Santa exchange with a hard cap on how much you spend, a few things to throw in someone’s stocking, or just a last-minute scramble for someone you didn’t realize you had to shop for, it’s always useful to have a few extra options.

With Christmas 2021 closing in like a pine-scented gingerbread train, here are some inexpensive, fast, but still useful options for last-minute gadget-heads. None of these are going to blow anybody’s hair back, but they’ll hopefully make your giftee’s life a little smoother in 2022.

Many new phones, tablets, earbuds, and other gadgets don’t come with a plug anymore, due to several companies’ stated desire to cut back on e-waste and unnecessary packaging. That makes it worthwhile to have a multi-port wall charger on hand, so you can plug all of your USB devices in at once. Anker’s 4-slot 340 model is a nice compromise between price and utility, with PowerIQ tech for fast charging. Price: $31.99.

A good microfiber cloth is a must-have for cleaning grime, grit, and finger-borne schmutz off of phones, tablets, vintage hardware, and even eyeglasses. Elite Tech Gear’s oversized 4-pack lets your local nerd keep a couple of cloths in circulation to deal with every mess as it comes up. Price: $10.97.

I randomly got one of these in a crate and it changed my life a little bit. While it looks like an art-deco sculpture, the Gerber Shard is a hingeless pocket multitool that offers a pry bar, wire stripper, bottle opener, and four different kinds of screwdriver. There’s no knife on this thing, so you won’t run into trouble with airport security if you forget you have it with you, and it’s just fun to say you have a crowbar in your pocket. Price: $7.00.

This is part of my everyday carry. Fisher’s Space Pen will write at any angle, any temperature, underwater, and, if your day really goes in an unexpected direction, in zero gravity. More importantly, its design folds down to a slim 3.7-inches when capped, so it’s easy to fit in your pocket. The Raw Brass model is naturally self-sanitizing, since bacteria can’t live on the surface of copper alloys, and its look has convinced more than one person that I’m classier than I am. If you order a Space Pen through Fisher’s website, you can grab a few extras, as well as one free line of customized engraving. Price: $30.00.

As we noted previously, the stock Xbox Series X|S controller has become a go-to for a lot of non-Xbox uses, such as mobile gaming. As a result, mobile-focused companies such as Otterbox have swung hard into making accessories for that controller. The Antimicrobial Easy Grip shell offers a non-slick surface with an easy snap-on exterior, and extends your gamepad’s effective lifespan by, basically, protecting it from your filthy hands. Price: $29.96.

This Chinese import is a soft-bristled brush with a keycap puller and two different kinds of cleaning tips, to help serious nerds get all those fossilized layers of dust out of their keyboards. If you’ve ever been stuck trying to improvise a set of keyboard-cleaning tools out of Q-tips, compressed air, and evocative profanity, a specialized tool like this is a real time-saver. Price: $19.99.

I have strong opinions on pocket journals. It’s always worth having one on you, but a lot of the go-to brands in the space are overrated (Moleskine), overpriced (Moleskine again), or unsustainably made (hey, Moleskine hit the hat trick; who knew). Northbooks offers a solid, durable, made-in-the-USA notebook with domestically-sourced paper, a recycled fiber cover, and a wallet-friendly price tag. Grab one for your 2022 bullet journal or daily note-taking. Price: $7.99.

If you’re on the work-from-home grind, your desk space is at a premium. It’s worth having somewhere to put your headphones. For me, that’s Turtle Beach’s Ear Force HS2, a no-assembly-required slab of metal that lets you hang your headset out of the way instead of adding it to the desktop clutter. The Ear Force is pricey for what it is, and I don’t love the big obnoxious logo on front, but it gets the job done. Price: $29.95.

On the other hand, there’s something to be said for not needing headphones. The Logitech Z200 desktop speakers offer an insane value for their price, with adjustable bass levels, simple controls, decent sound, and a 3.5mm jack that won’t take up one of your precious, precious USB ports. The actual speakers are inobtrusive enough to fit into any office setup. Price: $29.99.

It’s been one of those years. Since your existing stress ball probably looks like it’s been run through a harvest combine, upgrade to Impresa’s thermoplastic rubber model. They’re durable, have no harmful additives, and can withstand any amount of stretching, squeezing, crushing, throwing, or exposure to small children. Price: $19.99.

Seattle Bank: Seattle Bank is a digitally driven boutique bank that provides private banking, specialty mortgage and commercial banking services. We deliver the modern banking experience with tailored services and leading-edge technology, demonstrating the ease, satisfaction and peace of mind that exceptional banking provides. Information about Seattle Bank, its services, and community impact is available at www.seattlebank.com.

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