Image via Complex Original
Doing more with less—it’s an essential mantra for ridding our modern lives of clutter, and yet it’s easier said than done. Does something do enough of everything—or nothing—well? You’ve got to choose your acquisitions well—and for our money, these five items offer the most function in categories that everyone needs, from footwear to photography.
Rainman Barry Shoes
Buy now: $140
Some of our favorite ideas come from Japan. Japanese label Rainman is a prime example, churning out work-ready dress shoes made of sealed waterproof PVC instead of leather so you can run seamlessly from the office through sidewalk puddles—no fuss, no mess. The synthetic bottoms are more comfortable than their leather counterparts to boot, giving the shoe a casual feel that works through happy hour, while maintaining a dress code-appropriate silhouette all through the weekday. If you find yourself wearing nothing else ever again, no one will blame you.
Leatherman Micra
Buy now: $28
Everyday Carry, or EDC, is a topic of much nerding out amongst menswear enthusiasts, outdoorsmen, and doomsday preppers alike. That’s partially why it seems like every other day there’s another new product or fantastical Kickstarter promising another pocket tool that will see you through everything from fly fishing to zombie attacks with its 89-and-a-half pieces in one. But unless you’re an off-duty lumberjack, lots of the saws, wrenches, and mini-crowbars are a total waste of time. After years of faithful service, the Leatherman Micra is still the best pick for most people, because it puts the most useful tools at the forefront: a big pair of spring-loaded scissors, a bottle opener, and multiple screwdrivers. There are no enormous pliers or ridiculous knives—just the really important stuff. Because the rest is just dead weight, right?
Minaal Carry-On Bag
Buy now: $299
The bag to end all bags? One thing’s for sure, the Minaal comes closer than any bag we’ve seen to date. Through a combination of concealed straps and an all-around zipper on the main compartment, the Minaal converts seamlessly from a bike-friendly backpack—complete with waist and chest straps—to a meeting-ready backpack, to even an airplane carry-on. The zipper design means that it opens all the way and packs completely flat, and it has a separate compartment for your laptop. We’ve heard of backpacking through Europe, but backpacking through life? With this bag, just maybe.
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100
Famed photographer Chase Jarvis once said, “The best camera is the one that’s with you.” This is why many amateur photogs, with their over-ambitious full-sized cameras and lens kits, are often stuck with only their phones when the perfect shot comes along. For most of us, the latest generation of compact cameras is more than enough for nearly every situation. None offers a greater combination of size and function than Panasonic’s Lumix DMC-LX100, which packs an enormous sensor and a telescoping zoom lens in a pint-size package that you can easily toss in any bag. You’ll have your camera with you all the time, which means no more amateur-quality snapshots. Your Instagram will thank you.
LifeStraw Go
Buy now: $35
During the day, it’s an everyday water bottle: fill it from the tap, keep it in your bag, and stay hydrated on the go. Business as usual, right? That is, until it’s time for your next outdoor excursion, when you attach the LifeStraw filter to turn it into a survival-ready accessory that produces up to 1,000 liters of fresh water—no electronics or chemicals required—and saves the trouble of purification tablets and the like. Originally conceived as a way to filter contaminated water during natural disasters, the LifeStraw Go is an outdoors accessory with an everyday utility. It’s perfect for ridding your junk closet of just one more thing.