Creative & Everyday Gear
From cameras to music players to analog gear like notebooks and sketchbooks, these devices can help you stay inspired and productive. This page covers tools that blend creativity and practicality, whether you prefer digital or physical media.
Notebooks & Journals
A small notebook or journal can help you get ideas and thoughts out of your head and onto paper. Bring one with you, and whenever inspiration strikes, boom! you can jot it down. You can also use one to reflect on your day, your mood, or whatever’s been on your mind. What you write doesn’t have to be important or polished; it’s perfectly fine if it’s just for you.
Recommendations
–Paperage: cheap and works just fine
–Field Notes: Small and easy to transport
–Leuchtturm: Very nice quality but more expensive
–Moleskine: Nice quality but more expensive
Sketchbooks
Sketchbooks are a great option for anyone who wants to express creativity visually. Like notebooks, they help get ideas out of your head, but through drawings instead of words. You don’t have to be great at art, if you’re having fun with it, that’s all that really matters.
Recommendations
–Strathmore: Good and comes in many different paper styles
–Canson: Good mixed media notebook, but also have different styles
Physical Books
While e-readers make reading more convenient, nothing replaces the feel of a physical book. They let you dive into stories or ideas wherever you are and can be a great way to pass the time. Just keep size and durability in mind, big books can be bulky, and covers and pages can crease easily. But if you don’t mind a little wear, a small paperback makes for an excellent everyday companion.
Instant film or Digital Cameras
Cameras help you capture meaningful moments while seeing the world differently. Even though phones take great photos, a dedicated camera encourages you to slow down and be intentional. Limitations, like fixed lenses or a limited number of shots can actually make the experience more creative and rewarding.
Recommendations
–Disposable/Film: Good for that retro look, but hard to develop
–Instant: Good for in the moment photos.
–Digital: Good for ease of access and transfer to computer.
Music Players
From cheap MP3 players to iPods to high-end DACs, a dedicated music player offers a unique listening experience. Streaming apps make it easy to skip around, but when you choose and store your own songs, you build a deeper connection with your music. It’s more personal, often better-sounding, and supports the artists directly. While it’s not for everyone, it can be a refreshing way to rediscover your favorite songs.
Recommendations
–MP3 Player: Good for those just getting started, but can only take MP3 music files.
–Old iPods: Have great sound quality and can be modded to run different types of files, But not really beginner friendly and can be pricey.
–DAC’s: Made for great audio quality and usually supports all audio files, but usually are very pricey for ones that work well.
If you want help choosing a full setup, check out some of our Daily Carry Starter Kits or want help picking out some other helpful gear check out our Support Items page.