Just How Much Do I Fly?

I track everything in Flighty, which lets me look at the receipts. Here’s what the Flighty Passport says:

• All-time: 625 flights, 1,219,222 miles, 153 airports, 47 airlines, 116 days of flight time.

• Recent pace: 66 flights in 2024, 61 in 2025, and 28 in 2026 through May.

• Fun facts: That mileage is 49 trips around the Earth, 5.1 trips to the Moon, or half an orbit of the Sun. Average flight: 1,951 miles. Shortest: Adelaide to Kingscote on Qantas (78 miles, a delightfully tiny island hop). Longest: Seattle to Singapore on Singapore Airlines flight SQ 27 (8,065 miles, the kind of flight that requires real planning).

The mix is roughly half short-haul domestic (SEA to SFO is my single most-flown route, 93 flights both directions) and half long-haul international, where SEA to LHR leads with 27 flights round-trip. My top carriers are Alaska, Virgin America (RIP), British Airways, and Delta.

That’s the lens for everything below. The recommendations are shaped by actually using these products, programs, and services across more itineraries than I can keep track of, and getting burned often enough to know which ones really matter.

The last time I wrote a top-to-bottom version of this guide was January 2017 in Pro Traveler Tips. A lot has changed in nine years. Premium credit cards now come with annual fees north of $800. Alaska bought Hawaiian and rebranded the loyalty program to Atmos Rewards. As a Titanium member I now get oneworld Emerald, which is the most achievable path to top-tier alliance status if you live on the West Coast. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is finally rolling out at scale, which makes CLEAR feel a lot less essential. And Blacklane has quietly replaced rideshare as my default for airport ground transport. Time for a refresh.

If you’re short on time, here’s the TL;DR:

1. Apply for Global Entry or Nexus. These trusted traveler programs speed you through immigration (Nexus is a USA / Canada program for cross-border travel) and include TSA PreCheck for domestic security. This is still the single best investment you can make in your travel experience.

2. Use TSA PreCheck Touchless ID where available. As of 2026 it’s expanding quickly at select airports across Delta, United, American, Alaska, and Southwest. Once your boarding pass shows the Touchless ID indicator, you walk up, look at a camera, and the identity check is done. You still carry physical ID as a backup, but the experience is much closer to the future, and it’s free with PreCheck.

3. CLEAR is now optional. Touchless ID covers much of what I used CLEAR for, and at no extra cost. CLEAR still helps at airports where Touchless hasn’t landed yet or in the non-PreCheck lanes. If your premium card reimburses the fee (Amex Platinum still gives you $209/year for CLEAR+ in 2026), keep it. Otherwise, drop it.

4. Get a premium travel credit card. The two flagships, Amex Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve, both got more expensive in 2025/2026 but added meaningful new credits. If you’re loyal to one airline, also carry that airline’s top co-brand. For me that’s the Delta SkyMiles Reserve and the new Alaska Atmos Summit Visa Infinite.

5. Pick one airline and chase top-tier status. For a Seattle-based traveler, Alaska’s Atmos Titanium is the move. It earns you oneworld Emerald, which gets you and a guest into business class lounges flying internationally on any oneworld carrier, even in economy.

6. Use Blacklane for airport ground transport. It’s now my default for arrivals and early-morning departures. Booked in advance, professional driver, your name on a sign, flight tracked. No surge pricing, no rideshare lottery.

7. Use a reliable flight-tracking app. Subscribe to Flighty Pro for real-time flight alerts (it often notifies you of delays or gate changes before the airline does). It also has amazing stats and visualizations of your travel.

8. Invest in good noise-cancelling headphones and good luggage. A quality pair of headphones makes flights far more pleasant. A durable spinner carry-on (Rimowa, the new Peak Design Roller Pro, or Away) lets you glide through airports and skip baggage check when possible.

With those high-level tips in mind, let’s dive into the details on how to make every stage of your travel smoother and more enjoyable.

Lines and Queues: How to Avoid Wasting Time

I hate waiting in lines at the airport, truly despise it. The good news is you can avoid many of them with some strategy. Here’s how to skip or shorten every queue from your front door to your plane seat:

1. Parking: If you drive to the airport, consider parking in the on-site garage or a nearby lot that offers a quick shuttle. Yes, it costs more than remote economy lots, but it can save a lot of time.

2. Check-In: Check in for your flight online or via your airline’s mobile app as early as possible (usually 24 hours before departure). This way you can skip the check-in counter entirely. Load your mobile boarding pass to your phone’s wallet. If you have checked luggage, print your bag tags at a kiosk (or even at home, if your airline allows) to save time. Alaska Airlines, for example, lets you print tags in advance. Then just drop the bag at the designated counter. As an Atmos Titanium member I now use the new Suites & Titanium check-in at SEA (opened April 2026), which puts me behind sliding glass doors with a personal concierge and a private security checkpoint that bypasses even the PreCheck line.

3. Security (TSA): Here’s where those trusted traveler programs pay off. TSA PreCheck is essential. Better still, Global Entry or Nexus include TSA PreCheck in addition to fast-tracking you through passport control on international trips. Expanded in 2026: TSA PreCheck Touchless ID is now available at select U.S. airports with participating airlines. If your boarding pass has the Touchless ID indicator, you walk up to a dedicated camera, it matches your face against your passport photo, and you’re through the ID check with much less fumbling. It’s free with PreCheck. CLEAR used to be the only way to skip the ID line, but Touchless ID now covers much of that use case without an annual fee, so CLEAR is more of a “nice if you can get it comped” perk than a must-have.

4. Boarding: The scramble for overhead bin space is real. To board earlier and avoid having to gate-check your carry-on, either fly enough to earn elite status or consider paying for priority boarding if available. Premium cabin tickets and most airline co-brand cards also get you into earlier boarding groups. Getting on the plane early means you can stow your bag and settle in without feeling rushed.

5. Seating: If a quick exit on arrival matters to you, try to sit toward the front of the plane. Even in economy, being in the first 5 to 10 rows can save you 10 minutes of deplaning time compared to the back. Many airlines now charge extra or reserve these forward rows for status passengers, but it can be worth it if time is critical (or if you have a tight connection). Sometimes even an exit row or bulkhead seat gets you out faster.

6. Baggage Claim: The ultimate time-saver is to not check a bag at all, if you can manage a trip with a carry-on only. But when you do check luggage, one trick for families or groups: have one person go straight to the rental car center or curbside pickup while another waits for the bags. For example, when my family travels, I’ll head to pick up the rental car as soon as we deplane, while Lora waits for our suitcases. By the time she steps outside with the bags, I’m already pulling up curbside.

7. Car Rental: Avoid the rental counter lines by joining the rental company’s loyalty program in advance. Most major car rental companies (Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, Avis Preferred, National Emerald Club) let you go straight to the lot and pick up your car without stopping at the desk. Often your contract and keys are waiting in the car or at a kiosk. This is usually free to sign up, and some credit cards grant you status that can mean nicer cars or upgrades. Skipping the 30-minute queue at the rental counter after a long flight is a godsend.

8. Immigration & Customs: If you travel internationally, Global Entry is the holy grail for avoiding immigration lines in the U.S. Instead of standing in a long queue to see an officer, you’ll use a kiosk or the Global Entry Mobile app and be out in minutes. It costs $120 for 5 years (most premium cards reimburse this), and it includes TSA PreCheck. If you live near Canada or travel there often, Nexus is incredibly worth it.

9. AirTags: AirTags have become an essential tool for travelers due to their ability to provide real-time tracking of personal belongings, especially luggage. Recently, the integration of AirTags with airline systems lets you share your lost luggage’s location to the airline. Because, let’s face it, they have no idea where your bag is.

By implementing these tactics, you’ll breeze through the airport. What to do with all that extra time on your hands? Perhaps hit the lounge for a pre-flight snack or drink, or just relax at the gate knowing you didn’t spend your morning inching forward in five different lines.

When You Want White-Glove Service: Airport Concierge

For certain trips, especially ones with elderly parents, kids traveling alone, complicated international connections, or just a really tight schedule, an airport concierge can pay for itself in stress saved. These services were once strictly the domain of celebrities and ultra-high-net-worth travelers, but a few are now reasonably priced and worth knowing about.

• American Airlines Five Star Service: AA’s white-glove concierge at 16 U.S. airports plus six international. Check-in at the Flagship First counter, Admirals Club access, priority screening, escort to the gate, planeside pickup with a golf cart on arrival. $350 first adult, $100 each additional. You must be flying business or first on American or a oneworld carrier. Five Star Select (ORD, DFW, MIA, LAX) adds Flagship First Dining and an in-airport cart and runs $650 first adult. I’ve used this in Miami and it was excellent: planeside golf-cart pickup, direct ride to the lounge, then escort back to the gate with Concierge Key boarding.

• Delta VIP Select: Delta’s equivalent, available at ATL, DTW, MSP, JFK, LGA, SFO, SLC, LAX, and SEA. $500 first passenger, $100 each additional. Meet & greet at curb or gate, porter, Sky Club access, flight monitoring, and rebooking help if things go sideways. Must be a Delta-marketed and operated flight. Book at least 6 hours out.

• United Signature Service: ~$400 first passenger at 22 airports including ORD, JFK, SFO, LHR, CDG, AMS. Premier check-in, United Club, priority security, Group 2 boarding. United flights only.

• SkySquad (budget option): Around $179 per segment for curb-to-gate or gate-to-curb help at five U.S. airports (BWI, FLL, LAS, LAX, MCO). Bag help, security navigation, family chaperoning, useful for unaccompanied minors and elderly parents. Two-hour cap, 24-hour booking minimum.

• CLEAR Concierge: Often overlooked. $99 (Express) or $179 (Gate Service) at 22 U.S. airports, departures only. You and up to 9 travelers get curb-to-Clear-lane-to-gate escort. All travelers must be CLEAR members.

• SkyVip (the luxury option): Global multi-tier service in 100+ countries. The top “Private Suite” tier at LHR is roughly $5,235 and includes a private suite, private vehicle to the aircraft, and full bag handling. Use case: very high-touch arrivals (e.g., parents on a once-in-a-lifetime trip, or you really don’t want to deal with Heathrow’s main terminal). Meet & Greet tier at SEA is more modest, around $475.

When to actually use these: I’ve used AA Five Star at MIA (excellent), and considered the Cairo VIP Departure at CAI (where airport security can be a 20-minute chaotic ordeal). For routine business travel I don’t bother. For complicated family trips, an aging parent traveling solo, or an unfamiliar high-stress airport, the cost is trivial compared to the friction it removes.

Travel Planning: Tools for Flights, Hotels and Food

Good travel outcomes start with good planning. Luckily, we have great apps and services now that make planning trips (and eating well when you get there) much easier than in years past. Here are my go-to tools for trip planning in 2026:

• Google Flights & Price Alerts: When shopping for airfare, I use Google Flights extensively. It’s fast, has a great calendar view of fares, and lets you track prices. Turn on price alerts for routes or dates you’re eyeing. Google will email you if prices drop or if it predicts a fare won’t get much lower. This takes a lot of the guesswork out of whento book. Also, Google Travel will automatically organize your itineraries if your confirmation emails go to Gmail.

• Award Booking Windows (pro tip): If you’re chasing premium-cabin award space using points, the trick is to book the moment an airline opens its schedule. Each airline has a different window:

  • Cathay Pacific: 360 days out (longest window in the industry)

  • Flying Blue: 359 days

  • British Airways / Qantas / ANA: 355 days

  • United: 337 days

  • American / Delta / Virgin Atlantic: 331 days

  • Alaska: 330 days

  Set a calendar reminder for 361 days before your trip and you’ll often catch the best business and first cabins before the dealers and bots clean them out.

• AeroLOPA (seat maps): When I’m picking a seat on a long-haul, I never trust the airline’s seat picker. I go to AeroLOPA, which has the most accurate, detailed seat maps anywhere on the internet. Stagger patterns, overhead bin coverage, lavatory placement, every quirk per aircraft type. It’s how I figure out that on Turkish A350, seat 4A is dramatically better than 3A even though both are window seats (4A is tucked against the window, 3A is shoved toward the aisle). For a $5,000 business class ticket, it’s worth five minutes of seat-map study.

• FlightQueue (TSA wait times): FlightQueue shows real-time TSA security wait times across major U.S. airports. Useful for deciding when to leave for the airport on a busy day, and for figuring out whether to roll the dice on standard PreCheck or pay the CLEAR/Touchless ID premium.

• Michelin Guide App: For finding exceptional restaurants and hotels, the Michelin Guide mobile app is a gem. It puts the entire Michelin Guide (every starred and Bib Gourmand restaurant around the world) in your pocket, complete with maps and the ability to book reservations. The big 2024-2025 update was the introduction of the Michelin Key for hotels, the hotel equivalent of a Michelin Star. As of late 2025 the program went fully global, with 2,457 Keys awarded across 120+ countries (One Key for a special stay, Two for exceptional, Three for extraordinary). The app now surfaces over 7,000 Michelin-selected hotels alongside the restaurants, with proper editorial reviews and direct booking. It’s quickly become my go-to second opinion on a hotel I’m considering, especially for trips where I don’t have a concierge planning for me.

• Beli: Beli is the restaurant-tracking app I didn’t know I needed. It’s part personal dining diary, part social network. You rate restaurants you’ve been to (the app uses a clever head-to-head comparison system instead of star ratings, so your rankings are actually meaningful), build a “want to try” list, and see what your friends are eating. Where it really shines is when you travel: open the map in a city you don’t know and you immediately see the spots your trusted friends have loved, plus Beli’s own algorithmic recommendations based on your taste. It’s replaced a lot of the trial-and-error I used to do with Yelp and Google reviews. Free on iOS and Android.

• Eater (app or website): For a more casual and local take on dining, Eater is fantastic. Eater’s editorial teams produce city guides and “essential” restaurant lists that highlight where the locals actually eat. Instead of sifting through hundreds of random Yelp reviews, you can trust Eater’s curated picks, whether you’re looking for the hottest new ramen joint, a classic taco stand, or the must-try brunch spot.

• Local Foreigner (Travel Concierge Service): Sometimes the best travel planning move is to hand it off to an expert. We use Local Foreigner for many trips now, not just the big ones. Weekend getaway? They book the hotel and get us the inside scoop. Multi-country two-week vacation? They handle the itinerary, transfers, guides, dinner reservations, and 24/7 support. The thing that surprised me is how much value they add even on a simple two-night hotel booking. They have direct relationships with most luxury hotels and brands (Four Seasons, Rosewood, Aman, Belmond, Auberge, etc.) which means we get FHR-style perks (breakfast, upgrades, property credits, late checkout) on properties even outside the Amex FHR program. Their team expertly handles every detail so I don’t have to think about logistics. For our family, having Local Foreigner on retainer for everything has been one of the single biggest quality-of-life upgrades in how we travel.

• TripAdvisor (use selectively): I have a love/hate with TripAdvisor, but it’s worth mentioning. It’s no longer theprimary research tool it once was, but it still has a massive amount of user reviews. I’ll sometimes glance at TripAdvisor for things to do or to sanity-check a hotel’s quality via recent reviews. Take everything with a grain of salt and focus on recent, detailed reviews.

Using these planning tools, you can piece together a pretty incredible trip: flights at the best price, a well-located hotel, can’t-miss restaurants booked in advance, and maybe even some cool experiences reserved.

Travel Apps: Must-Haves for Your Journey

Once your trip is booked and you’re on the move, a few apps can make the execution of travel much smoother. These are the core travel apps I keep on my phone:

• Flighty (Pro): Still my favorite flight tracking app. Flighty is like having an expert flight dispatcher in your pocket. It monitors your flights in real-time and sends the fastest alerts for delays, gate changes, and cancellations, often before the airline notifies you. Flighty pulls data from FAA systems, Flightradar, and historical trends to give you a heads-up about issues. I highly recommend paying for Flighty Pro, which unlocks all the alert features. They even offer a lifetime family subscription. If you travel often, it’s worth it for the peace of mind. Flighty has literally alerted me to rebook on another flight while everyone else at the gate was still in the dark.

• Flightradar24 and FlightAware: These are excellent complementary tools to Flighty. Flightradar24 is a live flight tracker with a global map of air traffic. FlightAware similarly provides live tracking with historical on-time statistics. Flighty is my proactive alert system, and these two are my on-demand tools to dig into flight data when I need more detail.

• Google Maps: Google Maps is still the ultimate travel companion app. It’s not just for driving directions: it’s public transit schedules, walking routes, neighborhood exploration, and even restaurant discovery all in one. Download offline maps of your destination city before you go. Star or save all the places you might want to visit (sights, hotel, restaurants from Eater or Michelin). They’ll show up on the map, which helps in planning your days.

• Google Translate: Language barrier? Not with this app. Google Translate has a feature where you can use your camera to translate text in real time. It will literally overlay the translation on signs or menus in augmented reality. It can also do two-way speech translation. Download language packs for offline use so it works without data.

• Rideshare Apps: An absolute must for spontaneous ground transportation in most cities. For anything I can schedule in advance (early morning airport runs, evening returns), Blacklane is my go-to. For everything else, Ubercovers the gap. In some countries, local rideshare apps (Grab in Southeast Asia, Bolt in parts of Europe and Africa) are key.

• Airline and Hotel Apps: Make sure to install the apps for any airlines you’re flying and hotels you’re staying at. Airline apps are useful for mobile boarding passes, real-time flight updates, and same-day flight changes. Hotel apps (Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, World of Hyatt) let you check in digitally, sometimes choose your room, and use a digital key.

Frequent Flyer Status: Pick One Airline

The single biggest unlock for traveling well, beyond credit cards, is having top-tier elite status with one airline. The trick is to concentrate your flying, not spread it across every carrier.

For a few years I credited everything to American Airlines and got to Executive Platinum, which is American’s top tier and confers oneworld Emerald. That worked, but as a Seattle resident it always required some flight gymnastics. After Alaska bought Hawaiian and rolled both programs into Atmos Rewards, the calculus changed.

• Alaska Atmos Titanium (my pick): Titanium is the top tier in Alaska’s Atmos program. The headline benefit is complimentary upgrades for me and one companion on every global route operated by Alaska or Hawaiian, including day-of-departure upgrades to Suites and Business Class on the new long-hauls to Asia, Europe, and Oceania. No points or certificates needed. You also get three free checked bags, 150% bonus points on every flight (including partner flights), a complimentary drink and West Coast-inspired meal in Main Cabin, free same-day flight changes, and the new Suites & Titanium check-in experience at SEA (more on that below). One nice extra: as a Titanium choice benefit, I can nominate one friend or family member for Atmos Gold status. It doesn’t help me directly, but Gold is a real status tier (priority check-in, priority boarding, free checked bag, oneworld Sapphire benefits), so it’s a great gift. Most importantly, Titanium grants oneworld Emerald.

The New Suites & Titanium Check-In at SEA

This is genuinely a different category of airport experience. Alaska opened a dedicated Suites & Atmos Titanium check-infacility at Seattle-Tacoma on April 27, 2026. It sits behind sliding glass doors, off the main terminal floor. You walk in, a personal concierge greets you, handles your check-in, and then escorts you to a private security checkpoint that’s separate from the main TSA queues, even from the PreCheck lane. From bags-out-of-the-car to airside in about five minutes, on the worst day of the year. You can bring two guests on the same reservation, or your immediate family, even if they don’t have status.

Alaska says additional check-in lanes are planned for its other hubs (Anchorage, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles) and for its new international stations in London, Reykjavik, Rome, Seoul, and Tokyo. For now, SEA is the flagship. If you live in Seattle and you’ve been on the fence about which airline to consolidate around, this product alone is a reason to look hard at Alaska.

• Delta Diamond Medallion (the real prize on SkyTeam): If you fly Delta enough to make Diamond, the perks are genuinely on another level. Diamond is the top public tier (Delta 360° is invitation-only above it), and the package punches above its weight. The headliners:

  • Three Choice Benefits per year. You pick three from a menu that includes four Global Upgrade Certificates (good on long-haul international flights, including to partners), a $500 American Express statement credit (basically cash if you carry the Delta Reserve), a Delta Sky Club Individual membership, 40,000 bonus miles, a $550 Delta travel voucher, an MQD accelerator of $2,000 toward the following year, and the ability to gift Gold Medallion status to a friend (up to four times per year, which is wild).

  • The biggest CLEAR+ discount in the program. Diamonds get the deepest discount on CLEAR+, $129/year (down from the public $209). Note: Delta moved away from fully-comped CLEAR+ for Diamonds as of June 1, 2026, but $129 is still the best published rate.

  • Unlimited complimentary upgrades for you and a companion to Delta First, Delta Comfort+, domestic Delta Premium Select, and domestic Delta One. The companion part is what makes Diamond worth chasing if you fly with a partner or family member.

  • Companion Certificate (from the SkyMiles Reserve card): a free domestic companion ticket each year in First, Comfort+, or Main Cabin. You just pay the taxes. Pair this with Diamond’s unlimited complimentary upgrades and you’ve effectively got two-for-one premium domestic travel.

  Even if you’re only at Platinum or Gold, the SkyMiles Reserve credit card gives you a $2,500 MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and $1 of MQDs for every $10 spent on the card (MQD Boost). Lounge access on Delta Reserve dropped to 15 Sky Club visits annually, but if you spend over $75,000 on the card you get unlimited visits for the rest of that year and all of the next. The MQD Boost in particular is how a lot of people now get to Diamond without flying themselves into the ground.

• United Premier / American Executive Platinum: Similar idea on Star Alliance and oneworld respectively. If you’re a frequent business traveler, top-tier on any of these is a meaningful quality-of-life upgrade.

Why Oneworld Emerald is the Real Prize

Atmos Titanium status automatically gives you oneworld Emerald, which is the alliance’s top tier. The marquee benefit: access for you and one guest to oneworld Business Class lounges on international flights outside the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, even when you’re flying Main Cabin. This is unusually generous. It converts an economy international ticket into a business class lounge experience at qualifying airports. You also get priority check-in across all oneworld carriers (American, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Qatar Airways, Japan Airlines, Iberia, Finnair, Qantas, Malaysia Airlines, Oman Air, Royal Jordanian, Royal Air Maroc, SriLankan, Fiji Airways), preferred and pre-reserved seats where available, and extra baggage allowance with priority handling.

If you fly internationally even a handful of times a year, oneworld Emerald is worth orienting your entire airline strategy around. For a Seattle-based traveler, Alaska Atmos Titanium is the most achievable path to it.

The Right Travel Credit Cards

Having the right credit card (or combination of cards) can dramatically improve your travel experience. Top-tier travel cards come with perks that can save you time, money, and stress. Both of my two main flagship cards got refreshed in 2025/2026 with significant changes worth understanding.

American Express Platinum

The Amex Platinum got a major refresh in late 2025. Annual fee is now $895 (up from $695), and Amex added enough new credits to keep the math working if you actually use them. Key perks:

• Lounge access: Centurion Lounges, Delta Sky Clubs when flying Delta, and Priority Pass. The Global Lounge Collection is still the strongest in the industry.

• $600 hotel credit: Two semi-annual $300 credits on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts (FHR) or The Hotel Collection bookings through Amex Travel. FHR remains my favorite under-used perk: book a luxury hotel through it and you get free breakfast for two, room upgrades, $100 property credit, 4pm late checkout, and premium Wi-Fi.

• $400 Resy credit: Up to $100 in statement credits each quarter at U.S. Resy restaurants. This is meaningful if you eat out at all.

• $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Up to $25/month for streaming (Disney+, Hulu, Peacock, ESPN+, The New York Times, SiriusXM, Audible).

• $200 Uber Cash: $15 monthly plus a $20 December bonus, plus a $120 Uber One membership credit.

• $209 CLEAR+ credit: Covers the full CLEAR+ membership.

• Up to $120 Global Entry / TSA PreCheck credit.

• Hotel elite status: Marriott Bonvoy Gold and Hilton Honors Gold.

• Earning: 5X Membership Rewards on flights booked directly with airlines or via Amex Travel, and 5X on prepaid hotels via Amex Travel.

Amex says the card now offers $3,500+ in annual credits and perks. The real number depends on how much you actually use FHR, Resy, and streaming. If you do, the $895 fee pencils out easily. If you don’t, it doesn’t.

Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve was also refreshed in 2025. Annual fee jumped from $550 to $795, but Chase added a lot of new value. Key perks:

• $300 annual travel credit: Broader than before, now applying to flights, hotels, rental cars, taxis, parking, tolls, and most categories Chase classifies as travel. Auto-applied.

• $500 The Edit credit: Two annual $250 credits on stays of two nights or longer at over 1,100 properties in Chase Travel’s The Edit collection.

• $300 Sapphire Reserve Exclusive Tables: A curated list of OpenTable restaurants in a few dozen North American cities.

• Heavy-spend credits: If you put $75,000+ a year on the card, Chase unlocks additional credits with partners including The Shops at Chase. Nice if you hit it organically, but I would not value this as a core benefit.

• Priority Pass lounge membership.

• Earning: 8X on Chase Travel purchases, 4X on flights and hotels booked directly with airlines or hotels, 3X on dining. Points are Chase Ultimate Rewards, which transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners.

• Travel protections: Primary rental car insurance, trip delay/cancellation, baggage delay.

• Global Entry/TSA PreCheck fee credit.

Chase claims $2,700+ in cardmember value. The Edit and Exclusive Tables credits are the new heavyweights. If you book through Chase Travel at all, the 8X earning rate is excellent.

Delta SkyMiles Reserve (Amex)

If you’re a Delta frequent flyer, the Delta SkyMiles Reserve is tailor-made for you. $650 annual fee. The big draw is access to Delta Sky Club lounges when flying Delta and to Amex Centurion lounges on the same Delta-flown day. Key changes for 2026:

• 15 Sky Club visits annually, with unlimited visits for the rest of the year and all of the next if you spend $75,000+ on the card.

• $2,500 MQD Headstart: Automatically credited toward Medallion status each year.

• MQD Boost: Earn $1 MQD for every $10 spent on the card. Real elite status from credit card spend.

• Annual Companion Certificate: A free companion ticket in first class, Comfort+, or Main Cabin (you pay taxes).

• Free checked bag on Delta, priority boarding, 3X miles on Delta purchases.

Alaska Atmos Rewards Summit Visa Infinite (NEW)

The Atmos Summit Visa Infinite replaced my Citi AAdvantage Executive in 2025. Bank of America launched the Atmos Summit as Alaska’s first true premium card after the Hawaiian merger. $395 annual fee. Why I have it:

• Lounge access: Two Alaska Lounge passes per quarter (8 per year). Through 2026, Summit cardholders also get access to a new premium bar experience inside Alaska Lounges.

• Status points earning: 1 status point per $2 of spend, plus a 10,000 bonus status points annually. Real progress toward Atmos elite status from credit card spend.

• Global Companion Award: A 25,000-point Global Companion Award each anniversary, plus a 100,000-point Global Companion Award if you spend $60,000+ in a year.

• 3X points on eligible foreign spend: Unusual for an airline co-brand. If you travel internationally, this is a real category bonus.

• Free checked bag, preferred boarding, no foreign transaction fees.

If you’re Alaska-loyal and based in the Pacific Northwest, this is the new must-have card. The status points and Global Companion Awards alone make it pay for itself if you’d otherwise be paying for Alaska tickets.

My Wallet in 2026

The mix I actually carry: Amex Platinum, Chase Sapphire Reserve, Delta SkyMiles Reserve, Alaska Atmos Summit. I dropped the Citi AAdvantage Executive when I shifted my primary loyalty from American to Alaska. I also keep a few non-travel cards (Amazon Prime Visa, Apple Card, Capital One Venture X for virtual card numbers), but the four above are the travel core.

You shouldn’t carry all of these. Pick based on your travel patterns:

• Generalist who flies many airlines: Amex Platinum + Sapphire Reserve.

• Loyal to one airline: Add that airline’s top co-brand. For Alaska, that’s the new Atmos Summit. For Delta, the SkyMiles Reserve. For American, the Citi AAdvantage Executive or the AAdvantage Aviator Silver from Barclays.

One more tip: almost all these cards will reimburse your Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee every 4 to 5 years. Free trusted traveler status, don’t leave that on the table.

Ground Transportation: Getting Around without Headache

Your flight might be only part of the journey. You often still need to get from the airport to your final destination, or around town during your trip.

• Blacklane (my preferred car service): Blacklane is now my default for almost every airport transfer, especially internationally. It’s a global professional driver service that you book in advance (at least the day before, not on-demand like Uber). Your driver tracks your flight and meets you at arrivals with your name on a sign, even if your flight is delayed. Pricing is a flat rate, booked upfront, including tip. All the stress of taxis (the haggling, the dirty cars, the risk of getting lost) is gone. Especially at airports where rideshare pickup is a mess or requires a shuttle to a remote lot, having a Blacklane driver meet you at baggage claim is transformative. I also love it for early morning pickups to the airport. There’s real peace of mind knowing a professional driver will be outside your door at 4:30 AM sharp. Quality is consistent: nice vehicles, vetted chauffeurs. Compared to hotel-arranged limos, it’s actually quite reasonable.

• Rideshares vs. Taxis: In places where I don’t use Blacklane, I default to Uber. It’s usually safer and more predictable than hailing random cabs off the street. There are times taxis can be fine or even better. In some countries local taxis are very cheap and Uber may not be much cheaper or even available. Always research a bit. If you do take taxis abroad, have cash in the local currency and know how to ask the driver to use the meter.

• Public Transit: Don’t overlook trains, subways, and buses, especially in international cities where they can be extremely efficient. In a place like Tokyo, Paris, or London, I often take the express train from the airport to the city center. It can be faster (no traffic) and cheaper. Google Maps will usually show transit options and even live schedules.

• Rental Cars vs. Rideshare: For city-heavy trips, I lean against rental cars. Parking and traffic are pains. For trips where you want to explore areas beyond the city (national parks, countryside, multiple towns), a rental car can be the key to freedom. If you do rent, use the status trick to skip the counter, do a thorough walk-around for damage (take photos), and check if your credit card provides primary CDW (the Sapphire Reserve and Venture X do).

• Navigation: Waze or Google Maps for real-time navigation. If you’re going off-grid, download offline maps. On a road trip, don’t push fuel too close, especially at night or in remote areas.

Airport Security and Immigration Programs

We covered TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, and Nexus earlier. Here’s the full picture, including the 2026 update that changes the math for CLEAR.

• TSA PreCheck: If you fly even a couple of times a year within the U.S., get PreCheck. It costs roughly $77 to $85 for 5 years depending on the enrollment provider and is available at most U.S. airports. With PreCheck you keep your shoes, belt, and jacket on, and leave laptops and liquids in your bag. Most premium credit cards cover this fee. PreCheck membership also covers kids 17 and under when PreCheck appears on the child’s boarding pass.

• TSA PreCheck Touchless ID (expanded in 2026): This is the biggest change in airport security in years. Touchless ID is available at select U.S. airports with participating airlines including Delta, United, American, Alaska, and Southwest. You walk up to a dedicated PreCheck checkpoint, look at a camera, and the system matches your face against your passport photo. You still need the Touchless ID indicator on your boarding pass and should carry physical ID as a backup, but the ID check itself feels almost invisible. It’s free with PreCheck. This is what CLEAR used to be for many airport trips, but built into PreCheck and free.

• Global Entry: If you travel internationally, Global Entry is the way to go. $120 for 5 years, includes an FBI background check and interview with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Once approved, instead of waiting in the passport control line on return, you go to a Global Entry kiosk, scan your face, and breeze through. It also includes TSA PreCheck for domestic flights.

• Nexus: Nexus is the North American combo platter. It now costs $120 for 5 years, gives you expedited entry into both Canada and the U.S., and includes Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. The catch is you have to do the interview at a Nexus enrollment center.

• Mobile Passport Control (MPC): Free CBP-authorized app. If you don’t have Global Entry, MPC can expedite your entry into the U.S. by letting you submit passport and customs info via your phone before landing. Not all airports support it, but it’s worth having as a backup.

• CLEAR (now optional): CLEAR is $209/year (or about $119 with airline status discounts). At airports with CLEAR, you go to a CLEAR kiosk, scan your fingerprint or eyes, and a rep escorts you to the physical screening belt. Here’s the honest 2026 update: CLEAR is no longer essential. TSA PreCheck Touchless ID now covers much of the same ID-skip use case at no cost in participating PreCheck lanes. CLEAR still has a niche in three places: airports where Touchless ID hasn’t rolled out yet, the standard non-PreCheck lanes (Touchless ID only works inside PreCheck), and the few stadiums and event venues with CLEAR partnerships. If your Amex Platinum reimburses the CLEAR+ fee (it now covers $209), keep it. Otherwise, this is the year to drop it.

In summary, get the security and immigration programs that match your travel profile. Domestic only? PreCheck + Touchless ID. International? Global Entry (or Nexus if Canada). Frequent CLEAR airports without Touchless ID rollout? Keep CLEAR if it’s comped, otherwise let it go.

(One more tip: your Known Traveler Number (KTN) from PreCheck/Global Entry needs to be in your airline reservations to get PreCheck on your boarding pass. Save it to your frequent flyer profiles so it auto-applies. For Touchless ID, you also need to opt in via your airline’s frequent flyer profile and have a passport photo on file.)

Staying Connected: Mobile Phone and Data

In today’s travel, having reliable mobile phone service and data is almost as important as your passport. You need your phone for everything: navigation, translation, rideshares, emails.

• US Mobile (for U.S. travelers): I switched my family’s cell phone service to US Mobile a couple of years ago and it’s been fantastic. US Mobile is an MVNO that operates on Verizon and T-Mobile towers at a fraction of the cost of the big carriers. Their Unlimited Premium plan comes with up to 10GB of high-speed international data each month in many countries. They’ll also provide a secondary eSIM for international use if needed. When I land abroad, my phone just works.

• Airalo (International eSIMs): If your primary carrier doesn’t give you free roaming or you want a backup, Airalois my secret weapon for affordable data overseas. Airalo sells local eSIM data packs for over 190 countries. Instead of paying carrier roaming rates, you purchase a data eSIM from Airalo for the country or region you’re visiting and it downloads to your phone instantly. Prices are extremely cheap compared to U.S. carrier roaming. Data-only (no phone number or voice calls), but services like WhatsApp, iMessage, and FaceTime still work.

• Tip for T-Mobile users: If you’re on T-Mobile or Google Fi (which uses T-Mo), most plans include free international roaming data in many countries at 2G or 3G speeds. Okay for messaging and email. Some plans offer high-speed passes.

• Communication Apps: Rather than making actual international calls, I use WhatsApp, or FaceTime. WhatsApp is hugely popular outside the U.S., so many overseas contacts will ask for your WhatsApp.

• In-Flight Wi-Fi: Plane Wi-Fi has gotten a lot better in 2026. Delta offers free Wi-Fi for SkyMiles members on most domestic flights and an increasing number of international flights. United is rolling out free Starlink Wi-Fi for MileagePlus members as aircraft are equipped. Alaska is rolling out free streaming-quality Wi-Fi for Atmos members on Starlink-equipped aircraft, with fleetwide installation beginning in 2026 and continuing into 2027. T-Mobile customers still get free in-flight connectivity on eligible plans and participating flights, but the airline loyalty programs are increasingly becoming the cleaner free path. If you don’t have a free path, buying a Wi-Fi pass in advance is usually cheaper than onboard.

By sorting out your phone and data strategy ahead of time, you ensure that you land in a new country and your phone works without missing a beat.

Cash, Cards, and Currency: Don’t Get Scammed

The other half of “staying connected” is staying solvent without getting fleeced. Foreign transactions are where casual travelers leak the most money, almost always without realizing it. A few rules I follow every trip:

• Always pay in the local currency, never USD. This is the single most important one. At pretty much every European, Asian, and Latin American point-of-sale terminal (and most ATMs), the merchant or machine will offer to “helpfully” convert the charge to U.S. dollars for you. It’s called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and it is straight-up a scam. The conversion rate they use is terrible (often 5-10% worse than the real interbank rate), and the difference goes to the merchant and the payment processor. Your bank or credit card will always do the conversion at a better rate than the terminal will. When prompted, pick the local currency. Every time. If the terminal doesn’t ask and just defaults to USD on a foreign card, decline the transaction and ask them to charge in local currency.

• Use credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. Most travel cards already do this (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum, Capital One Venture X, Alaska Atmos Summit). Older cards (and most basic-tier cards) still charge 3% on every foreign purchase, which is the same as a DCC tax you can’t see. Before any international trip, check the foreign transaction fee on every card in your wallet and leave the 3% ones at home. The Alaska Atmos Summit also earns 3X points on all foreign spend, which is the strongest category bonus I know of for international travel.

• Know the ATM scams before you stand in front of one. Most are physical: skimmers (a thin overlay on the card slot that reads your magstripe), pinhole cameras pointed at the keypad, and “shoulder surfing” by someone hovering “helpfully.” A few rules:

  • Only use ATMs inside a bank branch or attached to one, not standalone ATMs in tourist zones, train stations, or convenience stores. Those are the highest-skimmer-density machines in the world.

  • Wiggle the card slot before inserting. If the bezel moves at all, it’s probably a skimmer. Walk away.

  • Cover the keypad with your other hand when entering your PIN. A camera doesn’t help an attacker if it can’t see your fingers.

  • Be very suspicious of “free withdrawal” or “no fees” ATMs in tourist areas. Euronet, Travelex Money, and similar branded ATMs are notorious for offering DCC (same scam as above) and burying terrible exchange rates and high fees. Use the bank-branded ATMs of major local banks instead.

  • If an ATM offers to “lock in” your rate or convert to USD, decline. Always withdraw in local currency. Your bank will convert at a much better rate.

• Carry a backup card on a different network. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, Amex is hit or miss, Discover is nearly useless internationally. I always carry at least one Visa or Mastercard in addition to my Amex. Also keep one card in your wallet and a different one in your bag or hotel safe, so a stolen wallet doesn’t kill all your payment options.

• Tell your bank you’re traveling (or don’t). Some banks still want you to set a travel notice on debit cards. Most credit cards no longer require this since fraud detection has gotten good enough. But it’s worth checking the app before you go, because nothing kills a trip vibe like your card getting frozen at a hotel checkout in Paris.

• A small amount of local cash is still worth carrying. For taxis in places where rideshare is weak, small markets, tips for drivers and porters, and emergency situations. Withdraw it from a bank ATM on arrival rather than exchanging at airport currency desks (which use even worse rates than DCC). I usually pull out the equivalent of $100-200 in local currency on day one and try not to bring more home than I need to.

• Wise or Revolut for currency conversion. If you need to move real money across currencies (sending a deposit on a vacation rental, paying a tour operator overseas, etc.), Wise and Revolut use mid-market rates with tiny markups. Don’t use your bank’s international wire service, which is the same DCC scam in slow motion.

The TL;DR on all of this: every time someone offers to “help” you convert to USD, they are taking money from you. Always say no.

Know Your Rights: Your Phone at the U.S. Border

A topic most travelers never think about until it’s happening to them. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has broad authority to search electronic devices at the border, including for U.S. citizens returning home. They don’t need a warrant, probable cause, or even reasonable suspicion to conduct a “basic” search. This is one of the few places where standard Fourth Amendment protections don’t apply the way you’d expect.

The good news: you have meaningful Fifth Amendment protections, but only if you set yourself up correctly before you reach the booth. Here’s what every traveler should know.

Face ID vs. Passcode: The Legal Distinction That Matters

This is the key fact most people don’t know:

• A passcode is “testimonial.” Verbally giving up a passcode is considered compelled testimony and is protected by the Fifth Amendment. CBP cannot force you to tell them your passcode.

• Face ID and Touch ID are “physical.” Most courts have ruled that biometrics are not testimonial because they don’t require you to disclose what you know. CBP can plausibly compel you to look at your phone or place your finger on the sensor. The Electronic Frontier Foundation argues biometrics should also be protected, but the law is unsettled.

Practical implication: if your phone is in a state where Face ID will unlock it, you have effectively waived the protection. If your phone requires a passcode, you haven’t.

Put Your iPhone in Passcode-Only Mode Before Crossing

Two quick ways to do this on iOS:

• The SOS shortcut (do this right before you hand the phone over): Press and hold the side button and either volume button for about two seconds, until the Emergency SOS slider appears. Tap Cancel. The phone now requires your passcode on the next unlock. Face ID will not work until you re-enter the passcode. This is the move to remember.

• Power off the phone: A freshly booted iPhone requires a passcode on the first unlock, regardless of biometric settings. If you have time, just power it down before you walk up to the agent.

• Belt and suspenders (in Settings): Open Settings → Face ID & Passcode → and toggle off iPhone Unlock before the trip. This makes biometrics unavailable entirely until you turn it back on. More disruptive than the SOS shortcut, but bulletproof.

• Use a strong alphanumeric passcode instead of the default six-digit numeric one. Settings → Face ID & Passcode → Change Passcode → Passcode Options → Custom Alphanumeric Code. Makes brute-force forensic tools (which CBP can apply during an “advanced” search, often via Cellebrite) dramatically slower.

Citizen vs. Visa Holder: Consequences Are Different

This matters a lot:

• U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents cannot be denied entry for refusing to unlock a device. CBP can seize the phone, hold it for weeks, and make your re-entry slow and unpleasant, but you cannot be turned away from your own country. This is the legal floor you can rely on.

• Non-citizen visa holders, ESTA travelers, and tourists can be denied entry at the discretion of the officer, and refusing to cooperate can be grounds for that denial. The calculus here is very different.

For a more thorough treatment of the law, the EFF’s border search guide and the ACLU’s Know Your Rights page are both worth a read before any big international trip.

Luggage: Travel in Style and Durability

Your luggage is literally carrying your world. Having reliable, durable luggage makes a huge difference.

• Rimowa, the gold standard: I’ll admit it, I have a slight luggage obsession, and Rimowa is my favorite. The German brand famous for iconic aluminum hard-shell suitcases. I use a Rimowa Original cabin carry-on and a larger checked Rimowa, and they are a joy. They glide effortlessly on four wheels. Build quality is outstanding and these bags last decades. They’re pricey (about $1,200 for the aluminum, $700 for polycarbonate), but for frequent travelers, they’re an investment. Rimowa’s double-spinner wheels are some of the best in the industry: smooth and quiet. In short, Rimowa makes the physical act of traveling easier. I can rush through airports with zero drag on my arm.

• Peak Design Roller Pro, the new favorite: This is the bag I tell people about right now. The Peak Design Roller Pro (released in late 2025) is a genuine upgrade from Away in every dimension that matters. It uses a polycarbonate frame wrapped in their weatherproof Versa Shell fabric, so it’s a hybrid hard/soft shell that handles abuse better than a pure polycarbonate case. The proprietary SlimDrive handle uses a 7mm carbon fiber rod instead of a chunky telescoping tube, which gives you back a meaningful amount of interior packing space. It expands from 34L to 39L, has an integrated AirTag pocket, an adjustable drawbridge lid that stays open while you pack, and wheels that roll as smoothly as the Hinomotos on a Rimowa. About $600 (Black, Eclipse burgundy, or Sage green). If you’ve been an Away person and you’re ready to upgrade, this is the bag.

• Away, the affordable alternative: For a much more budget-friendly option that still offers great looks and features, Away luggage is excellent. An Away Carry-On is around $295, with a lifetime warranty on defects. Smooth spinner wheels, clean minimalist design. Not quite as bombproof as Rimowa or as thoughtfully engineered as the Peak Design Roller Pro, but very solid for the price. I’ve gifted Away suitcases to family members who travel a few times a year and they’ve held up great.

• Other Brands: Victorinox makes excellent durable luggage. Briggs & Riley is the business traveler favorite (their unconditional lifetime warranty even covers airline damage). Tumi is the upscale business option. Travelpro is beloved by airline crews for value and durability.

• Spinner vs. Two-Wheel: Team 4-wheel spinner all the way. Spinners take strain off your arm since you’re not tilting the bag’s weight. They maneuver easily down airplane aisles. Two-wheelers can be a bit more rugged on rough terrain, but the latest spinners are tough enough.

• Personal Item Bag / Backpacks: In addition to your suitcase, a good personal item bag matters. The key is a personal item that fits underseat, holds your in-flight essentials, and carries any valuables you won’t check.

• Specialty Luggage: For ski trips I use a Dakine Boot Locker 69L, which has a tarp-lined lower compartment for boots and a large upper compartment for helmet, jacket, and gear. Keeps wet, dirty boots separated from clothes. About $100 and worth it.

• Packing Cubes and Organizers: Regardless of what luggage you use, packing cubes and pouches are essential. They keep your stuff sorted and let you find things without exploding your entire suitcase. I use Peak Design compression cubes, Eagle Creek Specter ultralights, and Evergoods CAP pouches for cables and small gadgets.

Invest in luggage that rolls smoothly and won’t fall apart on you. It doesn’t have to be super expensive (Away proves that), but if it is, treat it as a long-term investment in hassle-free travel.

Onboard Comfort, Sleep, and Power

The plane itself is the most uncomfortable environment most of us spend time in. The right kit makes a huge difference, especially on long-hauls.

• Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (for the flight): I’ve covered this in detail in Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones, but the short version: these are still my pick for long flights. Better noise cancelling than AirPods Max, lighter, fold flat for packing, and the battery lasts a full transpacific. I went back to Bose after a few years on AirPods Max and haven’t looked back.

• Soundcore Sleep A30 (for sleeping): Different job, different product. The Soundcore Sleep A30 are the first sleep earbuds with actual active noise cancellation. They’re for sleeping in noisy hotel rooms or on red-eyes when you don’t want over-ear headphones smashed against your face on a pillow. Tiny, comfortable for side sleeping, and they block snoring and AC drone meaningfully better than passive earbuds.

• Ostrichpillow Eye Mask (for the dark): A good sleep mask is the difference between sleeping on a long-haul and not. The Ostrichpillow Eye Mask is the one I use. $45, weighs an ounce, 3D contoured eye cups that don’t press on your eyeballs (so you can blink and open your eyes inside the mask), 100% blackout, and breathable modal fabric. The contoured cups are the key feature. Flat masks press your eyelashes flat and feel awful for hours. This one feels like it isn’t there.

• Profi Nasal Spray (for the germs): The travel essential I didn’t know I needed. Profi is a drug-free nasal spray developed at Harvard Medical School and Brigham & Women’s Hospital. One spray per nostril forms a gel-like physical barrier inside your nose that helps block airborne contaminants for up to 8 hours. Six USP-certified ingredients, no drugs, no drowsiness. I spray it right before boarding a flight or walking into a crowded venue (concert, conference, holiday airport terminal). Since I started using it I’ve had noticeably fewer post-travel colds. Could be coincidence, but the pattern is clear enough that it lives in my travel bag now. About $25 per bottle, HSA/FSA eligible, made in USA.

• Twelve South PlugBug Travel 120W (for charging): The single charger I travel with now. Covered in Travel Chargers, but the gist: four USB-C ports, 120W total, dynamically allocated. Charges a MacBook Pro at full speed while also handling two phones and a watch. Swappable international plugs in the box. One brick, one cable per device, every destination.

• UniFi Travel Router (for Wi-Fi): If you run UniFi at home (or even if you don’t), the UniFi Travel Router turns any hotel Wi-Fi into your home network. All your devices connect to the same SSID they use at home, Apple HomeKit and Sonos and your travel router all just work, and you can route everything through a VPN back to your house. $79. One of the most useful $79 items I own. See also my full UniFi setup for the home side of this.

Final Thoughts

Traveling well is partly an art, partly a product of experience, often learned the hard way. But as you can see, a lot of it also comes down to preparation and using the right tools. The tips above cover everything from how to speed through security to what apps will help you find a great meal, to which credit card can get you into a swanky lounge.

If I had to summarize what’s changed since the 2017 version of this guide:

1. TSA Touchless ID has weakened CLEAR’s value proposition. Get PreCheck, opt into Touchless ID in your airline profile, and you may no longer need a separate ID-skip service at participating airports. Keep CLEAR only if your Amex Platinum reimburses it.

2. Both flagship cards got more expensive, but added real value. Amex Platinum at $895 and Sapphire Reserve at $795 still work if you actually use FHR, Resy, The Edit, and Exclusive Tables.

3. Alaska Atmos Summit replaced my Citi AAdvantage Executive. Same job (premium airline co-brand with lounge passes), but oriented around the airline I now actually fly.

4. Atmos Titanium status is the most achievable path to oneworld Emerald if you live on the West Coast.

5. Blacklane is now my default airport ground transport. It’s worth the small premium over rideshare for the predictability alone.

A few extra parting tips:

• Plan for the worst, hope for the best. Keep digital and physical copies of important documents (passport, vaccine card). I store scans in OneDrive so I can access them if I lose anything. Have a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your checked bag is delayed. Carry some emergency USD cash.

• Health and safety: I always travel with a small first-aid kit and any meds I might need. Better to have ibuprofen or Imodium at 2 AM in a hotel than scramble to find a pharmacy. A travel insurance policy can be a lifesaver for big trips. Some credit cards include basic coverage if you buy the trip on the card.

• Be courteous and patient. Air travel can test anyone’s patience with delays or crowded flights. A smile and kind word to a flight attendant, gate agent, or hotel clerk honestly leads to better service. And even if not, it’s just good karma.

Travel is one of the most enriching activities we can do. The getting there part doesn’t have to be a grind. With the right mindset and gear, the journey can be enjoyable in itself. Sit back in that lounge, tune out the world with your headphones, and look forward to the adventure that awaits at your destination.

Here’s wishing you smooth flights, short lines, great meals, and unforgettable experiences on all your future travels. Happy travels, and go make some amazing memories.

Then both my kids, separately, and each said the exact same thing: "Oh, you got a Scrub Daddy."

Like I had finally caught up to a meme everyone else was already in on. My son explained he'd watched the Shark Tank episode about it. Apparently it's the most successful product in Shark Tank history. I had no idea. I'm the guy who writes a newsletter about products and my middle schooler is briefing me on the consumer goods landscape.

A few years back I wrote about the EuroScrubby, which is still in our sink rotation alongside a Scotch-Brite and a chain mail sponge for the cast iron. So I'm a sponge guy. I have opinions.

The Scrub Daddy earns it. The polymer is firm in cold water for tough scrubbing and soft in warm water for gentler stuff. The smiley face slot fits over your fingers, which sounds like a gimmick until you're using it to clean the inside of a glass and realize it's not.

The other thing I love: you can throw it on the top rack of the dishwasher or zap it in the microwave to sanitize, and it dries out completely between uses. No funky moldy sponge smell, which is the thing that makes me throw a regular sponge away after two weeks.

Worth the few bucks. Also worth the small humility of being out-shopped by a 15-year-old.

Buy Scrub Daddy

Enjoy!

Both snap onto the back of your iPhone with magnets. Both solve problems I didn't realize I was tolerating.

The OhSnap Snap Grip Stand

I've been using the original OhSnap Snap Grip for a while now, and it's fantastic.

At only 2.5mm thin, it's thinner than the camera bump on your iPhone, so it adds essentially zero bulk. It attaches magnetically via MagSafe, so there's no adhesive residue, no commitment. You snap it on, you pull it off. The magnets are strong enough that your phone stays put on a car mount, a gym rack, or a fridge. The center cap slides open and locks into position for a comfortable grip, and it supports MagSafe charge-thru so you never have to take it off to charge wirelessly.

But I wanted more. Specifically, I wanted a true stand. At the gym, I prop my phone up on the floor to follow a workout video. At my desk, I want my iPhone screen visible while I'm working. The original Snap Grip can sort of lean your phone up, but it's not really a stand. It's a grip that happens to tilt your phone at an angle.

The OhSnap Snap Grip Stand is the answer. It keeps everything I love about the original (the 2.5mm thinness, MagSafe charge-thru, the satisfying click of the cap mechanism) but adds a proper kickstand that actually holds your phone upright. On the gym floor, on my desk at work, on a nightstand. It's the difference between balancing your phone against something and confidently propping it up knowing it's not going to fall over.

The Nitecore Pocket 5

Back in 2024, I wrote about MagSafe and Qi2 batteries. I tested the Native Union, a couple of Anker MagGo options, and tried to find the perfect magnetic power bank. I even noted at the time that wireless charging generates a lot of heat, which slows down your charging speed.

Well, after a year and a half of living with these things, I've arrived at a stronger conclusion: all MagSafe batteries kind of suck.

The problem is physics. Wireless charging works through induction, which generates heat. Heat triggers thermal throttling on your iPhone, which slows down charging. So you snap on this battery expecting convenience, and instead you get a warm phone that charges painfully slowly. Take it outside on a warm day? Forget about it. Your phone will barely sip power while it's busy trying not to overheat.

I kept thinking someone would solve this. Better coils, better heat management, something. Nobody did. The fundamental tradeoff is baked in: wireless charging through the back of your phone will always generate more heat than a cable.

So here's what I actually want: magnets to hold the battery on my phone, but a cable to do the charging. That's exactly what the Nitecore Pocket 5 does, and it's kind of brilliant.

It snaps onto the back of your iPhone with strong magnets, just like a MagSafe battery. But instead of wireless charging, it has a built-in USB-C cable that flips out and plugs directly into your phone. You get the convenience of magnetic attachment with the speed and efficiency of wired charging. Up to 22.5W of output, which is significantly faster than the 15W cap on MagSafe/Qi2.

And your phone stays cooler (still gets hot from charging and ambient temperature). That's the real win.

At 5,000mAh, it's enough for a full charge on most iPhones. It's only 0.35 inches thick and weighs 4.41 oz, which makes it thinner than the Anker MagGo batteries I was using before. The built-in cable tucks neatly into the side when you're not using it, so there's nothing dangling. It also has a USB-C port, so you can charge two devices at once or use pass-through charging to top up the battery while it's charging your phone.

Oh, and it's IPX7 waterproof. For $47.95. I don't know why more companies aren't doing this.

The Nitecore NB10000 Gen4

If you need more capacity for travel, the Nitecore NB10000 Gen4 is the bigger sibling. I featured the Nitecore NB Air in my Travel EDC post, and the Gen4 is the upgrade.

10,000mAh in a package that weighs just 5 oz. That's remarkable for this capacity. It has dual USB-C ports with the same 22.5W fast charging, pass-through charging, and IPX7 waterproofing. Instead of a built-in cable, it has a lanyard-style USB-C cable attached to the body, so it's always with you but out of the way.

A couple of nice touches: you can knock on it to check the remaining battery level, and the USB-C ports have RGB lighting that shows charging status. It's $83.95, which feels fair for what you get.

The Takeaway

I went through a lot of accessories to get here. The OhSnap gives me a secure grip and a kickstand without adding bulk, and I never have to take it off to charge. The Nitecore gives me fast, cool charging with the same magnetic convenience I wanted from MagSafe batteries, just without the heat problem.

Together, they cost under $90 and they've genuinely changed how I use my phone every day. Simple things, done well.

Enjoy!

EDJY.

What a strange name...

What Makes Them Different

EDJY nail cutters are precision-machined from surgical-grade stainless steel. The moment you pick one up, you can feel the difference. They’re weighty, solid, and the action is incredibly smooth. No wobble, no flex. Just a clean, satisfying cut every single time.

They make two sizes: a Fingernail Cutter ($18) and a Toenail Cutter ($23). The toenail version has a wider jaw and more leverage, which makes a real difference if you’ve ever struggled with thicker nails. I got both.

The Experience

The first time I used the toenail cutter, I actually paused and thought, “Oh. So this is what it’s supposed to feel like.” The blades are sharp enough that there’s almost no pressure needed. No cracking, no jagged edges, no need to file afterward. Just a clean cut.

The fingernail cutter is the same story. Precise, effortless, and the cuts are so clean you barely need to think about it.

The Details

• Toenail Cutter: $23

• Fingernail Cutter: $18

• Surgical-grade stainless steel

• Comes in a small carrying case

• Made to last years

Better than the Khlip?

I previously wrote about Khlip nail clippers. Are these better?

Yes, they are 25% the cost, and are easier to use with very consistent results.

Worth It?

Yes. They work, they are simple, they are are not messy and they are cheap.

Highly recommend. Enjoy!

You might consider getting a 4-pack if you have multiple people to upgrade.

Buy Now

If you're curious about the basics (why UniFi, how it all connects, what the UDM Pro actually does), that original post still covers the fundamentals. This one is about what's new and why the system keeps getting better.

The Gateway

The heart of everything is still the UDM Pro. It's the router, the security gateway, the controller for every device, and the NVR for all my cameras. It lives in a structured closet in our house and has been rock solid.

The biggest change at the gateway level is how I handle internet failover. In my last post, I was using a NetGear M6 Pro with US Mobile as a backup WAN. That worked fine, but not as well integrated into the Unifi world I've since replaced it with the UniFi U5G Max, a 5G modem that plugs directly into the UDM Pro and runs on T-Mobile as cellular backup. It's all managed from the same UniFi interface. One less thing, one less app, and the failover is seamless. When CenturyLink has hiccups (and it does), the network switches over to cellular without anyone in the house noticing.

Access Points: The Upgrade to Wi-Fi 7

This is where the most visible changes happened. My original setup was a mix of U6 Long-Range, U6 Lite, U6 Mesh, and a U6 In-Wall. They were great. But Ubiquiti's Wi-Fi 7 lineup is genuinely better, and I've been upgrading room by room.

Here's what the current AP lineup looks like:

U7 Pro is in the kitchen, which is the center of our house and where devices tend to congregate. Wi-Fi 7 with 6 GHz support. It replaced a U6 Long-Range and the improvement in throughput has been noticeable, especially for the devices that support Wi-Fi 6E and 7.

U7 Lite is installed in the home theater. A solid Wi-Fi 7 AP at a much lower price point than the Pro. Perfect for a room that mostly needs to stream reliably to an Apple TV.

U7 Outdoor replaced my old AC Mesh Pro that was handling the front yard and garden. The coverage is dramatically better, and it handles Seattle rain without complaint.

U6 In-Wall is still in the living room, installed over a single gang low voltage outlet. This one didn't need upgrading. It provides great coverage for that area and includes a built-in switch port, which is handy.

U6 Long-Range is still in the garage. The LR range handles the distance well and covers the driveway.

U6 Mesh is still in the main bedroom, sitting on a bookshelf. I'll probably swap this for a U7 eventually, but it's working perfectly.

The beauty of the UniFi system is that you can upgrade one AP at a time. You don't need to rip and replace everything. Swap a single unit, adopt it in the controller, and the network just keeps running.

Switches: 2.5 Gigabit Over Cat 5e

My house came wired with Cat 5e. Some people will tell you that you need Cat 6 or Cat 6a for anything beyond gigabit. In practice, I'm running 2.5 Gbps over Cat 5e to several devices without any issues. The cable runs in my house are all under 50 meters, and at those distances, Cat 5e handles 2.5GbE just fine.

The switch lineup:

USW Pro Max 16 PoE is the backbone. I have two of these. One in the structured closet and one in the family room. They provide 2.5GbE on four ports, PoE+ for the access points and cameras. They replaced my older USW-16-PoE switches and the jump to 2.5G across the board was worth it. Generally 2.5GbE is now my "backhaul" wiring with a few devices taking advantage of it.

USW Flex 2.5G 8 PoE fills the gaps. Two of these as well. One in the structured closet for overflow and one in the garage. Compact, fanless, 2.5GbE with PoE on all 8 ports. These are great for places where you need a few ports but don't want a full rack switch.

USW Lite 8 PoE lives in the home theater. Handles the Apple TV, the receiver, and the U7 Lite access point. Quiet and compact.

USW Flex handles the outdoors. Two of these, one on the south side and one on the north. They're weatherproof and PoE-powered, so a single ethernet run from inside the house gives you a switch plus power for outdoor cameras and the outdoor AP.

Cameras: UniFi Protect

The camera system has grown since my last post. Everything records to the UDM Pro with a 12TB drive, and UniFi Protect's AI detection (people, vehicles, packages, animals) has gotten meaningfully better over the past two years.

Current cameras:

G4 Doorbell Pro Package detection is genuinely useful. It's wired PoE, so no battery anxiety.

G4 Pro This is the OG flagship, with 4K and optical zoom. Great image quality day and night.

G6 Pro Bullet Covering the alley. The G6 line is Ubiquiti's latest and the image quality and AI features are a step up from the G4.

G3 Flex I still have three of these: Not 4K, but 1080p is plenty for these locations, and they're incredibly affordable.

G3 Instant Wi-Fi connected, no ethernet needed. This is the easy indoor camera for keeping an eye on things when we're away.

Smart Flood Light combines a camera and flood light in one. Motion-activated lighting and recording. These are great for spots where you'd want a light anyway.

Storage: UNAS Pro

This is a totally new addition. The UNAS Pro is Ubiquiti's network-attached storage device, and I'm using it primarily as a Time Machine backup target for all the Macs in our house.

Having centralized, automatic backups that just work over the network without plugging in an external drive is the kind of thing you don't appreciate until you need it. I configured it once and haven't thought about it since. Every Mac in the house backs up silently. It's also fast, and sitting on the 2.5GbE network means backups don't take forever.

The Travel Router

I wrote a dedicated post about the UniFi Travel Router, so I won't repeat everything here. The short version: it's $79, credit-card sized, broadcasts your home Wi-Fi network name so all your devices auto-connect, and has built-in Teleport VPN that tunnels back to your home network. Pay for airline Wi-Fi once and share it across all your devices. Access your streaming services overseas without commercial VPN headaches. It's become one of my essential travel items.

Accessories: The Little Things That Matter

One area where Ubiquiti has quietly gotten really good is accessories. I'm not talking about rack mounts or camera brackets (though those are great too). I'm talking about the cables themselves.

The USB-C Cable with Charge Display is one of those products that makes you wonder why every cable doesn't work this way. It's a braided USB-C cable with an integrated power meter built right into the connector. Plug it in and a small double-sided display shows you exactly how many watts are flowing to your device in real time. 100W max output, so it handles laptops and tablets without breaking a sweat. At $19 it's not the cheapest USB-C cable you'll buy, but it's the one you'll reach for every time because you can actually see what's happening. I keep one on my desk and one in my travel bag.

For ethernet, Ubiquiti makes two cables worth knowing about. The UniFi Premium Patch Cable is a braided Cat 6a cable that supports 10 GbE and is only 3mm thin. The braided jacket feels premium, the translucent boots are designed for Etherlighting (which illuminates the RJ45 port to show link status), and it's available in lengths from 15cm to 15m. Starting at $4.99, they're affordable enough to rewire your whole setup.

If you don't need 10 GbE, the standard UniFi Patch Cable starts at just $2. Same ultra-thin 3mm profile, but with flexible bendable boots that make tight installations much easier. GbE rated, PoE+++ compatible, and available in white, blue, or black. I've replaced every random cable in my closet with these.

These aren't the kind of accessories that make or break a network. But they're the kind of details that show Ubiquiti is thinking about the whole experience, not just the big hardware.

The Full Device List

For the gear-curious, here's everything on my network today:

Gateway: UDM Pro

Internet: CenturyLink 1GB Fiber (primary), T-Mobile 5G via U5G Max (cellular backup)

Access Points: U7 Pro (kitchen), U7 Lite (home theater), U7 Outdoor (front yard), U6 In-Wall (living room), U6 Long-Range (garage), U6 Mesh (main bedroom)

Switches: 2x USW Pro Max 16 PoE, 2x USW Flex 2.5G 8 PoE, 1x USW Lite 8 PoE, 2x USW Flex (outdoor)

Cameras: G4 Doorbell Pro, G4 Pro, G6 Pro Bullet, 3x G3 Flex, G3 Instant, Smart Flood Light

Storage: UNAS Pro

Travel: UniFi Travel Router

Modem: U5G Max (T-Mobile 5G)

That's 27 UniFi devices on one network, all managed from a single app.

Why I Keep Choosing UniFi

I get asked about home networking a lot. People want something that's better than the all-in-one router from their ISP but don't want to become a network engineer. UniFi hits that sweet spot. The hardware is excellent, the software is clean and continually improving, and once it's set up, you can leave it alone for months. It just works.

Is it overkill for a house? Probably. Do I love it? Absolutely. The reliability, the single pane of glass management, the ability to upgrade incrementally. It's exactly the kind of system that rewards a little upfront investment with years of not thinking about your network.

If you're just getting started and don't need rack mount, the new Cloud Gateways are the way to go. The Dream Router is still a great entry point, but the Dream Router 5G Max is the one I have my eye on for our cabin. It's an all-in-one solution: gateway, Wi-Fi 7 access point, and 5G cellular failover in a single device. Perfect for a location where you want great coverage without a full network stack. If you want a step up with more ports and throughput, the Dream Machine Special Edition gives you PoE, a larger SSD for Protect, and 2.5 GbE WAN. You can grow from there at your own pace. That's the beauty of the platform.

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments. Enjoy!

The landscape has gotten much better since then. I've simplified my travel charging down to three products that cover every scenario I run into, whether it's a weekend domestic trip or two weeks in Europe with the family.

The Power Station: Twelve South PlugBug Travel 120W

The Twelve South PlugBug Travel 120W is the centerpiece of my travel charging setup, and it's been rock solid.

Four USB-C ports. 120W total. No USB-A legacy ports taking up space. The charger dynamically distributes power based on what you plug in. A single MacBook Pro can pull the full 120W. Plug in a MacBook and two iPhones and it figures out the split automatically. It doesn't matter which port you use for which device. Just plug in and go.

This is the part that matters most to me. When I travel with my family, we have a MacBook, iPhones, an iPad, AirPods, an Apple Watch. Previously that meant packing multiple chargers or a power strip. Four high-wattage USB-C ports on a single compact block changes the math entirely. I've been using the PlugBug Travel 120W for a while now and it's been completely reliable. Every port, every country, every time.

Six interchangeable plug adapters come in the box, covering 179 countries: US, EU, UK, AU, CN, and KR. They slide into the charger with a spring-loaded release mechanism. No wiggle, no adapter falling off under the weight of the charger. These are proper, integrated plugs. I wrote about this in my original charger guide: chargers with integrated international adapters are always better than those universal adapters that wobble out of the wall at 3am. The PlugBug nails this.

Everything ships in a sturdy travel case that holds the charger and all six adapters. This is the kind of detail that makes you realize someone at Twelve South actually travels with their own products. No hunting through a cable pouch for the right adapter. Open the case, grab the plug you need, snap it on, done.

I'll be honest: it's a bit large and bulky compared to a simple two-port GaN charger. You feel it in your bag. That's the tradeoff for four ports, 120W, and integrated international plugs in a single device. For me, it replaces multiple chargers, so the total weight actually goes down. It also has Apple Find My built in, which is a nice bonus if you tend to leave chargers in hotel rooms (guilty).

$129.99. There's also a Travel 50W for $79.99 if you don't need to charge a MacBook Pro at full speed and want to save some money and weight.

The Work Trip Essential: Rolling Square Pocket Travel Charger

The PlugBug is my primary charger for family trips, but for work travel, the Rolling Square Pocket Travel Charger is what I reach for first.

I travel to Microsoft offices around the world. Redmond, Dublin, London, Delhi. Every office has different outlets. The Rolling Square has built-in US, EU, UK, and AU plugs that fold into the body, covering over 200 countries. You just rotate out the plug you need and go. No adapter bag, no fumbling through a Ziploc of outlet converters. It handles every situation I've walked into.

It comes in two versions: a 30W model with a single USB-C port, and a 25W model with USB-C and USB-A ($29.90 for either). I use the 30W USB-C version, and 30W turns out to be the sweet spot. It fast-charges an iPhone at full speed (the phone maxes out around 28W anyway), and it keeps a MacBook topped off while you're working. You're not going to charge a dead MacBook from zero in any reasonable time, but if you plug in during a meeting or at your desk, it maintains the battery and slowly gains ground. That's exactly what I need at an office where I'm moving between conference rooms all day.

It's also great on airplanes. The USB-C ports on most aircraft seats are low-wattage or unreliable. I plug the Rolling Square into the seatback AC outlet and get a full 30W to my phone or laptop. Consistent, fast charging at 35,000 feet.

The whole thing is genuinely pocket-sized. I keep one in my Aer Simple Kit or Slim Pouch and forget it's there until I need it. The build quality is solid, the integrated plugs feel secure in the wall, and at $29.90, it's almost an impulse buy. For work travel, I haven't found anything better.

The Swiss Army Knife: Anker Nano Travel Adapter

The Anker Nano Travel Adapter is the one I've used the longest and still love. It does something the other two don't: it has an AC passthrough outlet. That means you can plug your existing chargers into it. Your MacBook power brick, a hair dryer, a laptop charger from work, whatever. It converts the plug for you and passes through the power. That's incredibly versatile.

It also has its own charging ports: two USB-C (up to 20W) and two USB-A, so it can charge four devices directly plus whatever you plug into the AC outlet. Built-in plug types cover US, EU, UK, and AU. The pins fold flat for packing.

The tradeoff is that the USB-C output tops out at 20W, so it's not fast-charging a MacBook. And it's larger than the Rolling Square (though still compact at 3.39 x 1.97 x 0.98 inches and 3.77 oz). But the AC passthrough makes it uniquely useful. Traveling with someone who has their own charger and just needs a plug adapter? Hand them the Anker. Need to plug in a CPAP or a fan? Anker. It's the one that handles the edge cases.

How I Pack These

For international trips, I bring all three. The PlugBug Travel 120W in its case goes in my suitcase and becomes the nightstand charging station. The Anker Nano goes in the bag as the universal adapter for anything that needs an AC outlet or for someone else to borrow. The Rolling Square goes in my Aer Simple Kit or Slim Pouch for the day.

For a quick domestic trip, I usually just grab the Rolling Square and the PlugBug.

Enjoy!

Your home Wi-Fi network, everywhere you go ✈️ 🌐

Back in 2020, I wrote about the GL.iNet Travel Router, a little device that solved the headache of connecting a dozen devices to hotel Wi-Fi. I paired it with ExpressVPN so I could stream shows while traveling overseas. It worked, but it required fiddly setup, a separate VPN subscription, and the kind of patience that doesn’t come naturally at 11pm in a hotel room after a long flight.

Fast forward to today. Ubiquiti, the company behind my entire home network — has released the UniFi Travel Router, and it has completely replaced my old setup. If you already run a UniFi network at home, this thing is a no-brainer. And at $79, it’s one of the most useful travel accessories I own.

What It Is

The Travel Router is absurdly small, about the size of a credit card and half an inch thick. It weighs 89 grams. It has two Gigabit Ethernet ports, USB-C for power (5W, so any portable battery bank will run it for hours), and a tiny 1.14” status display. You can toss it in your bag and forget it’s there until you need it.

It runs Wi-Fi 5 (not Wi-Fi 6), which some reviewers have dinged it for. In practice, this has not mattered to me at all. You’re connecting to hotel and airplane Wi-Fi, the bottleneck is always their internet, never the router.

On the Airplane

Here’s a scenario that happens every time I fly. I want Wi-Fi on my iPhone and my iPad. Maybe my laptop too. Airline Wi-Fi charges per device, or limits you to one device per purchase.

With the Travel Router, I connect it to the airplane Wi-Fi once, handle the captive portal sign-in, and then all my devices connect through it. Pay once, use everywhere. It also does a great job maintaining a persistent connection to the captive portal — no more getting randomly kicked off and having to re-authenticate mid-flight.

In the Hotel

This is where the Travel Router really shines. When we travel as a family, we’ve got iPhones, iPads, and laptops between all of us. The old routine was everyone individually connecting to the hotel Wi-Fi, accepting terms, and dealing with the connection dropping every 24 hours.

The Travel Router broadcasts your home Wi-Fi network name. So when you walk into a hotel room and power it up, every device in your family just connects automatically, they already know the network. You handle the captive portal registration once on the router, and everyone is online.

This also means you can pay for premium internet access once and share it across all your devices. Most hotels charge per device for their faster tier. With the Travel Router, you sign up once and the whole family benefits.

And if you are really lucky your hotel room has ethernet! Even better!

Teleport VPN

This is the killer feature, and it’s why this is so much better than my old GL.iNet + ExpressVPN setup.

If you have a UniFi gateway at home (like a Dream Machine or Dream Router), the Travel Router has built-in Teleport support. It creates a secure VPN tunnel back to your home network automatically. No third-party VPN subscription. No configuration. It just works.

Why does this matter? When you’re overseas, streaming services like Netflix, HBO, Disney+, and others restrict content based on your location. Most people try using a VPN service to get around this, but the streaming companies have gotten very good at detecting and blocking commercial VPN providers. Teleport is different — it routes your traffic through your actual home IP address. To Netflix, you’re sitting on your couch. You can browse, download, and stream everything in your library just like you would at home.

I mentioned Teleport briefly in my home network post, but having it built into a tiny travel router that sets up in seconds is a completely different experience. On my last couple of trips, I had it running within a minute of walking into the hotel room.

The Bottom Line

The UniFi Travel Router is $79 and it has replaced a travel router, a VPN subscription, and a whole lot of frustration. If you’re already in the UniFi ecosystem, this is an easy recommendation. If you’re not, this might be the reason to look into it, you can start with a Dream Router at home and pair it with the Travel Router for travel.

Feel free to ask me any questions in the comments, and if you are interested in my full home network setup, check out my post on My Home Internet Setup with Unifi, which I will be updating shortly.

In this document are details about how to “inherit” all the digital and financial “stuff” that one invariably has as well as contacts for various people. A few years ago, when my father passed away, I had already taken measures to ensure all his passwords, accounts and information were stored in 1Password and his assets all titled in a Living Trust and that my Mother, Sister and I had Power of Attorney. This made the transition a lot easier.

But my kids are young and we have complex finances and my “digital” life has a lot of complexity such as domain names, household IoT devices, Subscriptions and so on. Most of this is tied to “me” and my email or phone number. This is not easy to just “transfer” to someone else.

The problem with the document approach was that I never do a good job updating it and I hate that it’s so cumbersome to work with.

EstateHelm

My long time coworker and friend Emmanuel texted me a few weeks ago about a web app he built called EstateHelm. He told me about the robust security it employed and how he was looking for feedback.

Security approach (read more here).

I immediately dove in and for the next few weeks I sent him tons of ideas of how I would want this to work.

EstateHelm has grown to have so many features now. How I am using it:

1. Managing our two homes, including all the maintenance and services tasks associated with each one. This allows everyone in our household to know what has to happen when.

2. Storing all our Estate Documents such as Wills, Trusts, Powers of Attorney

3. Storing all information about our Pets

4. Storing all your subscriptions

5. Cataloging Insurance policies

6. All our valuables, fine art, cameras, lenses and more.

7. Cars - insurance, maintenance

8. Emergency Contacts

Adding items is super easy with email forwarding. For example I sent EstateHelm a Vet record and here is what it did:

After forwarding all our Pet records for Oliver you can see this nice dashboard:

Emmanuel has added so many wonderful features, but the most important is that it has a feature called Continuity Protocol.

I think of EstateHelm as a Password Manager for after you are dead. Plus it’s a Household and Life manager.

Continuity Protocol

This is where things get interesting. The Continuity protocol enables my heirs and beneficiaries as well as Executors of our Estate to access anything we want AFTER I die. I set up rules for how this works. Continuity Protocol is essentially a “dead man switch”

The Continuity Protocol is a "dead man's switch" for your digital life. It monitors your activity and, after a period of inactivity you define, allows your designated beneficiaries to request access to specific information.

So think of it like this. I don’t log into EstateHelm for x days. My beneficieries can then request access to everything I have previously allowed them to have access to. Then after a window of time (giving me the opportunity to revoke their request) the gain access.

This is very similar to Apple’s Legacy Contacts feature (which you should set up!!!)

As part of the Continuity Protocol you can upload a document and or video with instructions for your heirs. You can also set up granular permissions for what your heirs will gain access to.

In my instructions I detail what I want my heirs to do and maintain when I die and how they can continue to operate the household and their lives with minimal interruptions.

A must have for any family

If you have young kids (or really any heirs or beneficiaries) and a household that many people are involved in managing, EstateHelm is a must have in your life.

I have been literally thinking about this problem for a decade and now here is a fantastic solution. It is quite time consuming to set it up for the first time, but you can do it little by little. There are some features such as receipt forwarding that you can use to speed up data entry. The benefits to doing this are that you start to gain a shared sense of what it means to operate the “Family Corporation” as I call it.

Again, it all comes down to security. The site is basically an encrypted blob protected by your Apple or Google ID, a secure code / password only you know and or your passkey.

You can also download a local copy and just keep it offline in your safe - so you have tons of options.

Now my family has a simple instruction to follow if anything happens to me. Go to EstateHelm.com, login with your credentials and request access to the Continuity Package.

EstateHelm has a free trial and then it’s $99/year for a single home or $199/year for an Estate Plan.

Welcome to the 2025 edition of the OmarKnows Holiday Gift List! I’m back with some new picks as well as from favorites from years past. Each recommendation has been personally tested or thoroughly researched to ensure it meets my standards for quality and usefulness.

Since this post is long, you may not be able to read it in your email app. If that is the case, click through to read it on this website.

I’ve also made it easy to share this post with your friends and family. Just click the Share button!

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Previous OmarKnows Holiday Gift Lists:

• Omar’s Holiday Picks 2024

• Omar’s Holiday Picks 2023

• Omar’s Holiday Picks 2022

• Omar’s Holiday Picks 2021

TECH & ACCESSORIES

Govee RGBIC Smart Table Lamp

I recently got a few of these lamps for my son and daughter’s bedrooms. They are really nice and easy to set up, and can act as a boring old lamp or something with a lot of color and pop.

Buy on Amazon →

WHOOSH! Screen Shine Go

My laptop screen is always dirty and got smudges on it. I’ve tried carrying around small wipes but they tend to make a mess. I’ve had great luck with the Whoosh products and like that they come in a travel size.

Buy on Amazon →

Oura Ring 4

These have become so popular and I continue to recommend them. First get a sizing kit if you do not know your size. Wear the ring overnight so you can get a sense of the fit. If you have an American Express Platinum Card you get $200 off a ring every year(as a credit to your account). Be sure to register for this offer.

Buy on Amazon →

Ray-Ban Meta Gen2 Glasses

The Gen2 glasses are a big improvement over the Gen1. They have double the battery life (8h instead of 4h) and higher photo resolution. I have the polarized glasses in matte black and find they are the perfect balance between outdoor and indoor wear (not as great as transitions, but the transitions are not as good outdoors).

Buy on Amazon →

reMarkable Paper Pro Move

I recently reviewed this and really love this device. If you are a note taker (or ever were a note taker) these are worth considering.

Remarkable Paper Pro Move

Buy on Amazon →

Anker Nano Travel Adapter (5-Port)

This is honestly the swiss army of travel chargers. It’s not a high power charger (only 20W) but for charging your phone anywhere in the world it cannot be beat. My favorite use is with the UK or EU style plug on every flight I go on since they never fall out of the airline sockets vs the US plug which is always loose. I have gifted these to so many people this past year!

Buy on Amazon →

INIU for MagSafe Portable Charger

This is a cheap and great MagSafe battery. It has a built in stand and USB-C cable and comes in a small package. It supports the faster wireless charging standard (Qi2).

Buy on Amazon →

Apple AirPods Pro 3 Wireless Earbuds

These are exceptional with one issue I hope apple fixes. The only thing holding me back from saying they are a must buy is this high pitched whine that sometimes happens but not always.

Buy on Amazon →

Soundcore Sleep A30: Sleep Earbuds with Noise Cancellation

I just recently reviewed these, and definitely recommend to put those on your Christmas list for somebody who does not already have them.

Soundcore Sleep A30: Sleep Earbuds with Noise Cancellation

Buy on Amazon →

Bose QuietComfort Ultra 2nd gen

I’ve watched a lot, I mean a lot, of YouTube videos and concluded these are the over the head noise cancelling headphones to get in 2025. The AirPods Max used to be my pick but they have fallen behind and are very heavy. I mostly use my AirPods Pro 3 now for flights.

Buy on Amazon →

Aura Frame – Ink

This is an interesting device. I got one so you don’t have to, and my verdict is that for the quality and use cases it’s pretty darned good. I love Aura Frames in general (the LCD models) but this e-ink version lets you showcase a photo or art on a wall for a few months without a charger or plug going into it.

Buy on Aura Frames →

Sonos Era 100

If you are looking for a small portable speaker (let’s face it the HomePod minis are not great) I’d never hesitate to suggest a Sonos product.

Buy on Sonos →

CHRISTMAS THEMED

Swarovski 2025 Annual Edition Ornament

Always in my picks. We have 24 now. Remember to purchase from authorized retailers, as counterfeits have become increasingly common on marketplace sites.

Buy on Amazon →

DESK & OFFICE

Craighill Desk Knife

I can never have too many tools for ripping open Amazon boxes. This one is on my list to purchase for myself. Ugmonk (the seller of this knife) makes lots of neat products you should check out.

Buy on Ugmonk →

Studio Neat Keen

The most high quality box opener. I have three. Pricey but very high quality.

Buy on Studio Neat →

Studio Neat Mark One and Two

Also from Studio Neat are some awesome pens. Beyond writing with them they are a joy to fiddle with.

Buy on Mark One on Studio Neat →

Buy on Mark Two on Studio Neat →

Fantik Cordless Electric Scissors for Cardboard

I love using this thing to destroy and cut my cardboard shipping boxes to fit in the recycling bin.

Buy on Amazon →

2026 Letterpress + Silkscreen Calendar

On my list every year. I love to give these out as gifts.

Buy on Ilee Paper Goods →

ACCESSORIES & APPAREL

Begg x Co Superfine Cashmere Scarf

I continue to believe this is an extremely nice luxury gift. I have yet to find a scarf that is as thin and comfy as this one. I have had my original for many years now, and it’s held up very well. I now have it in three colors (gray, black, and tan). When I first recommended this it was $400, today it’s $610.

Buy on Begg x Co →

Louis Vuitton Passport Cover – Monogram Shadow

I decided to include something from a fashion house this year - because I have it and love it. I got mine in Sydney, Australia and at purchase time you can get a stamp on it - mine is the opera house. I hope to add more stamps as I travel the world for places that are special to me.

Buy on Louis Vuitton →

Bemboka (Robes & Throws)

I discovered this brand while in Australia last year. In particular their bath robe. Their throws are also great. The robes run large. I am a large and Lora is a small.

Buy on Bemboka →

Hardgraft Collectors Watch Case

If you have a watch person in your life, this case is a very nice way to protect a watch with a clasp when you travel (or to keep in a safe).

Buy on Hardgraft →

Valextra Glasses Case

My wife wanted me to suggest this. I got this for her a few years ago on recommendation from my sister and on a recent trip she said she loves it and I should write about it.

Buy on Valextra →

Cozy Earth Men’s Bamboo Stretch-Knit Long Sleeve Pajama Set

My wife and daughter say these are the best pajamas and they are on my list. I’m very fond of these pajamas from Handvaerk (topand bottom)

Buy on Men’s on Cozy Earth →

Buy on Women’s on Cozy Earth →

NWKC Clothing

Our friends Sommana and Tanya are now running NWKC. I love the Crew pullover and wear it a lot in the fall and winter.

Buy Men’s Crew on NWKC →

Buy Women’s Crew on NWKC →

BAGS & ORGANIZATION

High Above Lost Lake Tote

This tote gets used a lot in the summer. I can’t say how much I love a transparent mesh tote that can mostly stand up by itself. It’s an awesome size and made locally in Bellingham, WA.

Buy on High Above →

Neuro Hair Dryer by Paul Mitchell Dry+

I’m a huge fan of the Dyson Supersonic but my friend Kelsi turned me on to the Neuro for my wife since it works globally and is much smaller. It’s as quiet if not more quiet than the Dyson.

Buy on Amazon →

AER Ultra Collection

Everything in this collection is awesome. I love Ultra cloth (hard to describe) but it’s all the rage for technical bag products now.

Buy on Aer →

AER Simple Kit

This is the most basic and simple of all the pouches. It’s flat, it’s light, and has a decent amount of space to keep your everyday carry necessities close by.

Buy on Aer →

AER Slim Pouch 2 Ultra

If you need more space, this is a really good bag to store travel chargers and accessories. This is the bag I take with me on all my trips.

Buy on Aer →

Peak Design Roller Pro

By now you’ve realized that I have an obsession with different types of travel bags. Peak Design is one of my favorite bag companies, so when they announced they were coming out with a roller bag, I was all in. I’ve used this now on three international trips and a couple of domestic trips, and I have to say it is by far the best travel roller bag I’ve ever used. It has such thoughtful organization, it’s light, it’s easy to access. In particular, I really like the clamshell opening which means you can prop open the top and have easy access to all of the contents quickly and effortlessly. It also has a really nice laptop storage compartment and generally has a lot of thoughtful details. Highly highly highly recommend. Although I will say I’m gonna miss traveling with my Rimowas.

Buy on Peak Design →

Peak Design Packable Tote

I’ve come to realize that this small packable tote is probably the best thing to take on a trip with you for many reasons.

One reason is that typically when I get to the airport, I want easy access to stuff on the plane, so I take things out of my backpack and dump them in here and use it as a way to just bring that on and stick it under my seat.

I also use this on vacations as a tote to take to the beach and pool. It’s great because it has a zipper, super light, and folds up into a little pouch. That pouch folds into serves as a small pocket to keep things like keys and other items. And in general price, you can’t beat the versatility of this bag.

Buy on Peak Design →

OUTERWEAR

Crescent Down Works – Classico Down Parka

These down jackets are made locally in Seattle by a company I recently discovered. While expensive, the quality is amazing. The unique features are beautiful. And they make a lot of different styles. I have the Classic parka and really love it, as well as the Down shirt.

Buy on Crescent Down Works →

COFFEE & KITCHEN

Ratio Eight Series 2 Coffee Maker

I’ve had every single Ratio coffee machine they’ve ever made. They continue to be my preferred way of brewing since I’m a huge fan of pour over style coffee. The latest version of the Ratio 8 is incredible for a few reasons. It is a completely metal and glass product except for the water reservoir, meaning that the filter basket is now made out of metal. That also means that the temperature is more consistent through the brew process into a stainless steel carafe. The new carafe is a much better design than the old one with a bigger opening. Overall, the machine is a much improved upgrade over something that was already pretty amazing and rock solid. Another nice feature they added to this version is optimized for brewing small batches. I have since replaced my Ratio 4 at home with this new upgraded Ratio 8 with the stainless steel carafe.

Buy on Ratio Coffee →

Subminimal Subscale

This is just a really cool device. It’s basically a cup with a built-in scale that you can use for a lot of purposes, but probably the most common is just dumping a bunch of coffee beans into it and being able to read exactly how much it weighs without needing a scale.

Buy on Subminimal →

Le Creuset Pocket Model Wine Opener

A bad wine opener is absolutely worthless. There is nothing worse than having a wine cork split or separate on the way out.

These wine openers from Le Creuset have extremely long cork screws that get all the way to the bottom of the cork, ensuring that when you are pulling it out, it is not going to do anything unnatural to break the cork. It also has a built-in foil cutter and is travel-friendly and easy to use.

Buy on Amazon →

PHOTOGRAPHY

Ricoh GR IV

My favorite camera, the Ricoh GR3, was upgraded this year after many years to the Ricoh GR4. I immediately ordered one knowing how difficult they would be to acquire. It seems that inventory is finally catching up, but this is really the camera to get for 2026.

It is tiny, it takes amazing pictures, super cute, and I love taking it with me wherever I go to take photographs that are such better quality than what you’re going to get at your iPhone camera. The iPhone camera is truly amazing, but it doesn’t take the level of quality that you’ll find on larger sensor cameras, such as full-frame or, in this case, the APS sensor found on the Ricoh.

This year’s model also includes the ability to attach a flash, which is tiny and very handy to have when you travel.

If you know somebody who’s into photography, this would be an amazing gift for them, but warning: you need to figure out a way to order it way ahead of time because, as I mentioned, these are difficult to acquire.

Buy on Glazer’s Camera →

The short version: they work really well for blocking sound and they’re comfortable for side sleeping. But the battery life is just barely enough to get through the night, and the app has some annoying quirks.

What Makes These Different

The big innovation here is ANC. Every other sleep earbud I’ve tried—Bose Sleepbuds for example —just uses the seal in your ear to block sound. The A30s have actual noise cancellation like you’d find in AirPods Pro, but optimized for sleep.

They also have this smart snore detection system. The charging case has microphones that listen for snoring, and when it hears it, the earbuds automatically adjust the masking sounds to cover it up. I can’t personally verify how well this works since I’m the one wearing the earbuds, but I can tell you that I slept straight through some pretty loud environments while traveling.

The earbuds are small and flat. They don’t stick out of your ear like regular earbuds. I’m a side sleeper and they didn’t bother me at all. After the first night I honestly forgot they were in my ears.

The Good Stuff

Comfort is excellent. I’ve tried a lot of sleep earbuds and these are right up there with the best. They come with a ton of different ear tips—both silicone and foam—so you can find the right fit. The foam tips are new for this generation and they stay in place better.

ANC actually works. I used these on a plane and in noisy hotels and they blocked out most of the rumble and hum. They’re not as powerful as my AirPods Pro for blocking conversations, but they’re great for the low-frequency sounds that keep you awake at night.

The sound library is huge. The app has over 60 different sounds—rain, ocean, white noise, even weird stuff like keyboard typing. You can mix three sounds together and adjust each one separately. The spatial audio feature with binaural beats is pretty cool and I found it helped me fall asleep faster.

Sleep tracking works well. I compared the data to my Oura Ring but it was not close. It tracks sleep stages, how much you move around, when you wake up, all that stuff. I have no idea really what product is more accutate.

The Alarm is great. It has a very gentle sound to wake you up and you can snooze by tapping on the sleep bud 3 times. I have no idea why only 3 times though.

The Problems

Battery life is borderline. They’re supposed to last 9 hours but I got about 7-8 hours in real use. That’s just barely enough for a full night of sleep. If you need 9+ hours or you’re a restless sleeper (which drains the battery faster), you might wake up to dead earbuds. I don’t trust using them as my only alarm.

The charging case gives you about 5 nights before you need to recharge it, so you’re charging the earbuds nightly anyway.

No Apple Health integration. All your sleep data stays trapped in the Soundcore app. Can’t sync to Apple Health or use with other apps.

Price and Alternatives

These cost $230, which feels about $30 too high for the issues you’re dealing with. The Soundcore Sleep A20 is $150 and lasts 14 hours—better value if you don’t specifically need ANC. The Ozlo Sleepbuds are $300 and slightly more comfortable but don’t have ANC. QuietOn 3.1 has the best ANC and 28-hour battery but no audio playback at all, just silence.

Should You Buy Them?

Get these if: You want something more comfortable than AirpPods for sleeping and want the benefits of bluetooth support for handling any audio playback at night without disturbing your sleeping partner. You sleep 7-8 hours and can charge nightly. You want one device for both sleeping and audio use.

Skip these if: You sleep 9+ hours (battery won’t make it). You want to stream audio all night without interruption (the auto-switching will drive you crazy). You just need simple earbuds without all the features.

I’m keeping mine for travel and home use. The noise cancellation makes a real difference in hotels and on planes.

These are innovative earbuds that solve real problems. They’re just not quite polished enough yet to recommend to everyone.

Price: $229.99

Buy Now

Full Circle: From 2018 to 2025

Six years ago, I wrote about my experience with the original reMarkable tablet, describing it as a device that made me "a more effective leader" because it kept me "focused and engaged." At the time, I was using it four hours daily, attending countless meetings with nothing but this digital paper replacement and finding genuine value in the friction of handwriting as a focusing mechanism.

Then came 2020.

Like everyone else, I found myself staring at screens for eight hours straight, jumping between Teams and Zoom calls, Chat messages, and shared documents. The reMarkable gathered dust. When your entire professional life exists within a laptop screen, the case for a separate note-taking device becomes difficult to justify. The pandemic didn't just change where we worked—it fundamentally altered how we process information and maintain focus.

But as we've gradually returned to conference rooms, coffee meetings, and in-person collaboration, I've made a surprising discovery: the need for distraction-free thinking tools has never been greater. This is where the reMarkable Paper Pro Move enters the picture.

The Paper Pro Move: Solving the Portability Problem

The reMarkable Paper Pro Move represents a fundamental shift in reMarkable's approach—their first truly compact device with a 7.3" color display. At 7.6 inches tall and 4.3 inches wide, weighing just 230 grams, it's dramatically more portable than its 11.8" sibling.

This size reduction addresses what was perhaps the original reMarkable's biggest practical limitation: the commitment required to bring it along. The original device, while thin, demanded deliberate planning. You brought it to meetings where you knew you'd need it. The Paper Pro Move eliminates that friction entirely.

The writing experience remains the headline feature. The paper-like texture and near-instantaneous response that made the original reMarkable compelling remain intact.

The Pen or Marker has the same feel but now comes with an eraser which is super handy!

Addressing the 2018 Wish List

Looking back at my original review, several pain points have been systematically addressed. The move to USB-C eliminates one source of cable management frustration, and battery life maintains the two-week promise despite the significantly smaller form factor. Perhaps most significantly, handwriting recognition and search functionality—items at the top of my 2018 wish list—are now core features.

What hasn't changed—intentionally—is the core principle of focused simplicity. There's still no web browser, no email client, no notification system. In 2018, these felt like limitations. In 2025, they feel like features.

The Premium Positioning

At $449, the Paper Pro Move is expensive. The question isn't whether it's expensive—it objectively is—but whether the specific value it provides justifies the cost for your particular workflow. For those who value digital paper as their primary interface, the Paper Pro Move represents "everything I want in a writing tablet".

Practical Considerations

The narrow 9:16 aspect ratio creates some challenges for PDF reading and document compatibility between different reMarkable devices. Documents created on the Move's narrow format appear as thin columns when viewed on larger reMarkable devices, while full-sized documents get scaled down significantly on the Move.

Some of the most valuable features, including the new Methods templates and enhanced organization tools, require a $2.99 monthly Connect subscription. This ongoing cost transforms what was once a one-time purchase into a subscription relationship, though the monthly fee remains modest.

The active stylus requires charging via magnetic attachment and so far I’ve not run out of chage.

Where It Fits

The reMarkable Paper Pro Move succeeds not by trying to replace your laptop or tablet, but by carving out a specific niche: the space between quick phone notes and formal document creation.

For leaders returning to in-person meetings, this distinction matters. The device signals presence and engagement in a way that opening a laptop simply cannot. More practically, it provides a space for the kind of preparatory thinking and post-meeting reflection that often gets squeezed out by back-to-back video calls.

The improved synchronization features mean that handwritten notes can seamlessly integrate with digital workflows when needed, with the ability to convert handwriting to typed text and search through handwritten content.

Looking Forward

The reMarkable Paper Pro Move embodies a philosophy of restraint in an age of feature bloat. It won't offer to draw doodles with AI or prompt you with journal queries—the experience remains "distraction-free by design".

For those who value the cognitive benefits of handwriting and find themselves yearning for undistracted thinking space, the reMarkable Paper Pro Move doesn't just fill a gap in the market—it fills a gap in how we work and think. In a world of endless notifications and infinite scroll, sometimes the most innovative thing you can do is pick up a pen.

The device succeeds because it solves a real problem: maintaining focus and presence in an increasingly fragmented professional environment. For leaders spending more time in physical meeting rooms again, that may be worth considerably more than $449.

Buy Now

I recently helped my daughter transition, and below are some of the things we did together.

Credit building strategies

When you turn 18, your “credit reporting” is activated. With no credit history, this makes it challenging to open a new credit card account. However, there are some options we followed that worked.

Our kids have been participants on our Apple Card Family account for a long time now, it’s been very handy to give them access to a card they can use that is not a debit card.

Apple Card Family has crucial limitations that many parents don't understand. While you can add minors aged 13+ as "participants," only those 18+ can opt-in to build credit. Teens aged 13-17 are NOT reported to credit bureaus, even as authorized users. This means your careful planning to help your teenager build credit won't work until they turn 18 and specifically opt-in to credit building.

The Capital One Savor Student card is particularly valuable for new adults, offering 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, streaming, and groceries - categories where college students typically spend heavily. The card has no annual fee, requires no credit history for approval, and includes built-in fraud protection.

Apple Cash transitions require identity verification and must be initiated by the user once they turn 18. We ran into massive challenges with Sarah since she did not have an Apple Cash account before she turned 18. This went spectacularly bad as something went wrong with the credit report check and they put my kid in some kind of security black hole. They said she was barred for life and could never get a account. Both Apple and Green Bank, who is the bank behind Apple Cash were useless. So, I filed a complaint with The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) (an agency that Trump de-funded, thanks Trump!) and they essentially forced Green Bank to resolve the issue. My kid now has a working Apple Cash Card. I suspect what happened is that the credit agency that they use had zero data on my kid.

For building credit effectively, start as an authorized user on parents' cards if possible, then apply for student cards at 18. Pay balances in full, keep utilization below 30%, and monitor credit scores monthly through free services like Credit Karma.

Banking options that save money and provide convenience

Family banking relationships can provide ongoing benefits. If you do your primary checking with a bank, chances are you can open an account for your kid and extend any banking benefits that you have on your account to them. This is usually part of a “relationship” type of account. Ideally you get a checking account that has no ATM feels and also offers rebates for any third party fees other ATMs charge you. Along with check cashing via an app you should really no longer need a physical bank any more.

Estate planning documents you need now

Three essential documents become critical at 18: Durable Power of Attorney for Assets (financial decisions), Health Care Power of Attorney (medical decisions), and Authorization for Disclosure forms for FERPA and HIPAA. Without these, parents lose automatic access to medical information and financial accounts due to federal privacy laws.

Costs vary significantly depending on your approach.

State requirements differ substantially. Some states presume durability while others require specific language. Texas requires two witnesses, while California requires acknowledgment OR two witnesses.New York uses statutory short forms that simplify the process. When moving to a new state, consider updating documents to ensure compliance with local requirements.

Why these documents matter: At 18, HIPAA and FERPA privacy laws create barriers for parents during emergencies. Without proper documentation, court-appointed guardianship becomes necessary - an expensive, time-consuming process that creates delays during crises.

Insurance coverage transitions and requirements

Health insurance coverage until age 26 remains protected under the Affordable Care Act (thanks Obama!), regardless of marital status, student status, or residence. Coverage extends through December 31 of the year you turn 26 for Marketplace plans, though employer-sponsored plans may end the month you turn 26.

Property insurance for college students requires careful consideration. Parents' homeowners insurancetypically covers personal property up to 10% of the home policy limit (often $1,000-$10,000) and includes liability coverage. However, off-campus housing, graduate students, and high-value items may require separate coverage.

Renters insurance averages $16-$23 monthly nationally but can cost as little as $6-$12 monthly for students.

Auto insurance often remains cheaper on parents' policies, with family additions ranging from $1,406-$2,718 annually. Good student discounts provide up to 25% off for 3.0+ GPAs, while student away at school discounts apply for students 100+ miles from home without a car.

Passport policies and electronic renewal realities

At 16 you can get an adult passport, which means it expires after 10 years, not 5 like it’s been since your kid was born. We got our daughter her adult passport this past year so that she need not worry about getting her passport application done while she was away at school.

Page expansion is no longer possible - the State Department discontinued visa page inserts in 2016. Standard passport books contain 28 pages while large books contain 52 pages at no additional cost. Frequent travelers should choose large books initially to avoid premature renewal.

Travel - teach your kids some key travel tips for leaving the country.

Always pay in local currency. Any time a US based card is used at an international credit card terminal it will ask you if you want to pay in USD or local currency. There is only one right answer. LOCAL CURRENCY. You are getting scammed if you pay in USD as they will charge you a fee, usually 1% of the transaction.

Use a card with zero foreign transaction fee. Many cards offer this.

Never accept a conversion at an ATM Machine. This is an even bigger scam with some ATMs offering a 5-10% fee for converting. The ATMs are getting better at scamming you with scary screens to click through. Even I have a hard time. Take your time and make a good choice.

With the EU spending all its time regulating big tech, I find it bananas they don’t do anything to protect consumers from this practice. This is all a scam people. Your credit and debit card will auto-convert from any currency into USD using the bank rates. I’m surprised at how few people know this. It should be illegal to offer conversions.

Global Entry – register for Global Entry to make entry back into the US faster and easier.

Tools and services worth the investment

Teach your kid how to budget and show them good tools to help them budget.

I’ve been using You Need A Budget for over a decade. It’s awesome.

YNAB (You Need A Budget) offers free access for one full year to all college students, including graduate students and part-time students. After graduation, students receive a 10% lifetime discount on the annual plan ($98.10/year instead of $109). The zero-based budgeting system and educational resources make it particularly valuable for new adults learning financial management.

Credit report freezing is free at all three bureaus and should be done immediately. Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion must process online freezing within one business day and unfreezing within one hour. This protection prevents identity thieves from opening new accounts while having no impact on existing credit.

Netflix family sharing has become restrictive, limiting accounts to one household using IP address tracking. Extra member fees cost $8.99/month. Decide if you are going to gift this to them or cut them loose.

If you have Clear membership (getting increasingly useless) has increased dramatically to $209/year for primary members and $125/year for additional family members, potentially making it less worthwhile for young adults.

Credit Karma is a great service to start monitoring your credit, be alerted to changes and learn how to leverage good credit, which becomes important if you decide to get a car loan or home loan down the road. The most important way to build good credit is to make sure you are understanding of credit utilization, paying off your balance each month and staying on top if you bills.

Additional valuable strategies and recommendations

Credit building timeline: Start as an authorized user at 13-16 if possible, apply for your own card at 18, expect FICO score generation after 6 months, solid credit history after 12 months, and excellent credit for premium cards after 24+ months.

Banking strategy: Start with one primary account (online bank or credit union for best value), add checking/savings from the same institution, maintain family banking relationships when beneficial, and expand based on changing needs.

Insurance transitions: Understand health insurance changes at 26, consider renters insurance for off-campus housing, maintain auto insurance through parents when cost-effective, and transition to independent policies when living permanently away from home.

Financial education resources: Take advantage of YNAB's free student year, use free credit monitoring services, research state consumer protection laws, and stay informed about changing regulations that affect young adults.

Emergency preparedness: Keep important documents accessible, understand complaint processes, monitor credit reports regularly, and build relationships with local credit unions and community banks that often provide personalized service and financial education.

The key to successful adulting in 2025 is understanding that the landscape is constantly evolving.

#1 DMade Custom Bag

I have been buying custom pouches from a maker called “DMade” and they are just stunning small bags. Each one is custom made and takes about 1-2 weeks. Here is the one I have.

Dopp Size:

• Slim Stubby

Zipper Style:

• YKK Aquaguard®

Exterior Fabrics:

• Challenge Ultra™ 200X Black Magic

Interior Fabrics:

• EcoPak™ & ULTRAGRID™ Key Lime

Options:

• 550 Cord (Matches Interior Color)

There are so many options to choose from. I love Challenge Ultra Fabric, which you can read about here.

#2 Nitecore Tiki LE Keychain Flashlight

This is a tiny flashlight and it charges via USB-C and has a red light feature.

#3 Anker Nano Travel Adapter

This thing is the GOAT. I mean get it now, get one for everyone in your household. If you travel outside the US this is all you will need. It’s also fantastic for airplane use as you can use the UK plug / adapter which is very secure.

This adapter lets you plug a US anything into a UK, EU, Australia plug. Pretty much anywhere in the world.

It’s 20W and has USB-C and USB-A ports (2 each). That’s not a lot of power, but enough to charge your iPhone.

For higher power then I add a

#4 Nomad 65w Slim Power Adapter

At 65W, this is tiny and powerful. Since it is a flat plug design it won’t fall out of the wall so easily and is great for tight spaces.

Here it is plugged into the Anker adapter above. With this set up I have (2) 20W USB-C/A and (2) 65W options.

#5 Nitecore NB Air Ultra Lightweight and Slim USB-C 5000mAh Power Bank

Really tiny battery and enough to charge my phone in an emergency.

#6 Nitecore NLink10 PD QC Fast Charging USB-C Cable

Just tiny and goes well with the battery.

#7 - mcdodo 140W USB-C to Magsafe 3 Adapter

Not really necessary, but I like using this to charge my MacBook since it has an indicator light and turns green when it’s done charging. Also handy if I’m on a plane and yank the charging cable.

#8 Beats USB-C Charging (1.5 m, 5 ft)

These cables are new, from Apple (well Beats is owned by Apple) and very high quality.

5ft is the perfect length for a travel cable. Not too long and better than the shorter 1M or 3ft cables commonly found.

Everything fits in here.

I started another Newsletter, OmarKnows AI, focused on AI Productivity. I hope to use it to share my latest productivity discoveries! I hope you’ll consider subscribing!

OmarKnows AI

An OmarKnows focused exclusively on my AI Productivity Tip, Tricks and Hacks.

By Omar Shahine

Ok back to what you came here for…

After spending two years with my EVA foam Birkenstocks across various travel scenarios and daily situations, I’ve discovered what might be one of the most practical footwear innovations.

They are comfortable, the look great and they hold up really well.

They excel in beach vacations and settings where your feet are constantly getting wet and sandy. They dry very quickly and also dress up well for dinner - making them very versatile.

They also come in a lot of great colors and some additional styles now like these ladies sandals

What is EVA Foam?

EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam represents a fascinating material science achievement in footwear. Unlike traditional Birkenstocks that use cork and latex footbeds with leather straps, these are molded entirely from this synthetic material. The result? You get the exact same contoured footbed design—deep heel cup, dual arch support, raised toe bar—but in a completely waterproof, ultra-lightweight package.

The engineering is impressive: they’ve maintained every orthopedic benefit of the original while eliminating the traditional limitations. No break-in period, no water damage concerns, and significantly reduced weight for travel scenarios.

Real-World Performance Testing

Travel Efficiency: At 7.8 ounces for a size 8 pair, these pack almost flat and weigh less than most sneakers. During recent trips, I’ve successfully used them for beach activities, city walking, hotel showers, and casual dining—essentially replacing 3-4 different shoe types in my luggage.

Water Resistance Reality: Complete submersion causes no damage. I’ve tested them in pools, ocean waves, and questionable hotel bathrooms. They rinse clean instantly and air-dry within 30 minutes. This transforms travel logistics, especially for beach destinations or multi-activity trips.

Comfort Longevity: The structured footbed provides genuine arch support during extended walking. Unlike purely cushioned alternatives, these maintain foot alignment and reduce fatigue over long periods.

Technical Considerations

Sizing: Follows traditional Birkenstock sizing, typically requiring a half-size down from athletic shoe sizing. The molded construction means less size flexibility than leather versions.

I’m a 45 in all Birkenstocks and these have the exact same fit as your regular Birkenstocks.

My Experience

After extensive testing across different scenarios—city exploration, beach activities, travel convenience, daily comfort—these have become default choices for situations requiring lightweight, versatile, immediately comfortable footwear. The instant comfort factor eliminates the patience typically required with traditional Birkenstocks.

The waterproof capability has proven particularly valuable for travel scenarios involving water activities, questionable surfaces, or climate transitions. Being able to pack one pair that handles multiple scenarios significantly simplifies travel planning.

Oh and they are made in Germany!

Hey Friends! It’s been a while. I’ve been working out Sunday mornings, so that’s totally messed up my regular writing routine. I need to get back into it. I have a big backlog of things to review.

For this week I thought I’d tell you all about a candy that I love. I don’t have a sweet tooth, don’t eat any candy or gum and generally try and stay away from Sugar. But Swedish candy has always been my jam and sometimes the best discoveries come through friends, and Mum's Candy is exactly that kind of find. A friend put me onto this nostalgic treat, and it's quietly become one of those simple pleasures that brightens our week.

The Weekly Treat That Actually Delivers

We've settled into ordering a medium bag of the sweet and sour mix every few weeks and it's struck that perfect balance - infrequent enough to look forward to!. There's something satisfying about having a designated treat that feels intentional rather than impulsive.

Perfect for Gatherings

Where Mum's really shines is in group settings. I plan to bring a bag to summer get-togethers, and it's become one of those crowd-pleasers that sparks conversation. There's something about sharing quality candy that brings people together - maybe it's the nostalgia factor, or just the simple joy of a well-made sweet treat.

Pros:

• Consistent quality and flavor

• Great for sharing at gatherings

• Feels special without being pretentious

• Perfect portion control when you order weekly

• Nostalgic appeal that resonates across age groups

Considerations:

• Online ordering means you need to plan ahead

• Price point is higher than convenience store candy

• Limited flavor variety compared to major brands

What I didn't expect was how much the sharing aspect would matter. When you pull out a bag of Mum's people notice. It's become a conversation starter and a small way to elevate ordinary moments.

The packaging is straightforward and travel-friendly. It comes in a paper bag.

Shipping is fast.

Mum's Candy has earned its place in my life and brings me tiny joy.

Get yours at: mumscandy.com

Understanding the Ascent X Series Models

The Ascent X Series offers four models—X2, X3, X4, and X5—each tailored to different needs:

• X2: Features physical start-stop buttons, variable speed control, pulse function, and three program settings—Smoothies, Hot Soup, and Frozen Desserts.

• X3: Upgrades to touch-sensitive buttons while retaining the X2's features, including the same three program settings.

• X4: Introduces five blending programs—Smoothies, Frozen Desserts, Soups, Dips & Spreads, and Frozen Cocktails—along with a 48-ounce container, touch interface, and an automatic self-cleaning feature.

• X5: The top-tier model with ten blending programs, including options like nut butter and spice grinding. It also features a tamper assist function, a "+15 seconds" button, and a premium stainless steel finish.

Why I Chose the Ascent X4

After evaluating the options, I opted for the Ascent X4. Its five blending programs cover all my needs. Plus, the self-cleaning program simplifies maintenance, which is a huge plus for me. It’s like a car wash for your blender.

Enhancing Functionality with Attachments

One of the standout features of the Ascent Series is its compatibility with various attachments, thanks to the SELF-DETECT® technology. I particularly appreciate the 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment, which transforms the blender into a full-fledged food processor, eliminating the need for an additional appliance.

After using the Vitamix food processor attachment for several months, I can confidently say it's significantly superior to my old Cuisinart 12-cup food processor that served me well for over 20 years. The cutting precision is remarkable, offering more consistent results whether I'm slicing vegetables or shredding cheese. The power behind the Vitamix base delivers noticeably better performance, and the attachment's modern design makes it both easier to clean and more intuitive to use.

Consolidating two appliances down to one has useful for my workflow. With limited counter space, ensuring that each appliance earns its place is essential. The Vitamix with its food processor attachment has not only freed up valuable real estate in my kitchen but also simplified my cooking process.

Additionally, the 48-ounce Stainless Steel Container is a nice option as it cleans up easily and I have no issues putting it into the dishwasher. It's durable, easy to clean, and perfect for blending hot ingredients without concerns about plastic.

Recommended Accessories

• 12-Cup Food Processor Attachment: Perfect for chopping, slicing, and shredding vegetables and other ingredients, making meal prep quick and easy. I also love how tidy it all is when you store this.

• 48-ounce Stainless Steel Container: Ideal for blending hot soups or icy beverages safely, ensuring durability and ease of cleaning.

• Counter Top Rolling Tray - Really handy tray on wheels to tuck it back into the counter.

The Vitamix Ascent Series is a worthy investment. Its versatility, power, and compatibility with various attachments make it a standout choice.

South Africa vs. Tanzania: A Tale of Two Experiences

South Africa

• A safari in South Africa often pairs well with urban and cultural exploration. Johannesburg offers a deep dive into the nation’s rich and complex history, particularly apartheid.

• ·After your safari, Cape Town is a must-visit city, with its world-class dining, stunning landscapes, and vibrant cultural mix.

• On safari, you typically have both a guide and a tracker. The tracker is invaluable for reading animal tracks on dirt roads and spotting elusive wildlife, making each game drive a true team adventure.

• We found leopards surprisingly plentiful in South Africa, spotting them almost daily.

• We visited in Summer and found the weather to be perfect.

Tanzania

• Tanzania provides more of a raw “bush experience.” In the Serengeti, for example, you might spend days in a tent surrounded by the vast savannah.

• The Great Migration is an experience beyond words. Witnessing thousands of wildebeests and zebras moving in unison is akin to seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time—absolutely awe-inspiring.

• In Tanzania, you’re likely to see more elephants, giraffes, and wildebeests.

• Tsetse flies can be a nuisance, and they’re attracted to dark colors like black and blue—something to keep in mind when choosing your safari wardrobe.

• Add on a trip to Zanzibar after your Safari is over.

Luggage Considerations

If your itinerary involves small flights between game reserves (often on Cessna Caravans), be mindful of strict luggage requirements. Soft-sided bags without rigid frames are typically required, and the weight limit is usually around 15 kg (33 lbs.).

Soft-Sided Duffels

o Pros: Lightweight and flexible; easier to store on small planes.

o Cons: Carrying them (plus a backpack) can be cumbersome through airports.

o Examples: Patagonia MLC, Osprey Transporter (45–50L).

Wheeled Duffels

o Pros: Easier to transport through airports.

o Cons: Slightly heavier and sometimes less flexible in the cargo hold.

o Examples: Patagonia Black Hole Wheeled Duffel (40L), Osprey Sojourn Shuttle (45L).

Many safari lodges offer complimentary laundry service, which helps you keep the packing light and meet weight restrictions more easily.

Keeping Your Items Organized

Peak Design packing cubes are a lifesaver for staying organized on safari. I recommend:

• Two Medium Peak Design Packing Cubes: For larger clothing items.

• Peak Design Shoe Pouch: To keep your shoes separate from clothes.

• Peak Design Small Wash Pouch: Ideal for toiletries.

• Two XXS Peak Design Ultralight Packing Cubes: For small accessories and miscellaneous items.

The Ideal Backpack

The Peak Design Travel Backpack (30L) or Tom Bihn Bixi (32L) is an excellent companion for a safari trip. Both have a luggage pass-through strap for your carry-on, and the backpack handles tuck away for easier handling. I found it expandable and practical for carrying essentials while keeping my hands free.

In my backpack, I carried:

• Peak Design Small Tech Pouch: For cables, chargers, and tech essentials.

• Peak Design Smedium Camera Cube: To protect my camera while traveling. During game drives, I typically carried my camera by hand for easy access.

• Peak Design Travel Tote: A packable tote is useful for carrying items to and from the lodge or vehicle.

Camera Gear

On this trip, I kept things simple with just one camera body and one lens: a Sony A7RIV with a Sony 70-200mm G Master II lens, plus a 2x converter. This setup gave me a focal length range of 140mm to 400mm, which worked well for capturing wildlife at various distances. I recommend using Shutter Priority mode set at 1/800 or faster to mitigate vehicle vibrations during game drives. I generally used 1/1000 to 1/2000 shutter speed, with Auto ISO and continuous autofocus tracking.

iPhones are surprisingly good cameras for a Safari if you have a model with a 5x lens. They are great for video.

Clothing Tips for Safari

When packing for a safari, it’s best to avoid cotton. It's heavy, retains moisture, and tends to get smelly. Instead, opt for merino wool, linen, or synthetic fabrics, which are breathable, lightweight, and odor-resistant. Here's what I packed:

• Two Long Sleeve Shirts: Light, breathable options like the Poncho Original are great choices.

• Two Lightweight Merino Wool T-Shirts: I get mine from Outlier

• Two Lightweight T-Shirts: The Ramielist Cut One is perfect for warm weather.

• One Pair of Linen Pants: Linen is ideal for hot climates. Consider Uniqlo Linen-Blend Relaxed Pants.

• One Pair of Athleisure Pants: The Kuhl Suppressor Pants are comfortable for both travel and game drives.

• One Pair of Shorts: Such as the Outlier New Way Fives.

• One Ultralight Down Jacket: Mornings and evenings can get chilly, so pack a lightweight jacket like Uniqlo's Ultra Light Down Jacket.

• Comfortable Shoes: The Oboz Bozeman Low Leather shoes are great for both walking and game drives. I also like the Oboz Katabatic Wind Low.

Another tip: treat your clothing with Permethrin Fabric Treatment before your trip to protect against mosquitoes and ticks. In Tanzania, tsetse flies are a common nuisance, and they are attracted to black and blue. You’ll see many traps in these colors throughout the plains, so it’s best to avoid wearing them.

Tips from Nevine

Now, let’s hand it over to my sister. She has curated a detailed gear guide that blends comfort, practicality, and a bit of style.

Headwear & Accessories

Hat with Strap

Keeps the sun off and stays put in windy conditions.

• Chin Strap Collection

• Silk Cashmere Fringed Bandana

Footwear

Shoes That Can Keep Up

• Golden Goose Superstar Mixed Leather Low Top Sneakers

• Assorted 3-Pack Absolute No Show Socks

Tops, Bottoms & Outerwear

Tops

• Cates Tee

• Always Effortless Jacket

Bottoms

• Swift Wide Leg Mid Rise Pant

• Stretch Woven Wide Leg HR Cropped Pants

Extra Pieces

• Dear John Collarless Utility Jacket

• The Kallie Flowy Maxi Dress

• You Milan Slides

• Laguna in Parchment Dress

Bags & Gear

Waxed Canvas Tote Pack (27L)

• Patagonia Tote Pack (out of stock)

Duffel Bag Options

• Bag / Hat Clip

• The North Face Base Camp Voyager Duffel (32L)

Additional Gear

• My Parallelle Info

• Eagle Creek Compression Accessories

• REI’s Pocket Bag

Pants & Joggers

• Prana Halle Straight Pants II (Women’s)

• REI Co-op Sahara Lined Pants (Women’s)

• Paige Mayslie Jogger in Vintage Ivy Green

Evening/Casual Dress

• L*Space Barcelona Dress in Cream

The Ultimate Packing List

Keep your clothing choices minimal and versatile:

• 4 t-shirts

• 4 pants

• 2 scarves

• 4 pairs of underwear

• 4 pairs of socks

• 2 sets of pajamas

• 1 swimsuit

• 1 cover-up/dress

• 1 additional dress

• 1 hat

• 1 pair of sunglasses

• 1 pair of sneakers

• 1 pair of flip-flops

Carry-On Must-Have

Patagonia Black Hole Matte Wheeled Duffel Bag (40L)

Final Thoughts

Packing for a safari involves balancing minimalism with preparedness. Soft bags, light layers, and versatile gear will help make your experience smoother. And remember, the magic of safari is not just in the sights but in being fully present in nature—every roar, every rustle, every breathtaking sunrise. Being comfortable and organized lets you focus on the adventure that awaits.

First let me tell you why pour over coffee is the best.

1. It’s 100% consistent every time cause gravity does all the work.

2. The only variables are your beans (how you ground them, how fresh they are) and how much coffee to water ratio you use.

3. Automatic Pour Over machines is “set it and forget it” which is just a small optimization for an already uncomplicated process.

4. You can get all the ratios perfectly on a scale. Weigh the coffee grounds and the water (1ml = 1g of water) using the standard coffee to water ratio of 1:16 (1g of ground coffee for every 16g/ml of water).

A Smaller Footprint with the Same Great Taste

What makes the Ratio Four special? It’s the most compact sibling in the Ratio family. If you loved the Ratio Eight (or the Ratio Six) but wanted something that takes up a bit less space on your counter, the Four might be perfect. It fits comfortably in smaller kitchens or office nooks while still delivering that consistent bloom and extraction Ratio is known for.

For my wife and I it’s perfect as we brew two fresh cups every morning and drink them in our Fellows Carter Mugs and for our afternoon coffee it’s great as I’m usually brewing coffee for one. This has replaced our manual pour over and simplified all coffee making down to just the Ratio Four (previously we used a Blue Bottle Coffee Dripper.

The “Automatic Pour-Over” You Can Rely On

The magic of Ratio’s machines is in replicating the pour-over brewing process—so you get a more nuanced flavor profile than your average drip machine. That means the bloom cycle (where hot water pre-infuses the grounds) and carefully controlled water flow. This means coffee that tastes almost hand-brewed, without the morning hassle.

The Four has a neat hidden setting for two - if you are making one cup, press the button for two seconds; otherwise, a single press is optimized for making the full serving (2 cups). Note that when I say “cup,” I’m speaking in terms of 9-10oz of water and 16.5 - 17.5g of ground coffee. The machine can make up to 22oz of coffee, so two large cups at 11oz each.

Why I Love It

1. Just-Right Size: It’s perfect if you don’t need to brew a massive amount every time. Or if you’re short on countertop real estate (like me lately).

2. Quality You Can Taste: Ratio machines consistently produce a bright, hot, balanced cup. I’ve tried many coffee makers, and Ratio remains my gold standard.

3. Minimal Fuss: One button, no complicated menus or timers. You just let it go and get a reliably delicious coffee.

4. Stunning Design: I appreciate how well it fits with my kitchen decor. It’s modern but still warm and inviting, like a statement piece for coffee lovers.

5. Removable Water Tank: makes it easy to fill up from my filtered water faucet.

Final Thoughts

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed upgrading (or downsizing, really) to the Ratio Four. If you’re reading this and you’ve been eyeing a high-end brewer that’s built to last, brews amazing coffee, and doesn’t demand half your kitchen, give it a look.

Learn more or get your own here: Ratio Four Coffee Maker.

The Oura 4 is here, and it has taken everything I already enjoyed and refined it further—especially in terms of overall design and the depth of the insights it provides.

A Sleek New Look

The first thing you'll notice about the Oura 4 is the "total circle" design. Gone is the slight gap or break in the band that characterized some earlier versions. Now it's a single, seamless circle that looks more like a standard piece of jewelry than a high-tech wearable. Not only does it look better, it also feels natural on my finger. If you’re someone who doesn’t want to give up aesthetics for data, you’re going to love this.

Upgraded Sensors and Tracking

Oura has always excelled at tracking sleep and daily recovery, but the new ring doubles down on accuracy and metrics that matter most. The sensors can now pick up more nuanced changes in heart rate variability (HRV) throughout the day, as well as subtle body temperature shifts. These incremental improvements translate into a more complete understanding of how your body is adapting to stress, activity, and even potential illness.

New Features

Automatic Activity Detection (AAD) now includes average heart rate and heart rate zones for 40+ activities, automatically giving you a more comprehensive view of your movement throughout the day.

Cycle Insights now includes Fertile Window, a new feature that gives women who are trying to conceive even more information about their cycle and their fertility journey.

Daytime Stress now provides more context about the relationship between your daytime stress levels and your tags, movement, and activities. This will help you understand how your daily habits affect your stress and your recovery.

Advanced Readiness and Sleep Scores

The readiness score was one of the original ring's standout features. It’s a single-number snapshot of how prepared your body is for the day—based on your previous night's sleep, recovery, and overall balance. Now, Oura 4 has refined its algorithms to be more precise, offering additional context about what might be dragging your readiness score down (or boosting it up). The sleep staging is also reportedly more accurate, capturing deep, REM, and light sleep phases with minimal guesswork.

Enhanced App Experience

What's a high-end wearable without a user-friendly app to match? Oura's app has seen some nice improvements since I last reviewed it. The interface now provides more in-depth graphs, daily trends, and an even cleaner breakdown of your readiness, sleep, and activity scores. The integration with other health platforms and apps has also expanded, allowing you to combine Oura data with other fitness metrics if you like. For instance, if you track your workouts on another platform, Oura can import that information and factor it into your overall daily activity score.

Battery and Charging

Battery life is still solid, clocking in at about 4 to 7 days depending on how heavily the new sensors are utilized. Charging has remained fuss-free: just place the ring on its dock, and it’s good to go in under an hour for a full charge.

Day-to-Day Wear

A wearable is only as good as your willingness to keep it on, and I've found the Oura 4 is just as easy to wear as my old Oura. Because the ring is slimmer and more comfortable, it rarely feels like I'm wearing a piece of technology. You can also choose from a variety of finishes—silver, black, gold, and more—so it suits your personal style without screaming “health gadget.”

Why I’m Still a Fan

I’ve sung Oura's praises in the past, but here’s why I remain such an advocate:

1. Non-Intrusive: It’s a ring—lightweight and discreet. Unlike a smartwatch, you don't necessarily have to sacrifice a favorite watch or lug around something large on your wrist.

2. Data-Driven Insights: The accuracy and depth of health metrics have improved significantly. If you love tracking your sleep, HRV, and readiness in detail, the Oura 4 is a game-changer.

3. Holistic Approach: Oura doesn’t just throw raw data at you. The app offers actionable insights, letting you know when to push harder or scale back.

4. Style Factor: The new total circle design and variety of finishes mean it looks great for all occasions—casual or formal.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been on the fence about upgrading from an earlier Oura Ring, or you’re thinking about trying a health wearable for the first time, I wholeheartedly recommend giving the Oura 4 a try. The combination of sleek design, advanced metrics, and all-day comfort is hard to beat.

You can check out all the details and place an order on Oura’s website. If you do, please let me know how you get on. I’m always curious to hear how other people incorporate these insights into their daily routines.

With its enhanced sensors, continuous heart rate tracking, refined readiness scores, and that seamless circular design, the Oura 4 stands as the ultimate evolution of the ring I reviewed a few years ago. It’s not just a shiny upgrade—it’s a meaningful step forward in personal health tracking.

Go ahead, slip it on, and see what your body has to say today.

You’ll want to get a sizing kit before you order. They suggest wearing on your index finger 👆🏾 on your non dominant hand.

Buy Oura Ring 4

Welcome to the 2024 edition of the OmarKnows Holiday Gift List! I'm excited to share this year's carefully curated selection of items that blend innovation, practicality, and thoughtful design. Each recommendation has been personally tested or thoroughly researched to ensure it meets my standards for quality and usefulness.

New this year is a podcast version that you can listen to, courtesy of Google’s Notebook LM. I hope you enjoy listening to this 100% AI generated podcast.

And a very Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 to all my friends in the US!

Since this post is long, you may not be able to read it in your email app. If that is the case, click through to read it on this website.

I’ve also made it easy to share this post with your friends and family. Just click the Share button!

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Previous OmarKnows Holiday Gift Lists:

• Omar's Holiday Picks 2023

• Omar's Holiday Picks 2022

• Omar's Holiday Picks 2021

Give the Gift of Giving

TisBest continues to be one of my favorite gift recommendations. This Seattle-based non-profit offers gift cards that allow recipients to choose which charity receives the donation. What makes this special is that 100% of your gift card amount goes directly to the chosen non-profit - if you purchase a $100 card, the full $100 goes to charity with no fees.

TisBest sustains its operations through optional donations from purchasers, making it a transparent and efficient way to give back. As a bonus, the gift card amount is tax-deductible for shoppers. If recipients don't allocate their gift card amount, TisBest can reclaim it to cover operational costs, ensuring nothing goes to waste.

Purchase TisBest Gift Cards →

Tech & Gadgets

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses

These innovative glasses combine classic Ray-Ban style with modern technology. Featuring a 12MP ultra-wide camera and five-mic audio system, they're perfect for capturing moments and staying connected while maintaining a fashionable look. I've found them particularly useful for hands-free photography during outdoor activities.

These are super fun to take on vacations and trips. Here is an Instagram Reel that I made today with the glasses.

Buy on Meta Store →

Buy on Amazon →

Ricoh GR III Compact Camera

A favorite among street photographers, this compact camera packs professional features into a pocket-sized body. With its 24.2MP APS-C sensor and sharp 28mm f/2.8 lens, it's ideal for those who want exceptional image quality without carrying a full-sized camera.

It’s also excellent for macro photography (taking close up photos of food!)

Note: there are two versions of this camera, The Ricoh GRIII that has an effective 28mm fixed lens and the Ricoh GRIIIx that has a 40mm fixed lens.

A good rule of thumb is 28mm for things, 40mm for people.

Buy on Amazon →

AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation

The latest AirPods offer exceptional audio quality with improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They feature a new ergonomic design for comfortable all-day wear and come with spatial audio for a truly immersive experience. Great for anyone who wants a top-tier audio experience on the go.

These are no substitute for high quality noise cancelling headphones for us on a plane. For that look elsewhere and get something like AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.

Buy on Amazon →

iPad Pro with Nano Texture Display

The latest iPad Pro models introduce the Nano Texture Display option, significantly reducing glare while enhancing visual clarity. Available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, these tablets are perfect for creative professionals who demand the best display quality. The M4 chip provides desktop-class performance, making it a viable laptop replacement for many users. The Nano Texture finish, previously only available on the Pro Display XDR, makes a noticeable difference in reducing glare and maintaining color accuracy in bright environments.

Buy from Apple →

Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo

This delightful alarm clock brings Nintendo nostalgia to your bedside. With 8-bit sound effects from classic games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, it transforms your morning routine into a gaming experience. The bright, easy-to-read LCD display features retro-inspired graphics, while the customizable alarm settings let you choose your favorite game sounds. It's both a functional timepiece and a conversation starter for any gaming enthusiast.

Buy from Nintendo Store →

RØDE Wireless ME Microphone

Perfect for content creators, this wireless microphone system combines professional audio quality with user-friendly features. The automatic gain control and instant pairing make it incredibly simple to use, while the built-in clip and compact receiver ensure mobility. What sets it apart is the exceptional audio quality and range, making it ideal for vlogging, podcasting, or any situation requiring clear wireless audio capture.

Buy from RØDE →

Oura Ring 4

Having owned every generation, I can confidently say the fourth generation brings substantial improvements. The sleeker design is more comfortable for 24/7 wear, while the enhanced sensors provide more accurate sleep and activity tracking. Battery life has been notably improved, and the new finish options look more like jewelry than tech.

I honestly don’t know why I wear it. I just like the idea of collecting my daily vitals. They might be useful in 10 years.

Buy from Oura →

Travel & Accessories

Bellroy Venture Camera Sling 10L

After extensively testing this during a week in Japan, I'm thoroughly impressed with its versatility. The thoughtful design allows it to compress when carrying minimal gear yet expands to accommodate a camera body and several lenses. The quick-adjust strap and magnetic closures make accessing gear swift and silent, perfect for street photography. The water-resistant fabric has proven durable in various weather conditions.

Buy on Amazon →

Tom Bihn Bixi

This Seattle-made bag represents everything I love about Tom Bihn's approach to design. The vertical luggage passthrough is a game-changer for airport navigation, while the large water bottle holder addresses a common travel bag shortcoming. The organizational layout is perfect for modern travelers, with dedicated spaces for tech, documents, and daily essentials. The quality of materials and construction is, as always with Tom Bihn, exceptional.

Buy from Tom Bihn →

Evergoods Element Travel Bags

These waterproof organizers have revolutionized my travel organization. The Drop-In pouch is perfect for passports and boarding passes, while the Flat Pouch excellently manages cables and chargers.

The 0.5L Civic Access Pouch has become my go-to for small essentials.

Shop Evergoods →

Butterfly SE 2-in-1 Compact Foldable Wireless Travel Charger

This ingenious charger has simplified my travel charging setup considerably. While it can only charge two devices simultaneously, it's incredibly compact design makes it the perfect travel companion. The folding mechanism is sturdy, and the charging speeds are excellent for both iPhone and Apple Watch. The built-in stand function is particularly useful for nightstand mode on the Apple Watch.

Buy on Amazon →

Anker Nano Charger, 100W

This compact powerhouse is very small. Despite being smaller than many lower-powered chargers, it delivers enough power to charge a MacBook Pro at full speed.

This is the fastest charger you can get in the smallest package.

Buy on Amazon →

Home & Office

Swarovski Annual Edition 2024 Ornament

Continuing our family tradition since 2001, this year's ornament maintains the exceptional quality we've come to expect. As someone who has collected these for over two decades, I can attest to their consistent quality and how they become cherished family heirlooms. Remember to purchase from authorized retailers, as counterfeits have become increasingly common on marketplace sites.

Buy from Amazon →

Grovemade Products

Every piece from Grovemade transforms a workspace from functional to exceptional. Their dedication to natural materials and thoughtful design is evident in everything they produce. I particularly recommend their desk shelf system, which has transformed my workspace organization. The wool desk pad adds both comfort and style, while their wooden keyboard wrist rest perfectly complements Apple's Magic Keyboard. Each piece develops a beautiful patina over time, making your workspace more personal and inviting.

I keep buying stuff from them.

Shop Grovemade →

Ilee Papergoods 2024 Letterpress Calendar

This seattle artist's handmade desk calendar has been a staple in my gift guides for good reason. Each month features meticulously letterpress-printed artwork with hidden Easter eggs that make checking the date a daily joy.

The paper quality is exceptional, and the craftsmanship shows in every detail.

Buy from Ilee Papergoods →

Shogado Watoji Notebook

Discovered during my recent Japan travels, these Kyoto-made notebooks exemplify Japanese craftsmanship. The traditional watoji binding allows the notebook to lay completely flat, while the paper quality is simply exceptional - perfect for fountain pens with zero bleed-through. Each notebook feels like a piece of art, making writing feel more intentional and meaningful.

Buy from Kiriko →

Outdoor Gear

High Above Gear

This Bellingham, WA-based company produces some of the finest cycling bags I've encountered. Their hip packs are particularly impressive, with perfect weight distribution and easy access to essentials while riding. Their new duffel bags and totes are cleverly made with a mesh fabric.

Shop High Above →

Fumpa Bike Pump

This electric pump has a precise digital pressure gauge and powerful motor. Its compact size belies its capability - it can quickly inflate road bike tires to high pressures with minimal effort. The rechargeable battery lasts for multiple inflations, and the digital display ensures accurate pressure every time.

Buy from Fumpa →

Kitchen

Ratio Four Coffee Maker

After owning the Eight and Six models, the Four has become my favorite way to make a single cup of coffee. It perfectly replicates pour-over technique with precise water distribution and temperature control. The smaller footprint makes it perfect for limited counter space, while the quality of brew remains exceptional. The clean design and robust construction justify the investment for serious coffee enthusiasts.

Buy from Ratio →

Gozney Arc

While my pizza-making frequency has decreased since the pandemic peak, this oven represents a significant upgrade from my trusty Roccbox. The larger cooking space and precise temperature control make it versatile beyond just pizza - it's excellent for breads and roasted dishes too.

Buy from Gozney →

Clothing & Accessories

Begg & Co Wispy Superfine Cashmere Scarf

Despite the price increase, this remains an incredible scarf. The superfine cashmere is incredibly light yet warm, making it perfect for travel - as I discovered during this summer during early morning safari drives. The weave is so fine, yet the construction is surprisingly durable.

Buy from Begg & Co →

Northwest Knitting Company (NWKC)

Recently revitalized under new ownership (our friends), NWKC continues to produce exceptional knitwear. The 002 Crew and 003 Pullover have become staples in my wardrobe, offering the perfect balance of comfort and style. The materials are carefully sourced, and the construction quality ensures these pieces last for years. I recommend sizing up for a comfortable fit.

A unique quality of their clothing is that it’s made from 9.5 oz. Merino Dual Cloth - a 100% merino wool face with a cotton blend reverse. So if you find Merino “itchy” this is a good solve for that as your skin is against cotton.

Shop NWKC →

Handvaerk Clothing

Their standard polos represent the pinnacle of refined basics. The Pima cotton they use is exceptionally soft, while the construction details - like the perfectly tensioned collar and reinforced seams – are quality.

They make a lot of “classic” cotton clothing worth checking out. I just think their polos are perfect. Wear your regular size.

Shop handvaerk →

Thank you for reading this year's holiday picks! I hope you've found some inspiration for thoughtful gifts that bring joy and value to your loved ones' lives. As always, feel free to share with friends and family, and I wish you wonderful holidays filled with meaningful connections and memorable moments.

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