20 Products That Are So Useful, You'll Feel Like MacGyver
For solutions that seem so simple once you think of them.
We hope you love the products we recommend! All of them were independently selected by our editors. Just so you know, BuzzFeed may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to shop from them. Oh, and FYI — prices are accurate and items in stock as of time of publication.
1. A classic Swiss Army multi-tool with 11 utility functions that you can use in just about any situation where ya need a tool!
This lil' model's got 11 functions: large knife blade, small knife blade, Phillips screwdriver, large screwdriver, small screwdriver, bottle opener, can opener, wire stripper, reamer/punch, tweezers, and a toothpick — ready to go whenever you need 'em!
Get it from Amazon Canada for $39.99 (available in six colours).
2. A rechargeable plasma lighter that will light whatever you need without a flame. It's waterproof and windproof, so you won't have to struggle to keep a flame lit!
The lighter works by generating a high voltage between the electrodes, producing the dual electric arcs. But that's not the plasma you see. Plasma is a state of matter — solid, liquid, gas, and plasma (although it's sometimes thought as a subset of or ionized gas). Now, you've seen phase changes — like solid to liquid to gas — so, as air (a gas) passes through the current between the electrodes, it gets ionized, producing the plasma you see that lights your stuff! MacGyver that.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $40.37.
3. This bag light with an automatic motion sensor so that you can *actually find* what you're looking for as you rummage through your bag — without having to take everything out and ask someone to hold it, handful by handful.
4. A sleek, stainless-steel reusable straw keychain that expands from a 4-inch to a 9-inch straw that you can easily carry and (re)use, because you never know when you're gonna swing by Starbs for a pick-me-up.
5. This compact portable solar panel with two USB ports that will charge your devices when you're off the grid and there's no outlet in sight! It's even got a pocket to hold your devices as they charge.
Each port has a charging speed of up to 2.4 amps — or 3 amps under direct sunlight. When it's folded, it's 11.1 inches by 6.3 inches. And opened, it's 26.4 inches by 11.1 inches. It even has stainless steel eyeholes on each corner so you can attach anywhere — over your backpack, to your tent, or to a tree!
Get it from Amazon Canada for $89.99.
6. A paracord bracelet that opens into a knife for a ~handy~ lil' tool when you need to open a package on the go or are setting up on a camping trip!
Get it from Amazon Canada for $16.99.
7. This drill brush that cleverly combines a nylon brush with a power drill to scrub even the dirtiest of bathrooms clean. No more lasting stains or achey arms from scrubbing for hours!
8. Some waterproof, heat- and cold-resistant, multi-surface mouldable glue for you to use in so many different ways! It's durable and holds up to 4.4 pounds. You can fill in gaps, reseal wires, or mount things to your wall! It takes 30 minutes to harden, then it turns into a silicone rubber.
You can use this on glass, ceramics, wood, metal, plaster, plastics, fabrics, and more! Reviewers have used this stuff on their steering wheels, kayaks, dishwashers, car fenders, and more!
Get an eight-pack from Amazon Canada for $22.99 (available in seven colour combinations).
9. A multi-tool that looks like a key but doesn't actually unlock anything. Instead, it's got over 16 functions — a bottle and can opener, a wire bender and stripper, wrenches, a ruler and protractor, and even a screw driver! Talk about prepared.
10. An AirFly wireless transmitter that connects your wireless earbuds or headphones to a wired jack through Bluetooth — meaning you can finally connect them to your treadmill, your handheld gaming device (I see you on your Switch) or that TV screen on the plane!
11. An incredibly ingenious layered necklace clasp detangler for when you wear multiple necklaces to keep them from tangling every day!
You basically clasp your necklaces to the corresponding sides of the detangler, then clasp the detangler — voila, no more untwisting your necklaces every day!
My coworker Kayla, an editor here at BuzzFeed, loves these: "I recently bought a couple of these and had one of those very real, WHY DIDN'T I BUY ONE OF THESE SOONER moments. They do an amazing job at keeping your necklaces from tangling as you wear them, and I love that I can layer multiple of my favourites at once. I am forever sold on these."
Get it from Theresa Rose on Etsy for $17.12+ (available in gold and silver, and with two, three, or four clasps).
12. This car safety tool that is a window breaker and seat belt cutter in one, so you can easily store it in your car (it even comes with a mounting bracket!) and grab if you ever need it.
13. A compact and lightweight First Aid Kit with over 120 medical pieces that will keep you prepared in the case you need something anything from a bandage or instant ice pack to a trauma pad or emergency blanket.
For some context: There are 30 standard bandages, ten small bandages, six large bandages, four knuckle bandages, four fingertip bandages. Four butterfly closure strips, one moleskin blister bandage, one triangular bandage, one elastic bandage roll, one large elastic bandage roll, five sterile gauze pads, three large sterile gauze pads, two sterile non-woven pads, one abdominal trim pad, ten alcohol prep pads, six chloride wipes, three burn gel packets, ten cotton tip applicators, one CPR face mask, a pair of scissors, a pair of tweezers, one instant cold compress, two disposable PVC gloves, six safety pins, one roll of medical tape, one sewing kit, one whistle, one compass, one glow stick, and one emergency blanket.
There's also a mini first aid pouch with: ten standard bandages, two large bandages, two sterile gauze pads, one roll of medical tape, two alcohol prep pads, two chloride wipes, and ten cotton tip applicators.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $32.99.
14. This USB hard-drive adapter so you can recover your data or clone your hard drive, because your laptop is slow as molasses but still has those old photos saved that you love.
15. These inventive mirrored glasses because they let you lay back AND see what you're reading (or watching, bc let's be real w ourselves) by turning your view 90 degrees downward. Whattaya mean lazy?! It's to help prevent neck strain... c'mon.
16. This simple but clever PVC spiral ring adjuster to make that ring you love one to 1.5 sizes smaller without having to resize or exchange it!
17. A six-in-one tactical pen that you can use every day to jot down notes, shine some light if the power goes out, or even if you ever needed to break your car windows.
It preps ya with a flashlight, bottle opener, screw driver, hex wrench, and, of course, an actual ballpoint pen.
Get it from Amazon Canada for $29.99.
18. This straightforward hands-free grocery carrier to spare you the Herculean effort and all those tiny indented lines on your arms from carrying all your grocery bags at once.
19. A pocket-sized ceramic cutting tool that'll never rust and is almost as hard as diamonds! It'll cut anything from coupons to plastic and blister packages.
20. A small touching tool that'll let you press elevator buttons, use the ATM, open doors, and countless other things you'd normally use your hands and fingers for — but now you won't have to worry about the germs. The tool is antimicrobial, too!
My BuzzFeed colleague Victoria Kuglin says of this product: "Each little detail is thoughtfully designed, from the large finger loop to the slightly curved tip — even the material itself is designed to keep your grabbers clean and free of microbes and bacteria. I was able to open even the heaviest doors with relative ease, and thanks to the touchscreen tips, I could flip between paying for groceries and answering texts in seconds."
Check out Victoria's full review of the Touché Tool (it's #1 on the list).
Get it from Amazon Canada for $14.99 (available in two colours and in a three-pack).
You, realizing how smart and useful all these things are:
