51 Tiny Essentials We ACTUALLY Use | Everyday Tech (2025)

Too Long; Didn't Watch — Summary

Marques Brownlee and The Studio team conduct an everyday carry (EDC) draft, showcasing their essential bags, headphones, wallets, watches, cameras, accessories, and phones, along with unique 'can't live without' items, before Marques selects his top picks from each category.

Main Takeaways

• The Studio team members present a diverse range of personal EDC items, from high-tech gadgets to simple, practical tools.
• Marques Brownlee drafts his preferred items in each category, often prioritizing utility, design, and personal experience.
• The video highlights both popular tech products like iPhones and Pixel phones, alongside niche items such as stone paper notebooks and vintage cameras.
• Personal preferences, such as the need for specific headphone features or wallet styles, play a significant role in individual choices.
• The 'can't live without' section reveals highly personal and sometimes unexpected essentials, emphasizing individual lifestyles.

Detailed Summary

We're Doing a Draft (0:00 - 0:35)

Marques introduces a new format for the EDC video, where he will review his team's daily carries and then draft his favorite items from the selections.

Bags (0:35 - 02:33)

• Moment Everything Bag: Praised for its collapsibility, large main pocket, and numerous smaller pockets, though the laptop pocket is tight.
• Moment Sling Pouch: Used as a camera bag, noted for its four pockets and surprising capacity.
• Urban Outfitters Crossbody Pouch: A cheap ($15) yellow bag, personalized with an Avatar sticker and containing an Opal C1 flathead for camera plates.
• Ridge MKBHD Edition Backpack: Features a custom nameplate, opens entirely flat for easy access, and includes a computer sleeve.
• Baggu Standard Bag: A collapsible grocery bag, gifted by Brandon, demonstrated for its compact storage.

Marques Drafts a Bag (02:33 - 03:10)

• Marques acknowledges the Moment bag's build quality but prefers more color.
• He ultimately drafts the Ridge MKBHD Edition Backpack, citing his involvement in its design and its practical features like the flat-opening main compartment and computer sleeve.

Headphones & Earbuds (03:10 - 06:15)

• Dyson Zone Headphones (1st gen): Preferred over newer models for its functional air filter attachment and comparable audio quality.
• Bose Ultra Open: Open-ear design allows users to hear surroundings while listening to audio, ideal for office environments.
• AirPods Max (1st Gen): Used for noise cancellation, despite having a Lightning port, for tuning out co-workers.
• Nothing Ear (a): Praised for good noise cancellation, comfort, and designer aesthetic.
• AirPods Pro 2: Chosen for excellent fit and noise cancellation, despite compatibility issues with Android devices.
• Audio Technica ATH-M20xBT: Valued for keeping ears warm in winter, solid sound, good battery life, and being replaceable if lost.
• Focal Bathys: High-end headphones ($600 at launch) favored by an audio professional for low distortion in the mid-range, crucial for mixing, though not recommended for general purchase due to price.

Marques Drafts Headphones (06:15 - 07:11)

• Marques initially considers the Focal Bathys for flying and Bose Open Ultras for studio use.
• He reconsiders the Focal Bathys for airplane use due to its noise-canceling not being as effective as AirPods.
• Marques's final picks are the AirPods Max for noise-canceling on planes and the Bose Open Ultras for walk-around studio earbuds, prioritizing effective noise cancellation for travel.

Wallets (07:11 - 09:06)

• MKBHD Trove Wallet: Features elastic for easy access and a slim profile, ideal for small pockets.
• Ridge Wallet (Hard & Leather Bifold): The leather bifold is preferred for its slimness, holding cards and cash without the bulk of metal wallets.
• Timberland Leather Wallet: A traditional bifold, appreciated for its capacity to hold multiple cards, ID, and cash (including 500 pesos).
• Two-Wallet System: One team member uses two wallets: a card wallet (with a Yu-Gi-Oh card) and a separate pouch for cash and coins.
• Segrid Miniwallet: Purchased in the Netherlands, admired for its engineering, durability, and character-building scuffs.

Marques Drafts a Wallet (09:06 - 10:00)

• Marques expresses a preference for minimal, soft wallets over hard, metal, or push-style wallets.
• He drafts the Ridge Minimal Wallet, noting its slim design for a few cards and minimal cash, and is surprised to learn it's a Ridge product.

Watches & Smartwatches (10:00 - 12:49)

• CW&T Solid State Watch: A unique, resin-encased watch designed to last about 10 years, serving as a conversation piece.
• OnePlus Watch 3: Considered the best Android smartwatch, offering multi-day battery life.
• Tissot Visodate: A classic, automatic wristwatch, chosen for its timeless style and versatility.
• Apple Watch Ultra 2: Used for serious fitness tracking, credited with helping a team member lose 20 lbs and win a fitness competition.
• Google Pixel Watch (2 & 3): The Pixel Watch 3 (cellular version) is praised for enabling phone-free runs, allowing calls, messages, and media playback directly from the watch.

Marques Drafts a Watch (12:49 - 13:42)

• Marques, a smartwatch user, acknowledges the Apple Watch Ultra as an easy pick but wants to maintain Android phone compatibility.
• He drafts the OnePlus Watch 3, recognizing its strong performance as an Android smartwatch and multi-day battery life.

Cameras (13:42 - 16:07)

• Canon EOS M: Canon's first mirrorless camera (13-14 years old), used for still photography, especially with a Canon FD50mm F1.4 lens.
• Canon R5 Mark II: Described as the best mirrorless camera available, capable of 8K video, improved autofocus, full-size HDMI, and USBC power, with better color and less overheating.
• Fujifilm X100S: An older model of Marques's camera, still produces impressive photos that surprise people.
• Fujifilm X100VI: A daily camera, enhanced with a mist + polarizer filter for unique light effects.

Marques Drafts a Camera (16:07 - 16:07)

• Marques, as a photographer, values utility and interchangeable lenses.
• He drafts the Canon R5 Mark II, stating that if he had to daily carry a camera, this would be his choice due to its comprehensive features and performance.

Accessories (16:07 - 18:28)

• Journey GLYDE 4-in-1 Charging Station: A 10,000 mAh power bank that charges an Apple Watch, MagSafe phone, and offers wireless charging, ideal for travel with a single USB-C cable.
• Ridge Magsafe Power Bank: A 10,000 mAh power bank with MagSafe, a watch charger, integrated cables (including Lightning), a kickstand, and a display, praised for eliminating the need for multiple Lightning cables.
• Ultrahuman Ring AIR: A stainless steel smart ring for health tracking, notably worn by Ferrari's chief test driver Rafa.
• Ray-Ban Meta Glasses: Smart glasses offering audio, camera, and new AI features like live translation for Spanish, French, and Italian, with photochromic lenses for outdoor use.
• dbrand Cube: A one-sided Rubik's cube, presented as a quirky accessory.

Marques Drafts Accessories (18:28 - 19:27)

• Marques drafts the Ridge Magsafe Power Bank for its versatility and integrated cables, especially the Lightning cable.
• He also picks the Ultrahuman Ring AIR for sleep tracking when his watch is charging, and the Ray-Ban Meta Glasses for their smart features and photochromic lenses.

Phones (19:27 - 22:46)

• iPhone 16 Pro: Praised for its camera quality, stock lenses, and photographic styles.
• Pixel 9 Pro: Used with a Bellroy leather MagSafe case, appreciated for its Android ecosystem benefits like multitasking and YouTube integration.
• iPhone 12 Mini: Despite its age and poor battery life (40% by noon), it's a beloved phone.
• Nexus 6P: A team member briefly used an iPhone 16 Pro Max but returned to the Nexus 6P, calling it the best Google phone ever made for its display and smooth performance.
• Pixel 9 Pro Fold: A folding phone with a 'Touch Grass' skin, chosen after upgrading from previous foldables.
• Pixel 6 Pro: An older phone from the office, used until it breaks, despite a cracked screen, emphasizing using devices until they are no longer functional.
• Samsung S25+: Mentioned as the only non-Apple or Google phone presented.

Marques Drafts a Phone (22:46 - 23:45)

• Marques, despite liking small phones, prioritizes maximizing phone usage.
• He drafts the Pixel 6 Pro to pair with his Android smartwatch pick, expressing a soft spot for the phone and a desire for Google to bring back the distinct camera visor design.

Can't Live Without These (23:45 - 27:54)

• Leatherman Free P4: A multi-tool praised for its one-handed operation and pliers.
• RovyVon Angel Eyes E3 flashlight: A compact flashlight with 700 lumens, significantly brighter than a phone's flashlight.
• Puppy Zuri: A team member's dog, presented as an indispensable companion.
• Graeter's Ice Cream (Skyline Chili flavor): A unique Cincinnati-themed ice cream with oyster cracker bits.
• Lacrosse Stick: Used for exercise, highlighting the importance of physical activity for a desk job.
• Daily Bliss Stone Paper Book: A tear-resistant, flexible notebook that holds ink well and provides a smooth writing experience.
• CW&T Type-B Pen: A pen used for drawing and interior design work.
• TRC Brass Pen Case: A secondary case for sticky notes and pencil sharpeners, keeping small items organized.
• Zoom H1 Handy (1st Generation): An old audio recorder from high school, used for audition tapes and general recording, running on a single AA battery.
• DJI Lav Mic Kit (2 TX): Small, portable lav mics useful for recording on the go, offering reasonable podcast-quality audio.
• M2 Mac Pro: A powerful computer with Apple silicon, humorously shown with its empty internal space.

Marques Drafts His Can't Live Without (27:54 - 28:58)

• Marques passes on the lacrosse stick due to past negative experiences with the sport.
• He drafts the DJI Lav Mic Kit to complement his R5 camera, and the RovyVon Angel Eyes E3 flashlight for its practical utility and superior brightness compared to a phone's flashlight.

Notable Quotes

"This thing rules. It's so collapsible. The main pocket is so big. The laptop pocket is so tight."
— Marques Brownlee (referring to the Moment backpack)

"I'm definitely one of those people that has way too much stuff in their wallet at all times."
— Studio Member

"This is simply the best mirrorless camera you can buy. Red, forget about it. Sony, definitely forget about it. This is all you need."
— Studio Member (referring to the Canon R5 Mark II)

"Everyone's always like, 'Why would you carry a flashlight? You have one in your phone. Your phone flashlight is like maybe 50 lumens.' This is 700."
— Studio Member (referring to the RovyVon Angel Eyes E3 flashlight)

"You can take away pretty much everything except for my lacrosse stick. I cannot live without this thing because exercise is very important when you work a physical job."
— Studio Member

"I like to use my phone my phones until I can't anymore. I usually I like to just run them into the ground."
— Studio Member

"I'm a man of culture. I'm a man of class. I'm a man of taste. And uh unlike the rest of the bozos who work here, I figure I could show you what a man of taste actually uses every day."
— Studio Member (introducing his camera)