In a world of overpriced tech and gear, it’s easy to think that you have to spend a ton of money on the things you need to have in your backpack whenever you leave home.
From multi-tools that fit on your keychain to powerful portable chargers, we’ve rounded up a list of fantastic gadgets that will enhance your daily life without spending more than $50 on anything.
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Ugreen power bank
Ugreen
Listen, you need a power bank. I don’t care how good your phone’s battery life is — there will come a day when you’ll forget to actually plug in your device at night and wake up with 10 percent battery and no time to recharge before you have to leave for work. So get one of these Ugreen power banks and keep it in your backpack. With 20,000mAh capacity, you can recharge your phone fully about four times. It even has its own integrated USB-C cable, alongside a couple of extra ports. This one’s under $50 even without a discount, but you can often find it for $30 when on sale.
Anker USB-C adapter
Anker
That laptop you carry with you every day likely has a shortage of ports because most laptops nowadays do. So, one thing you can shove into your bag for whenever you need it is one of these Anker 7-in-1 hubs. Not only do you get access to another 4K HDMI port, but you also get several extra USB-A ports for peripherals and flash drives, and even SD and TF card readers. And it has a full price of $26, so if you wait long enough you can get it for around $20. It’s small and affordable, but oh so useful to have in your everyday carry.
Baseus retractable cable
Baseus
How many times have you wished you’d had an extra USB-C cable in your bag? Well, this Baseus retractable fast-charging cable is a great solution, especially since it’s only $11 at its full price. This thing has four length presets, with the maximum being 3.3 feet. It’s cute, it’s round, and it all winds back in when you’re no longer using the cable. Besides the benefit of occupying so little space, it also protects your cables from getting damaged in your bag. Win-win!
Geekay keychain multitool
Geekay
If you throw this into your backpack, hook it to that little keychain many of them have inside a pocket, or roll it next to your keys, this thing will come in handy. It looks like an actual key, but it’s so much more. The Geekey keychain multitool acts as a screwdriver, bike spoke key, wrench, box cutter, bottle opener, wire stripper, protractor, and you can measure things in inches in centimeters. The thing is so versatile you won’t have an issue shelling out $20 on it.
RovyVon A3 keychain mini flashlight
RovyVon
Do you always need a flashlight? No. But I bet you’ll love having this thing when your phone’s light isn’t enough or you’re out of battery. As small as this mini flashlight is, it delivers 650 lumens, which means it can get quite bright. And since it’s about the size of your finger, there’s no battery you have to replace — it comes with a USB-C port so you can recharge it that way instead. It’s water resistant, lightwight, and ideal to have on hand when you’re going camping or coming home late and fumbling for the keyhole. And it’s usually less than $20.
Ugreen Finetrack
Ugreen
You know what you also need to have in your daily carry? A Bluetooth tracker. Sure, the chance is low that your backpack will get stolen, but it’s never zero. Ugreen has these FineTrack trackers that do everything AirTags do, but for a lot cheaper. Plus, they have a keychain hole so you don’t need extra accessories to tie them to your belongings. You can even get them to pair with Samsung phones. These things are often about $10 a piece.