Back in January, a day before a big winter freeze was about to hit Tulsa and dump a foot of snow on us, our home’s furnace stopped working. I didn’t want to spend a week without heat, so I called an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) company.

The technician who came out told me that the furnace’s motor was cooked. Because our unit is old (about 25 years), they didn’t have any replacement motors in stock and would have to order one. Given the weather, it would have probably taken a week to get here.

I didn’t want to spend a week in a house with single-digit temps outside, so I made the call to replace the whole unit. As I said, it was a quarter-century old, and wasn’t likely to last much longer anyway, having already surpassed the typical lifespan for a furnace (15–20 years). In addition to the expired motor, it also had some leaking issues, and the refrigerant the HVAC system’s AC side used had been discontinued, so if that needed replacing, I’d be out of luck.

While it seemed like the right idea to replace the thing, boy, I was not prepared for the bill. Dang! These things are incredibly expensive. The technician said the cost of HVAC units has jumped astronomically just within the last decade, as companies try to add more wizbang features to justify an ever steeper price tag. This is why you always have to be squirreling away money for such things — beware of phantom homeowner expenses!

We got the unit replaced that day, and the house was warming up again just as it started to snow.

The experience made me realize that I didn’t understand very much about how my HVAC system worked. So I decided to learn. And, as I’m wont to do, share what I learned with you.

What follows is an average joe’s guide to understanding his home’s HVAC system. You’re not going to finish this article and be able to diagnose a refrigerant leak. But if you want a working mental model of how your house stays warm in January and cool in August, this should get you there.

Note: I’m focusing specifically on central gas-fired heating paired with central AC, which is what most American homes use for heating and cooling. Oil furnaces work on a similar principle but are different enough in the details that they’re a separate conversation.

Your HVAC System Is a Loop

Your HVAC system is a loop. It pulls in air from your house, heats or cools it, and pushes it back out. This loop, running over and over, is how your house stays 70 degrees whether it’s 9 or 109 outside.

The system pulls in air to be heated or cooled through return vents. These are large grills that are located in central areas of the house. After the HVAC system heats or cools that air, it pushes it out through supply vents. These are the small vents you might see in your floors, walls, or ceilings. When you put your hand over them, you can feel air coming out.

How Your Furnace Heats the House

When your thermostat calls for heat, it signals the furnace to fire. Gas flows to the burner assembly and ignites. If your furnace is in a closet in your home (like ours is), you can hear this happen. It sounds like a gas log fireplace turning on.

The flame heats up a component called the heat exchanger — a set of metal tubes or chambers. The heat exchanger does two things.

First, the combustion gases created by the burner, including carbon monoxide, travel inside those tubes and get expelled outside your house through an exhaust vent. This is what prevents you and your family from dying of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Second, the outside walls of those tubes get extremely hot. Air will run across these red-hot tubes, and heat will be exchanged from the tubes to the air. Hence, the name heat exchanger.

When the heat exchanger is sufficiently warmed up, the blower motor in your furnace kicks on. This is a large fan inside the furnace that pulls return air in from your home and pushes it across the outside of those hot metal tubes. The air picks up heat as it moves across the exterior of the heat exchanger, gets pushed into what’s called the supply plenum (a large metal box sitting on top of the furnace), and from there travels out through your ductwork to every room. An important note: your house air never touches the exhaust gases, because, as mentioned above, those are sealed inside. This ensures the breathability of the warm air coming out of your vents.

Two safety components on your furnace are worth knowing about. The first is the flame sensor. It’s a metal rod that confirms the burner is actually lit. If it’s dirty (coated in carbon from years of use), the furnace will ignite for about 3 seconds and then shut itself off as a precaution. It’s one of the more common reasons a furnace starts and stops repeatedly. The second is the limit switch, which monitors the temperature inside the furnace. If it gets too hot, usually because something is blocking airflow, the limit switch shuts everything down before any damage is done.

Something else to know about modern furnaces is how they’re engineered for efficiency. When I replaced my unit, the tech started talking about variable-speed motors and multi-stage burners, and I had basically no idea what any of that meant.

Here’s the short version:

Older furnaces run like a light switch. They either go full blast or are completely off. A variable-speed blower motor runs more like a dimmer switch, ramping up slowly and adjusting its speed based on what’s needed. It uses significantly less electricity and runs quieter. Similarly, a two-stage or modulating burner can run at partial capacity on milder days instead of always firing at 100%. The result is fewer dramatic temperature swings and a lower gas bill.

Furnace efficiency is rated by something called AFUE — Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. An 80% AFUE furnace sends 20% of the energy it burns up the flue as waste heat. A 96% AFUE furnace loses very little of it.

The tech explained that the technology that allows for these increased efficiencies is a big reason why furnaces have gotten more expensive over the years. The idea is that you spend more upfront on the unit and save money on utility bills over the life of it.

How Your AC Cools the House

The first thing to understand is this: Central air conditioning doesn’t make cold air. Instead, it removes heat from your house and dumps it outside. This might seem like a trivial distinction, but it matters for understanding how the whole thing works.

The AC part of your HVAC unit has two parts. One part is connected to your furnace, and the other part is outside.

First, the outdoor unit. It’s that big metal box that sits next to your house. It contains the compressor and the condenser coil. The compressor squeezes refrigerant into a hot, high-pressure gas. That hot gas flows through the condenser coil while a fan blows outside air across it, transferring the heat out into your yard. The refrigerant, now cooled and condensed into a high-pressure liquid, flows back inside.

That cold refrigerant liquid travels to a thing called an evaporator coil that sits directly above your furnace. It’s shaped like an upside-down V. The liquid refrigerant flows through the evaporator coil, where it absorbs heat and evaporates into a cold gas.

Now here’s where the AC connects back to your furnace. That same blower motor that moves air in winter is doing the same job in summer. It pulls return air from your home and pushes it across this now-cold evaporator coil. Thanks to the second law of thermodynamics (which basically says that heat always moves from a hot place to a cold place), the heat in that air transfers into the refrigerant. The cooled air gets pushed through your supply ducts into the house. The refrigerant, loaded with your home’s heat, cycles back to the outdoor unit to dump it, and the whole thing starts again.

Besides keeping your house cool, your AC also dehumidifies the air that gets blown into your home. It does this because when warm, humid air passes across it, moisture condenses out. That water drips into a drain pan and exits through a PVC condensate line, which means the AC is also pulling humidity out of your house while it cools it.

A clogged condensate line is a common reason your AC won’t turn on. If that line gets clogged with algae or gunk, a small safety device called a float switch trips and cuts power to your thermostat. So if you notice your AC isn’t kicking on, check the condensate line before you assume the worst. An HVAC guy can do this, but you can also DIY it. I’ll do an article about it in the future.

Maintaining Your HVAC

Leave supply vents (mostly) open. You should avoid closing more than about 20% of your supply vents. It seems like it makes sense to shut them in the rooms you’re not using; why waste all that warm or cold air blowing into them? But closing the vents increases static pressure in the ductwork, which stresses the blower motor. Leave the vents open.

Keep the return vents clear. These are the larger vents that pull air back to the furnace. A sofa pushed up against one, or curtains hanging over it, chokes the system just as much as a clogged filter. Make sure they’re clear.

Change the filter at least every spring and fall. HVAC units need a filter. You’ll usually find them in a spot above your blower fan or in your return vent. What does the filter do? The filter’s primary job isn’t cleaning the air you breathe. It does that, but its main job is to protect your HVAC. Dust on the evaporator coil or heat exchanger kills efficiency and, if it builds up too much, can kill those components completely, forcing you to fork over dough for expensive replacements or repairs.

Clean the outdoor condenser unit twice a year. Every spring before cooling season, gently hose off the outdoor condenser unit to clear it of cottonwood fuzz and debris. This will increase the efficiency of your AC. Takes just 10 minutes and a hose.

Keep the condensate line clear. To prevent clogs from forming in your AC’s condensate line, pour a cup of white vinegar down the line once a season.

Get your unit serviced every spring and fall. Twice a year, have an HVAC guy come check out your unit for routine maintenance and service. They’ll catch small issues before they become big, expensive ones.

Conclusion

While you’re not ready to go to work as an HVAC tech, you now have a basic idea of how your heating and cooling system works and will hopefully be in a better position to understand what’s going on when an HVAC guy is explaining your options on how to remedy your dead furnace when it’s freezing outside.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Our recent article about backup power got me thinking about backup light sources. For most people, their backup light source when the power goes out is a flashlight.

But flashlights come in handy even when the grid doesn’t go down. I reckon, out of all the tools you keep in your home, your flashlight is one of the biggest workhorses. I know I use my flashlight on the regular. Kid lost a toy beneath the couch? Flashlight. Trying to find the source of a leak in your attic? Flashlight. Grilling burgers on dark winter nights? You’re going to need a flashlight, bud.

Back in the day, the home flashlight was probably a big ol’ red plastic Eveready or a heavy aluminum Maglite that could serve as a beatstick in a pinch. These torches got the job done, but they had their limitations. The light was a contrast-reducing yellow, the batteries sometimes leaked, and the beam was narrow and weak.

Flashlight technology has had some serious upgrades since the 1980s. Brightness, color, and lasting power have improved dramatically.

Whether you’re investigating a bump in the night or trying to identify color-coded wiring behind drywall, here’s how to choose a modern household flashlight that gets the job done.

Things to Consider When Looking for a Household Flashlight

To choose a proper tool, you have to understand the specs. Most modern flashlights use LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology and lithium-ion batteries, which offer a big increase in reliability over your dad’s old torch. Here are some metrics you should be familiar with as you browse modern household flashlights:

1. Lumens vs. Candela. Lumens measure the total light output. For home use, a range of 300 to 800 lumens is the sweet spot. However, lumens aren’t everything. You also need to consider candela, which measures beam intensity. A high-lumen light with low candela is a “flood” light, ideal for illuminating a broad area, such as a basement. High candela creates a concentrated “throw” beam, which is what you need to see the far corner of your backyard.

2. CRI (Color Rendering Index). This is the most overlooked spec for household utility. CRI measures how accurately a light reveals colors compared to natural sunlight. Most cheap LEDs have a low CRI (around 70), which makes everything look washed out and grey. High-CRI lights (90+) are essential for home maintenance, such as distinguishing between red and orange wires in an electrical box or spotting the first signs of water damage.

3. Battery Chemistry. The old alkaline batteries (AA, D) are prone to leaking corrosive potassium hydroxide, which can destroy a flashlight stored in a drawer for long periods. This has happened to me. Most modern flashlights utilize rechargeable lithium-ion cells. These store significantly more energy and don’t leak, making them much more reliable. A flashlight’s use of alkaline batteries, however, isn’t a deal-breaker; old-school batteries, which are convenient in being widely available and ready to give power as soon as they’re snapped in, have their own advantages. 

Two Recommended Household Flashlights

I did a deep dive into consumer reports and reviews to find the best home flashlights. I then went out and bought a bunch of them to field test them myself. Based on my personal experience, here are two flashlights that I’d recommend keeping in your home:

1. The Best Overall Utility: Wurkkos FC11C

If you only buy one household flashlight, make it this one. At $30, the FC11C offers a lot of bang for your buck.

What I like about it:

• It uses a Nichia 519A LED, which provides exceptionally high-CRI light. Colors look vivid and true to life.
• It uses a “buck driver,” a bit of internal circuitry that ensures the light stays at a constant brightness even as the battery drains.
• It runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and gives you ample warning as to when it’s low on juice.
• It features a magnetic tailcap, allowing you to stick it to a fuse box or the underside of a sink for hands-free work.

2. The Modernized Classic: Maglite ML50L

If you prefer the substantial, “baton” feel of the flashlights you grew up with, the ML50L is the modern evolution of that heritage.

What I like about it:

• It uses standard C-cell batteries, which are easy to find, but pairs them with a high-efficiency LED.
• It also retains the classic Maglite “twist-to-focus” head, letting you switch from a broad flood to a tight spotlight in a quarter turn.
• It has an eco mode that allows the light to run for 112 hours.
• It feels great in your hand.

Where to Stash Them

A flashlight is only a useful tool if you can find it in the dark. A proper household strategy involves multiple points of access:

• The Kitchen Drawer: I like to keep the hefty Maglite here for general use.
• The Nightstand: A compact light with a “moonlight” mode (a very dim setting) is essential for navigating the house at night without waking the family. So put a flashlight like the Wurkkos here next to your bed.
• On Your Fridge: Most flashlights these days have a magnet either in the tailcap or on the handle itself. Comes in handy when you need to stick your light on something metal so you can go hands-free. Also makes for convenient storage for easy access; consider sticking an additional flashlight on the fridge so you don’t have to rummage through the junk drawer to find one.

What About Headlamps?

When I was a kid, headlamps weren’t really a thing for the average consumer. If you wanted portable lighting, a flashlight was your only choice.

But thanks to the introduction of LEDs and more efficient batteries, headlamps have become a ubiquitous illumination option.

The biggest advantage headlamps offer over flashlights is that the former can be used hands-free. Strap the light on your head, turn it on, and you can readily fix a leaky U-joint under the sink and crawl through a cramped attic space. Also, the light follows your gaze.

I’ve noticed that I’ve turned to my headlamps more often than my flashlights when I need light. I like the convenience. For one thing, headlamps come in really clutch when you’re grilling at night.

Most modern headlamps provide a flood beam, meaning the beam gives broad and even illumination.

What’s great about headlamps is that they can also be used on early morning/late night walks and while on campouts.

Here are a couple of options that are good for all-around household utility — as well as adventures beyond your backyard.

1. The Budget Get ‘Er Done-er: Petzl Tikkina

At just $20, the Petzl Tikkina is the benchmark for basic, general-purpose use.

Why I like it:

• Lightweight
• Reliable
• Easy to use; it just has one button

The one downside is that it doesn’t have a red light mode, which helps preserve your night vision and offers illumination that’s less disruptive to others. But for everyday household work, I don’t think it’s necessary.

2. The Comfort King: BioLite Range 500

This is my go-to for backpacking. Standard headlamps can sometimes feel bulky on your forehead. BioLite’s Range is more streamlined and comfortable. How to use its multiple modes takes a little figuring out, and it’s pricey, so I wouldn’t buy this just for use around the house, but if you camp a lot, it’s worth investing in this light that can pull double-duty.

Why I like it:

• Sits flat against your forehead with a soft, stretchy, moisture-wicking band.
• Fast USB-C charging will give you an hour of light with an 8-minute charge — helpful for emergencies and last-minute needs.
• Dimmable red and white lights.
• Lock function prevents accidental turn-ons.

Putting a little thought into your flashlight setup now means that when you actually need light — whether you’re navigating a power outage or investigating an attic nook — you’ll know exactly where to grab it and that it’ll do what you need it to.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, there are a lot of factors to consider in deciding where to live. 

To figure out which factors to prioritize, it can be helpful to use what we call the “90/10 Rule.” 

Under the 90/10 Rule, you base where you should live on the factors that will affect 90% of your life.

(The “90” and “10” numbers are not to be taken literally here; instead, they stand in for “the majority of your life” and “the minority of your life,” respectively).

This may seem like an obvious rubric for making a where-to-live decision, but in practice, people very often make their moving choices based on things that seem salient in their minds, but will, in fact, have a minimal impact on their overall satisfaction. In so doing, and ignoring the factors that will have the lion’s share of influence on their lives, they end up less happy with their decision.

Let’s look at some examples of how this can play out.

• Example #1: A family wants to move to the suburbs to get a bigger house with a guest room. In making this move, the father will double the length of his commute. While the guest room will only be used a handful of times each year, the long commute will impact him twice a day, every workday. The benefit of the guest room isn’t likely to increase his and his family’s happiness, but the stress and time-suck of the commute may diminish it.
• Example #2: A man takes a high-pressure job he doesn’t enjoy to live close to his extended family. While he sees his family once a month, the stress of his job beats him down every day.  
• Example #3: A couple wants to move from a city in the Midwest to a city in the Mountain West in order to live near the Rockies. Once they do, and the mountains are just a 30-minute drive away, they find they actually don’t make it out to them many more times than they did when they lived eight hours away. In the meantime, the fact that their cost of living has dramatically increased affects nearly every aspect of their lives, diminishing the size of their house, their savings account, and their vacation budget, while increasing their overall financial stress. 

When thinking about a move, the “sexiness” of certain factors — a hip downtown, access to the beach, a big yard — loom large in your mind as you imagine how these elements will change your life. 

But in reality, at least if you have a young family, 90% of your life, regardless of where you live, will consist of your commute to work, work, and your commute home from work; kids’ school stuff; hanging out at home; and errands/chores. The quality and pay of your job, the quality of your kids’ schools, the livability of your house, and the cheapness and ease of taking care of life’s endless to-dos will have the biggest impact on your life satisfaction. Prioritizing those factors is not only likely to increase your day-to-day happiness, but also gives you the time, mental bandwidth, and financial resources to make the remaining 10% of life — the dinners you eat out, the parties you throw, the trips you take — extra special. 

Of course, there’s a great deal of subjectivity in all this. Maybe you like long commutes. Maybe regularly seeing your family compensates for a lack of fulfillment at work. Maybe in being closer to the mountains you will in fact visit them far more often. 

The factors that make up the 90% in the 90/10 Rule are typically correlated with the number of hours and domains they affect. But a factor can look small if quantified that way and yet have an outsized impact on your happiness. For example, even if in moving closer to the mountains, you only visit them a few more times than you used to, perhaps you simply love the mountains so much that those few additional visits have a disproportionate effect on your happiness.

In choosing where to live, the key is to figure out what factors will most impact your satisfaction, and to recognize that they may not be the factors that first come to mind.

With our archives 4,000 articles deep, we’ve decided to republish a classic piece each Sunday to help our newer readers discover some of the best, evergreen gems from the past. This article was originally published in February 2023.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Over the weekend, much of the United States was hit with a huge winter storm that affected over 200 million people. Some of those folks lost power on account of the ice and snow.

A lot of people don’t think about their power until it goes out, at which time, of course, it’s too late. Even if you don’t live in an area that gets hit with snow and ice, other natural and manmade disasters can strike anywhere, and when you lose power in the modern world, a lot gets disrupted. You lose heat or AC. Your fridge warms up, causing food to spoil. Your Wi-Fi fails. Your phone battery dies. In some homes, you lose water pressure because pumps need electricity.

That’s why it’s worth having a backup power plan — so you can stay safe and maintain basic functions when the grid goes down.

But building a backup power plan can get expensive.

That’s why Creek Stewart and Joe Bassett, self-reliance experts and the authors of Emergency Communication 101, advise thinking about your backup power plan in tiers. 

Below, we’ll walk through a progressively scalable approach so you can choose the level of backup power that fits your budget and be ready when the grid goes down.

Tier 1: Small Device Power Support

Goal: Keep phones, radios, flashlights, and other small devices running for 1–2 days

Cost: ~$200+

This is the lowest-hanging fruit, and the place everyone should start. It will keep your phone charged for days, so you can stay informed and communicate with the outside world while utility workers restore power. You’ll also ensure you have illumination available for dark nights.  

Batteries

Many emergency radios, flashlights, and small devices still run on AA or AAA batteries, so it’s important to have plenty of batteries on hand so you can continue to use those things when the power goes out.  

To keep things organized (and to avoid rummaging through junk drawers in the dark), get a Battery Daddy — a case that stores batteries of various sizes. My mom got me one of these a few years ago for Christmas, and it’s been very handy for home battery organization. I never have to rummage for batteries anymore.

Portable Power Banks

Every household should have at least one solid power bank. These can charge a smartphone and other handheld devices multiple times and are perfect for short outages or evacuation kits. Power banks aren’t just useful during blackouts — they’re also great for travel and backpacking.

Good options:

• SABANI 35,000mAh Portable Charger. My go-to power bank. It packs a massive 35,000mAh battery — enough juice to charge your phone multiple times — yet it’s about the size of an iPhone. It’s got four built-in cables (Lightning, USB-C, USB-A, and Micro) plus three extra ports, so you can charge up to six devices at once without digging through a tangled mess of cords.
• Anker 747 Power Bank. With a 24,000 mAh battery, it can charge phones, tablets, and even laptops multiple times, making it ideal for keeping your devices running during a grid-down scenario.

Small Portable Solar Panel

A power bank might last you a day or two before it runs out of charge. How do you recharge it (and your devices) when the power is still out beyond that timeframe? Answer: a lightweight folding solar panel.

Solid option:

• Anker Solar Panel (100W). This foldable, lightweight solar panel can generate up to 100 watts of energy, allowing you to recharge your power banks and devices when the electricity is down for more than a few days.

Tier 2: Larger Device Power Support

Goal: Power laptops, radios, and other larger devices for several days

Cost: ~$1,000+

With Tier 2, you’re moving beyond keeping your phone charged during a blackout and looking to power bigger items like laptops, fridges, and even medical devices.

18-Volt Tool Batteries

If you already own power tools, you already own a potential source of emergency power; you just may not realize it.

Most major tool brands offer inverter adapters that you can purchase and snap onto the 18V batteries that come out of your tools, turning them into USB or AC power sources.

Examples:

• Ryobi 18V ONE+ Power Source
• DeWalt USB Power Inverter

With the right adapter, you can charge phones, radios, and laptops using gear you already own.

Small Portable Power Stations

Portable power stations are probably the easiest way to up your backup power game. They’re basically large, rechargeable batteries with built-in inverters and outlets. A small power station won’t run a refrigerator or a microwave, but you can power LED lamps to light your home during the night and medical devices like a CPAP machine.

Good entry-level option for a power station: Jackery Explorer 300.

It can charge smartphones and laptops multiple times, keep a Wi-Fi router and modem running for several hours, and power LED lights all evening. It’ll also run medical devices like a CPAP machine through the night.

You can recharge the Jackery Explorer in multiple ways: by plugging it into a wall outlet when the grid is up, charging it from a car’s 12-volt outlet, or pairing it with a folding solar panel to recharge during daylight hours. That flexibility is what makes them so useful in multi-day outages.

Small Inverter Gas Generators

If you’re looking to keep your fridge running during a power outage, but aren’t ready to pay for a huge portable generator, a small inverter gas generator is hard to beat. With one of these, you can not only keep your devices charged, but you can also power many of the conveniences in your home that depend on electricity.

Good entry option: Honda EU2200i

This generator is small and portable, but it can power a lot.

With a small generator like the Honda EU2200i, you can realistically do things like:

• Run a refrigerator or freezer to keep food from spoiling
• Power a microwave or coffee maker in short bursts
• Keep a gas furnace blower running in winter or fans going in summer
• Charge laptops, phones, radios, and power stations all at once
• Run Wi-Fi and internet equipment, so your house stays connected
• Power medical devices like CPAP machines without worrying about battery drain
• Recharge tool batteries and use basic power tools for repairs

The key thing to remember with a generator this small is that you can’t run everything at the same time. So you can’t run the fridge, the furnace fan, and the microwave all at once on a small generator. You can plug in the fridge for a few hours and then unplug it to use your microwave for a few minutes. Think of using a small generator in sequences, not all at once.

One rule for gas generators: only run them outdoors. Because it runs on gasoline, it emits carbon monoxide while in use. Run the generator outside and use extension cords specifically designed for generator use to connect it to your devices inside.

The tradeoff with a generator like this is fuel. To use it during an outage, you need gasoline on hand. That means storing fuel in advance and rotating it every few months to prevent it from going bad. Make sure to read our article on how to store fuel safely.

Vehicle Power Inverters

This is one of the most overlooked backup power options, even though most people already own the most expensive part of the setup: a car.

With a quality inverter clamped directly to a car battery, your vehicle can function as a makeshift generator.

Example: BESTEK 1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter

For under $150, you can run a refrigerator intermittently to keep it cool, charge laptops and phones, or top off a small portable power station by simply idling your car. It’s not particularly efficient and probably shouldn’t be your first option in a power outage, but in a prolonged outage, it’s a perfectly serviceable Plan B for larger devices.

Tier 3: Circuit-Level Power for Large Appliances

Goal: Run lights, refrigerator, furnace, and key appliances

Cost: ~$800–$5,000

With Tier 3, we’re aiming to bring as much normalcy to your home as possible, even when the power is out. The focus shifts from powering individual devices to powering circuits in your home. By tying a generator or large power station to your breaker panel via a transfer switch, the lights will turn on when you flip the switch, the furnace will kick on when the thermostat tells it to, and the fridge will keep running in the background. With Tier 3, you won’t be able to power your entire house during a power outage, but you’ll be able to power parts of it.

Transfer Switch (Critical)

If you want to power household circuits safely using a larger, portable generator, you need a transfer switch. A transfer switch allows you to connect a generator or other power source directly to selected circuits in your breaker panel — such as those powering your refrigerator, furnace blower, lights, or outlets — without risking backfeeding electricity into the grid.

Trusted brands:

• Reliance Controls
• Generac manual transfer switches

You’ll want to hire an electrician to install the transfer switch. This is not the place for YouTube DIYism.

Large Portable Generators

For most homes, a generator in the 5,000–8,000-watt range is enough to run essentials without constant juggling.

Solid options:

• Westinghouse WGen7500
• Champion 7500-Watt Dual Fuel Generator

With a generator in this class and a transfer switch, you can potentially run the following at the same time:

• One or two refrigerators/freezers
• A gas furnace blower
• Lights throughout the house
• Wi-Fi, outlets, and device charging
• Occasional use of microwaves

Large portable generators run on fuel. Some of them run on gasoline, others on propane, and others can connect to your home’s natural gas line. If you’re going with a gasoline-powered one, make sure you’ve got enough gas stored to keep it running during an outage.

Large Power Stations

If you want quiet, indoor, safe power without fuel or engines, large power stations — essentially oversized rechargeable batteries — have come a long way. They’re basically scaled-up versions of the small power stations in Tier 2. Large power stations can be tied into a home’s breaker panel via a transfer switch to power selected circuits, though runtime and load are more limited than with fuel-based generators.

Strong option: Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro

With 3,000 watts of output, a unit like this can run refrigerators, lights, Wi-Fi, and other household essentials. It’s expensive, but it’s plug-and-play, silent, and maintenance-free. You can pair it with some solar panels to keep it charged during extended blackouts.

EV Vehicle-to-Load (V2L)

If you’ve got an electric vehicle, you can use it as a power station for your home during a blackout.

Examples:

• Ford F-150 Lightning
• Hyundai Ioniq 5

Many V2L-capable EVs have battery packs in the 60–100 kWh range. To put that in perspective, that’s 20–40 times the capacity of a typical portable power station. With the right setup, that kind of stored energy can keep essential household circuits running for days.

Depending on the vehicle and configuration, you can use an EV to power items like refrigerators, lights, Wi-Fi equipment, and outlets — either by plugging directly into the vehicle’s built-in outlets or by integrating the car into a home power system with additional hardware (Ford has hardware that allows you to do this with the F-150 Lightning; Hyundai does not).

The main limitation is that once the battery is drained, you need to recharge it — either from the grid when power returns or from a charging station if one is available. Still, if you already own a V2L-capable EV, it’s a powerful backup power option.

Tier 4: Whole-House Automatic Power

Goal: Seamless, automatic backup for long outages

Cost: $10,000+

This is the “Didn’t even notice the outage” tier.

With Tier 4, when the power goes down, you don’t roll out extension cords, fire up an engine, or think about what can run and what can’t. Your home is equipped with a permanently installed system — either a standby generator or a whole-home battery — that automatically takes over. The lights stay on. The fridge stays cool. The HVAC keeps doing its thing. If you weren’t paying attention, you might not even realize anything happened.

This tier is about permanent resilience.

Tier 4 isn’t for everyone. It’s expensive, and could be overkill if you live somewhere with steady weather and a low chance of outages. But if you live in an area with unreliable power, extreme weather, or medical or work requirements that demand uninterrupted electricity, I couldn’t recommend this option more. Outages become a non-issue, the peace of mind is significant, and the overall ROI is huge.

Standby Generators

Standby generators are permanently installed outside your home and wired directly into your electrical system. When the grid goes down, they automatically start up — usually within seconds — and take over.

Industry standard: Generac Guardian Series

We have a Generac for our home. The previous owner had it installed, and it came with the house. I didn’t think much about it when we first bought our home, but after an extended power outage in Tulsa shortly after we moved in, it’s become one of my favorite things about the house. When the power goes out in the neighborhood, our lives go on as normal.

These units typically run on natural gas or propane (ours runs on natural gas), which means no scrambling for fuel during an outage. As long as fuel continues to flow, a Generac can power your entire home indefinitely: lights, HVAC, appliances, ovens, laundry, the whole deal.

The main downsides with a standby generator are that they’re loud (it’s basically a large engine that runs while the power is out) and expensive — look to spend at least $10K.

They also require regular maintenance, like replacing the battery, fuel filter, and spark plugs. If you don’t keep up on maintenance, you might find yourself with a generator that doesn’t kick on when the power goes out. That happened to me once. Nothing more frustrating than having a source of power that you can’t use because you didn’t check if the battery to kickstart the engine needed to be replaced. My kingdom for a working generator!

But you may find the cost, upkeep, and noise very worth it; you don’t have to worry about power at all during an outage and can stay completely safe and comfortable.

Whole-Home Battery Systems

A newer option for whole-home power backup is a whole-home battery system. They take a different approach from a standby generator. Instead of making electricity with an engine, they store it in large batteries and deploy it instantly when the grid goes down.

Examples:

• Tesla Powerwall
• FranklinWH aPower

These systems switch over silently and almost instantaneously. Unlike gas-powered generators, there’s no noise. Paired with rooftop solar, whole-home batteries can provide renewable backup power with very little ongoing maintenance. Whole-home battery systems are expensive. A single Tesla Powerwall starts at around $9k, and most homes will need more than one.

To be prepared for a grid-down scenario, start with the backup power tier that fits your current budget and needs, and work up to a level that you can afford that will give you the most safety and peace of mind.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Another year — our 17th in operation — has wound down here at the Art of Manliness. Here are a few highlights from the various projects that spring from the AoM epicenter. 

Dying Breed

One of the highlights of 2025 was launching Dying Breed, a Substack newsletter for both women and men where we dig deeper into ideas in culture, philosophy, and history. You’ll also find the popular Sunday Firesides series there.

The response to DB has been truly heartening. If you’ve subscribed, thank you. You’re directly supporting the work we do here on AoM and helping us keep AoM free to millions of readers a month. We’re grateful. And if you haven’t subscribed to Dying Breed yet, we’d love to have you! Here’s a breakdown of everything we wrote and published on DB this year.

Art of Manliness

It’s been another great year of content here on AoM. Below you’ll find a handful of the most-read and most-shared articles and podcast episodes we published in 2025. It’s a snapshot of what we’ve tried to do on AoM for nearly 20 years: offer ideas and tools that help men be better men. 

Most Popular Podcasts of the Year Based on Listens

• Man’s Search for Meaning, With Viktor Frankl’s Grandson
• Sleep Like a Caveman
• No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem)
• Beyond Resilience — How to Become Shatterproof
• 20 Secrets of Adulthood
• Men Don’t Run in the Rain — And 7 Other Essential Lessons for Being a Man
• How to Make a Big Decision (Faster!)
• Build Muscle Without the B.S. — A Straightforward Guide to Size and Strength
• The 6 Practices of the Ultimate Morning Routine
• Hercules at the Crossroads — Choosing the Hard Path That Leads to a Good Life

Here’s a Spotify playlist with these episodes queued up for you.

If you’ve enjoyed and gotten something out of the podcast this year, we’d be very grateful if you decided to subscribe to the show on your favorite podcast player or left a review. Both things give the show a big boost and help more people discover it. 

Most Popular Articles of the Year Based on Traffic

• There Is No Manliness Without Risk
• Look Before You Leap: Questions to Ask to Avoid Falling in Love With the Wrong Person
• 30 Ways to Use AI to Make Life Better and Easier
• 45 Tips — That You Haven’t Heard a Million Times Before — to Improve Your Sleep
• How to Wear a Polo Shirt Without Looking Like a Middle Manager
• Replace Scrolling With Microjournaling
• Legends Never Die: What Benny “the Jet” Rodriguez Can Teach Us About Being a Prestigious Man
• Men Don’t Dress Like Boys
• 4 Classic Chapter Books to Read Aloud With Your Kids
• 15 Things Sitting in Your Garage That You Should Finally Get Rid Of
• 57 Things We Should Bring Back

Subscribe to the AoM Newsletter

To never miss an article or episode of the podcast, be sure to subscribe to our 100% FREE email newsletter. You can choose the daily or weekly option. 

The Strenuous Life

The Strenuous Life had another great year. We’ve continued to enroll new members throughout 2025, and it’s been great to watch men go through the Challenge, build skills, and put some structure behind their aspirations. Our winter 2026 cohort opens at the end of the month, and if you’ve been thinking about joining, we’d love to have you aboard. Hope to see you in the next class.

We’ll be taking the remainder of the year off to celebrate the holidays and prepare for 2026. Thank you for reading, listening to, and supporting AoM! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Stocking stuffers often get overlooked in the rush to see the bigger gifts Santa’s left (be sure to check out our ideas for those). But they’re one of my favorite parts of Christmas. There’s something so fun about little gifts small enough to be stuffed in a giant sock. Yet once a man ages out of the novelty toys of his youth, it can be hard to know how to fill his stocking with things that are both neat and useful. For that reason, we’ve created this guide that includes 50 stocking stuffers a father, husband, or brother will find both practical and delightful. While every stocking should have one or two just-for-fun items, too many stocking stuffers are bits of junk that get thrown in a desk drawer, and then, once the feeling of guilt wears off, put in a trash can or tag sale. So the things we’ve chosen are those a man will enjoy using the moment he pulls them from his stocking and for a long time afterwards.

Pocket Knife

Every man should carry a pocket knife. Huckberry carries a number of nice pocket knives like the Leatherman Skeletool.

Pocket Ref

I love a good reference book and my favorite by far is the Pocket Ref, 4th Edition by Thomas J. Glover. This small, black book is crammed with just about every piece of information a man might want to know. Want to know about different lumber types? How about how to tie the fifty most common knots? Need a formula to determine the area of an oblique triangle? It’s all there in the Pocket Ref Guide and much, much more. Sure, you can find this info online these days, but this guide serves as a great book to have by the toilet so you can thumb through it while taking care of business.

Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera

Remember when taking pictures meant you actually had to wait to see them? The Camp Snap brings that back. It’s a simple, screen-free digital camera that fits in your pocket, takes about 500 shots on a single charge, and stores a couple thousand total. No screen to stare at, no temptation to edit or post. Just point and click. You’ll have to wait to see the pics after you get home.

IronMind Captains of Crush Hand Gripper

The Captains of Crush grippers are the gold standard for building serious grip strength. Made from aircraft-grade aluminum and precision-machined steel springs, they feel like something you’d find in a blacksmith’s gym bag. They come in eleven different resistance levels. Even the lighter models will humble you fast. But with consistent use, they’ll toughen your hands, strengthen your forearms, and make every handshake feel like a statement. They’re small enough to keep on your desk or toss in a gym bag, and they’ll last a lifetime.

Casio A158WA Series Watch

The Casio A158WA is proof that style doesn’t have to be expensive. For under thirty bucks, you get a stainless-steel throwback that looks like it was plucked straight off your dad’s wrist in 1985. It’s light, reliable, and has just enough retro charm to stand out without trying too hard. You can wear it mowing the lawn or with a suit — either way, it somehow works. I own watches that cost twenty times more, but this one gets a surprising amount of time in my rotation. Simple, timeless, and indestructible — the A158WA is the best cheap watch you’ll ever actually love wearing.

Nose/Ear Hair Trimmer

Growing little sprouts from our nostrils and ears is just part of the natural life cycle of human males. While that hair growth can’t and shouldn’t be totally eradicated, it can easily be managed. Despite a number of trimming options, by far the best is the electric trimmer. They’re easy to use, get the job done fast, and don’t have any of the pinching or yanking of the other options.

Working Hands Cream

After a long day of house projects, a hard session of weightlifting, or a few hours spent on a woodworking project, even the toughest man’s hands need moisturizing relief. Working Hands is made for especially dry and cracked paws and will help heal and repair any damage inflicted from manly labors.

Khlip Ultimate Clipper

You may never have thought much about your nail clipper, but maybe you should. The Khlip makes for the ultimate upgrade. Superior ergonomics, clean-cutting blades, and a built-in cavity to hold the clippings make this the world’s best toenail tamer. 

Huckberry Beanie

A Japanese-made beanie that blocks out the cold and keeps you stylish in the process. It’s also durable as heck. Include it in your loved one’s stocking this year, and he’ll be chomping at the bit to go outside and snowshoe or split some wood for the fireplace. 

Sportsman Cologne

Sportsman Cologne adds a splash of adventure to your day. Handcrafted in small batches in Austin, Texas, this rugged scent features notes of leather, musk, flint stone, red clay, and pine. This has been Brett’s go-to cologne for fall and winter for several years.

Atech 5-in-1 AirTag Multi-Tool

Quit using your house key to hack open Amazon boxes. This compact Atech tool clips to your keyring, holds your AirTag, and actually gets the job done. It’s got a box opener, nail puller, 10mm wrench, and a couple of other tricks — all in solid metal. Small, useful, and way better than ruining your keys.

Bellroy Hide & Seek Wallet

The Hide & Seek Wallet is a natural starting point for those looking to slim their wallet. It’s conventional, yet loaded with hidden features and compartments that will Houdini away your extra bulk. Cut from premium vegetable tanned cow leather, it’ll protect your bills and plastic and photo of your sweetheart for years to come. This version of the Hide & Seek sports an RFID-blocking upgrade that protects your personal information contained in RFID enabled identification cards, passports and smart cards.

J. L. Lawson Decision Coin

Minted from solid metal, the decision coin is a far more fun way to make coin flip decisions. Beyond that, it can be kept in a wallet as a reminder of the role that fate plays in all of our lives.

Survival Kit in a Sardine Can

This air-tight, waterproof, crushproof sardine can is packed with 25 survival items, including a fishhook, signal mirror, fire starter cube, and first aid supplies. Now, because of the variety and quality of the items in the can, this is far more of a novelty item than an actual survival kit. But it’s pretty cheap and a lot of fun; every stocking needs at least one item that’s simply designed to delight and act as a conversation piece. This fits the bill nicely. 

Shaving Cream

Most men lather up using some green goop from a can. These mass-produced shaving creams smell like you should be cleaning the floor with them. Share the pleasure of shaving with natural shaving creams and soaps with manly scents like almond or sandalwood. They cost more than the drugstore variety, but last far longer. My personal favorite is the sandalwood-scented shaving cream from Art of Shaving. 

Firestarter and Striker 

Knowing how to start a fire in a variety of ways is manly. The Firestarter and Striker tool set from Rill Simple Tools will make sure you’re always prepared to start a fire in a wilderness survival situation. The aluminum striker ignites magnesium in all conditions, regardless of wind, rain, snow, or temperature.

Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens

I love writing with a fountain pen. It makes writing even a lowly grocery list feel like a dignified affair. Unfortunately, a decent fountain pen can cost upwards of $50. If you want the fountain pen experience without the cost (and worry of losing an expensive pen) check out Varsity disposable fountain pens from Pilot. A 3-pack costs only $8 and writes almost as smoothly as more expensive fountain pens. These make a great stocking stuffer for a man who’s been curious about fountain pens, but hasn’t had the dough to try out an expensive one.

Davek Solo Umbrella

Most umbrellas are disposable. The Davek Solo isn’t.

Built from high-grade steel, fiberglass, and aluminum, its patented wind-combat frame shrugs off gusts that would leave a drugstore umbrella in the gutter. The carbon-reinforced ribs flex without snapping, and the water-repellent microweave canopy sheds rain like waxed canvas. This bad boy will protect you from the elements for years to come.

Zippo Pocket Handwarmer

This handsome handwarmer from Zippo makes the perfect stocking stuffer for the man who spends a lot of time in the freezing cold. My dad would have loved this in his game warden days on those cold mornings checking duck hunters.  

Tactical Flashlight

Besides helping you find your car keys in a dark parking lot when you accidentally drop them, a small tactical flashlight can also serve as a useful self-defense tool. Shine the bright light from the tactical flashlight in a would-be attacker’s eyes to temporarily blind him and give yourself enough time to run or counter-attack. High quality tactical flashlights can cost well over $100. For most folks, that’s probably too much for a stocking stuffer. At about $40, the Streamlight 88301 Protac Tactical flashlight puts itself on the potential stocking stuffer bubble. While it doesn’t emit 500 lumens like its more expensive cousins, the 88301 does offer enough light output (180 lumens) to blind an attacker momentarily. 

Hitch Hair Clay

If you’re looking for a hair product that provides hold, while maintaining a natural look, pick up a jar (or two of Hitch All Day Clay). Besides giving you a great coif, it has a clean fragrance with notes of bergamot, vetiver and sandalwood that goes well with anything. 

Everyday Carry Items

According to the Every-Day Carry website, “Everyday Carry, or EDC, generally refers to small items or gadgets worn, carried, or made available in pockets, holsters, or bags on a daily basis to manage common tasks or for use in unexpected situations or emergencies. In a broader sense, it is a lifestyle, discipline, or philosophy of preparedness.” If you know a guy who ascribes to the EDC philosophy, nothing will delight him more than seeing some cool new pocket-sized things in his stocking. We’ve already covered pocket knives, flashlights, and handkerchiefs, but there are many more handy and neat things available. 

Blackwing Pencils 

These aren’t the standard yellow #2 pencils that you grew to hate during middle school. Just as fountain pens are a step up from the leaky ballpoints you buy in bulk, these Blackwing pencils are an upgrade over that old Ticonderoga. Made with California cedar wood and high-quality Japanese graphite, they deliver a surprisingly smooth, pencil-paradigm-changing writing experience. There’s a reason these iconic pencils have had a cult following since the 1930s. Be sure to grab the two-step sharpener as well.

SABANI 35,000mAh Portable Charger

The SABANI Power Bank packs a massive 35,000mAh battery — enough juice to charge your phone multiple times — yet it’s about the size of an iPhone. It’s got four built-in cables (Lightning, USB-C, USB-A, and Micro) plus three extra ports, so you can charge up to six devices at once without digging through a tangled mess of cords. Great for keeping your devices charged while you’re on a backpacking trip. 

BioLite HeadLamp 

A headlamp’s one of those tools you don’t think much about until you really need it. The BioLite 300 fixes the usual annoyances — dead batteries, accidental power-ons, and clunky weight. It’s USB-rechargeable, locks so it won’t turn on in your pack, and weighs just 50 grams. The battery sits neatly in the back of the moisture-wicking band, so it’s comfortable enough to forget you’re wearing it.

Drugstore Cologne

We wrote about six forgotten and manly drugstore colognes and aftershaves in 2012. It was a big hit. Cheap drugstore cologne was a staple in my dad’s stocking growing up, and I remember getting my first bottle of Brute in my stocking when I was twelve. Any of the old drugstore standbys make a great stocking stuffer gift. You can’t go wrong with Old Spice. 

Instant Read Thermometer

Every backyard barbecuer needs a good meat thermometer. The usual variety, though, can be sort of fickle to use. You never know if you’ve waited long enough, or even how accurate it is since the needles tend to move a bit. With an instant read version, you don’t have to worry about that at all. Stick it in, and a couple seconds later you have an accurate reading. Can also be used with baked goods, homebrewed beer, and other foodstuffs that require precise temperature readings.

Analog Alarm Clock

Give the gift of better sleep! Most folks’ smartphones are in their rooms with them come bedtime. Whether diddling around and staying up too late (and sacrificing sleep) or using its alarm to wake you up, your phone ends up being the last thing you see at night and the first thing you see in the morning. But plenty of research — both anecdotal and scientific — has shown that getting your phone out of your room makes for improved sleeping, waking, and mental and physical health. When you give the gift of a “throwback” alarm clock, you give the gift of better well-being.

Pocket Notebooks

We’ve extolled the benefits of the pocket notebook numerous times — they’re so handy for writing down ideas, to-do tasks, or just capturing your bored scribbling. There are a variety of great pocket notebooks out there. Field Notes are a classic Made in America brand that have a nice vintage look to them. Huckberry has a series of Field Notes that pay homage to American National Parks.  They’ve got a  Rite in the Rain are cool because, well, you can write in them in the rain without losing your world-changing idea. 

Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef Sticks

Made from 100% American-raised Wagyu, these beef sticks are a long way from gas station jerky. Snake River Farms — a family-run outfit that helped pioneer American Wagyu — blends Japanese bloodlines with American cattle to create that rich, buttery flavor and perfect snap.

No artificial junk, just clean protein you can toss in your pack or desk drawer. Great for hikes, road trips, or the stretch between lunch and dinner when you need something that actually tastes like real beef.

Original Arbuckles’ Ariosa Blend Coffee

Getting a coffee-lover a bag of beans is a no-brainer. But which should you choose? Instead of grabbing a bag from Starbucks on Christmas Eve, try the Ariosa blend from the Arbuckles’ coffee company. Touted as the “Original Cowboy Coffee,” and the “Coffee That Won the West,” John and Charles Arbuckle first made their coffee way back in 1864, pioneering the practice of selling pre-roasted beans and putting them in 1lb sacks. Packages come with a peppermint stick, just as they did over a century ago. 

Old Fashioned Chewing Gum

Black Jack gum was first made by Thomas Adams all the way back in 1884. Made with aniseed, it was the first flavored gum made in the US and also the first gum to be offered in stick form. Adams’ company, American Chicle Co., then acquired Beeman’s in 1898 from its inventor, Edward E. Beeman. Beeman had incorporated pepsin in his recipe, a digestive enzyme, and Beeman’s became incredibly popular among pilots as an aid in both popping their ears and an antacid to settle their stomach acid during flight. Clove was another zippy flavor added by the company later on. These classic chewing gums were discontinued in the 70s and then brought back by Cadbury Adams and now make a great stocking stuffer for the man who wants to taste what Gramps was chomping on while playing stickball. Look for these gums at speciality candy stores.

David Protein Bar

The macros on the David Protein bare are impressive: 150 calories, 28 grams of protein, and zero sugar. They only have 2 grams of fiber, but they’re surprisingly filling. The result is a perfect 1.0 PDCAAS score, meaning it delivers all the amino acids your body needs. My favorite flavor is the Peanubutter Chocolate.

Huckberry Weekender Sunglasses 

An all day, everyday pair of sunglasses that doesn’t break the bank. Lightweight but with a hardy construction, polarized lenses, and crucial hinge protection (which is where sunglasses always fail when/if they take a tumble), these can truly be taken anywhere. While a nice pair of shades makes for a good under-the-tree gift, everyone needs a pair or two that they don’t have to worry too much about.

Uncle John’s Truth, Trivia, and the Pursuit of Factiness

Every bathroom needs a bathroom reader — a handy little book that can be perused a few minutes at a time while doing your business. The classic in the genre is the Uncle John’s series, which is now in its 32nd edition. With short tidbits of interesting facts and longer tales of daring and misdeed, there’s always something fascinating to be found in its pages, no matter how long the visit. 

Wythe New York Camp Socks

The kind of socks you want to live in all winter. Knit in North Carolina from recycled cotton, these Wythe Camp Socks are soft, sturdy, and built for both the couch and the woodpile. The jacquard-knit evergreen pattern gives them just enough seasonal flair without going full ugly-sweater. Warm, durable, and quietly festive — the perfect stocking stuffer for anyone with cold feet.

BFWood Clothes Brush

A good clothes brush is one of those old-school tools that every man should own but few actually do. This one from BF Wood makes a great case for bringing the habit back.

Crafted from solid beech wood and fitted with pure boar bristles, it hits that perfect middle ground — soft enough not to damage delicate fabrics like wool or cashmere, stiff enough to sweep away lint, fuzz, and dust. A quick pass over a jacket or sweater before heading out the door will leave it looking sharper and lasting longer.

Roark’s Cove Solid Cologne

Cologne, without the glass bottle or the splashy mess. Fulton & Roark’s solid fragrance is compact, travel-ready, and built for men who actually move around. Just rub some on you. This fragrance sits in the amber-woody-earthy family — bright at the top with bergamot, cloudberry, and pink pepper, grounded by oak chips, tonka bean, and cedarwood. The result is warm, clean, and quietly masculine; it smells like a hike through pine and sun-warmed rock after a fresh shave.

Lock Pick Training Kit

At AoM, we’re aficionados of the fine art of lock picking. This clear lock pick training set you can fine tune your lock picking craft by seeing how the tumblers and springs move as you rake your way to opening the lock. Set comes with clear training lock, tension wrench, and four picks. 

Spy Coin

It looks like spare change, but it isn’t. This clever little gadget uses real U.S. Kennedy half-dollars that snap apart to hide a micro-SD inside—clean, simple, and delightfully sneaky. Stick a card in there between shoots, drop it in a gear case, and nobody will guess your film negatives (or files) are riding shotgun in a coin.

Ammo

Ammo is kind of expensive and you want plenty of it on hand for those impromptu trips to the gun range. Make sure you get the right kind of ammo, though. It’d be a bummer to get boxes of 9mm bullets when your gun is a .38 special. I’m hoping Santa drops a few boxes of shotgun shells in my stocking this year. 

Harmonica 

The tin sandwich has a long and rich history, especially in the American South and West. The beauty of this instrument is threefold: it’s relatively inexpensive (even for a quality model), it’s small and portable (easily fitting into nearly any pocket), and it’s one of the easiest instruments to learn (to the point of playing recognizable tunes). Get one for everyone in the family and have some Christmas singalong time right then and there.

Tom Selleck Ornament

Your tree could use a little more mustache. This hand-painted glass ornament from Cody Foster & Co. captures Tom Selleck in all his 1980s glory — Hawaiian shirt, chest hair, and the most famous ’stache in television history. It’s equal parts classy and ridiculous, which is exactly what makes it perfect. Hang him up and let a little Magnum P.I. energy patrol your Christmas tree.

Wall Mount Bottle Opener

A classic wall mount bottle opener placed right next to the fridge eliminates the hassle of twisting off a bottle cap, plus it makes opening a cold one a bit more enjoyable. 

Duncan Yo-Yo

Even as a grown man, I enjoy getting a kid’s toy in my stocking. It’s fun to have something to play with on Christmas morning and it just makes me feel like a boy again. You can’t go wrong with stuffing a stocking with an Imperial yo-yo from Duncan Yo-Yos. Besides giving a dad or uncle a chance to show off some cool tricks to the kiddos on Christmas morning, throwing the yo-yo is a surprisingly great activity for quieting the mind when you’re sorting through a problem. 

Estwing Hammer

Every man should have a high-quality hammer in his garage or tool chest. It’s not always easy to throw down $20 on a hammer when there’s a $7 version right next to it at the hardware store. It’s worth the extra bucks though, making it a great stocking stuffer. Practical, but also just kinda fun. Bonus: Estwing tools are made right here in the USA.

Tins of Shoe Polish

I don’t know about you, but I always seem to be out of shoe polish whenever I actually need it. I’ll make a mental note to pick some up on my next trip to the grocery store, and of course, I’ll go to the store and forget to buy some. The occasion will arise again when I need to shine my shoes and the vicious cycle repeats itself. It’d be nice just to have copious amounts of shoe polish tins in my shoe shine box so I’d never have to worry about buying a can ever again. I’m pretty sure if Santa left two or three cans in my stocking each year my wish would be a reality. At $4 a tin, it’s the perfect stocking stuffer.

Universal Socket

This Universal Socket is the ultimate tool for the DIY enthusiast. Its versatile design adjusts to grip hex nuts, hooks, and other various shapes, making it the perfect stocking stuffer. Crafted for strength and durability, it’s compatible with any drill and nuts ranging from 7mm-19mm. A compact powerhouse, it’s bound to become an essential in any man’s toolbox.

Knife Sharpening Kit

If you’re going to put a pocket knife in a man’s stocking, he’ll also need a good sharpening stone to keep his blade in tiptop shape. You might also include a slip of paper with a link to our guide on how to sharpen a pocket knife. Smith’s Sharpening Kit has everything a man needs to start sharpening his knife: a medium-grained stone, a fine-grained stone, and oil.

Balsa Wood Airplanes

Another fun toy to give a man in his stocking stuffer is a balsa wood airplane. They’re easy to put together and you’ll have a blast tossing them around the house. The Duluth Trading Co. is offering a squadron of 12 made by a company that’s been making the planes here in America for decades. 

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

It’s that time of year again, when we share our top men’s gift ideas from Huckberry. It’s hard to go wrong with getting family members and friends any of these featured items, and if you need even more options, check out Huckberry’s entire holiday shop, as well as their section dedicated to stocking stuffers.

1. Uncharted Supply Co. Zeus Air. A compact, rechargeable powerhouse that every man should have in his car. It inflates tires with zero sweat and has enough juice to jump-start a full-size truck, even big 6.0L diesel engines. With a 16,000 mAh battery that doubles as a power bank, a built-in flashlight, and an intuitive interface, this is a practical gift that could really save someone’s butt in a pinch.

2. Nocs Waterproof Binoculars. Compact, rugged, and built for real use, whether that’s spotting birds, scoping deer from the stand, or watching the action from the cheap seats at the ballpark. Fully waterproof with high-quality glass, they punch way above their size. Every man needs a pair like this in his glovebox or daypack.

3. Ridge Magnetic Power Bank. A slim, grab-and-go portable charger that snaps right to your phone and disappears in your pocket. Fast charging, clean design, and Ridge’s signature durability make it a clutch piece of everyday kit. Perfect for travel days or guys who always run on 3%.

4. Flint and Tinder Rugby Sweater. A beefed-up, heritage-inspired rugby knit that feels like it could survive a scrum. Soft cotton, vintage stripes, and a weight that works from fall through spring. A handsome everyday layer for the guy who appreciates timeless style.

5. Patagonia Black Hole Travel Backpack. A streamlined, carry-on-friendly travel pack made from durable, weather-resistant fabric that will hold up on all your adventures. It gives you three ways to carry: as a backpack, shoulder bag, or duffel/briefcase. Ideal for the frequent traveler who wants maximum organization in a compact footprint.

6. Marine Layer Sherpa Pullover. Ridiculously soft, wonderfully warm, and just plain fun. Marine Layer’s sherpa pullovers feel like wearing a cozy blanket but look put-together enough for weekends out.

7. Camp Snap Screen-Free Digital Camera. A simple point-and-shoot that strips photography back to its basics — no screen, no distractions, just pure capturing-the-moment fun. Kids love it, adults secretly love it more. The perfect way to keep capturing memories without the smartphone overload.

8. Newgate Brooklyn Alarm Clock. Speaking of putting some distance between you and your screens, how about using a real alarm clock to wake up instead of your smartphone? With clean lines and bold numerals, this handsome model makes a worthy replacement for your digital device. Tell the time without getting sucked into scrolling at night or diving into notifications as soon as you get out of bed in the morning.

9. Huckberry x Timex Ironman Flix. Timex revived its legendary ’90s Ironman Flix with Huckberry, bringing back the motion-activated Indiglo glow that every kid wished they had. Lightweight, tough, and nostalgia-packed, it’s the kind of watch that sparks a grin every time you raise your wrist.

10. Pendleton Grand Canyon National Park Blanket. Pendleton’s National Park blankets are heirloom-level gifts, and this one channels the warm palette of the Grand Canyon at dusk. Thick, soft wool and classic Pendleton craftsmanship will make it a fireside favorite for decades. The rare gift that feels meaningful the moment it’s unwrapped.

11. Patagonia Black Hole Waist Pack. Part fanny pack, part minimalist daypack, this thing holds keys, snacks, sunglasses, gloves, and whatever else you toss at it. The tough, weather-resistant fabric gives it durability without bulk. Great for travel, hikes, or any guy who hates bulging pockets.

12. Adler Rheinland Hatchet. A German-forged hatchet designed for camp chores, splitting kindling, and heroic backyard fire-building. The polished head, hickory handle, and classic profile make it equal parts tool and showpiece.

13. Bellroy Toiletry Kit. A smart, hang-anywhere dopp kit that keeps grooming gear organized instead of exploding all over the hotel sink. Multiple mesh pockets, water-resistant materials, and understated Bellroy styling make it an instant travel upgrade. Perfect for the frequent flyer or the guy who showers at the gym.

14. Benchmade Bugout Pocket Knife. A lightweight but ultra-capable everyday carry knife with Benchmade’s signature smooth action. The rust-orange scales give it a bright, trail-ready vibe without adding weight. A rock-solid EDC upgrade for the man who appreciates precision tools.

15. Toyo Steel Cantilever Toolbox. A classic Japanese steel toolbox that’s as sturdy as the gear you stash inside. The cantilever design fans open so you can see everything at a glance, and the all-steel construction means it’ll likely outlast every tool it holds. A perfect upgrade for the dad still using a plastic box from 1998.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Note: This is a rebroadcast.

It’s a tough job to manage a household. Things need to be regularly fixed, maintained, and cleaned. How do you stay on top of these tasks in order to keep your home in tip-top shape?

My guest knows his way all around this issue and has some field-tested, insider advice to offer. Charles MacPherson spent two decades as the major-domo or chief butler of a grand household. He’s also the founder of North America’s only registered school for butlers and household managers and the author of several books drawn from his butlering experience, including The Butler Speaks: A Return to Proper Etiquette, Stylish Entertaining, and the Art of Good Housekeeping.

In the first part of our conversation, Charles charts the history of domestic service and describes why the practice of having servants like a butler and maid ebbed in the mid-20th century but has made a comeback today. We then turn to what average folks who don’t have a household staff can do to better manage their homes. Charles recommends keeping something called a “butler’s book” to stay on top of household schedules and maintenance checklists. We then discuss how to clean your home more logically and efficiently. Charles shares his golden rules of house cleaning, the cleaning task you’ve probably neglected (hint: go take a look at the side of the door on your dishwasher), his surprising choice for the best product to use to clean your shower, how often you should change your bedsheets, and much more.

Resources Related to the Podcast

• AoM Article: How to Establish a Simple Cleaning Routine and Stick to It
• AoM Article: How to Clean Your Entire House in 30 Minutes
• AoM Article: How to Clean Like a Man
• AoM Article: Keep Your House in Tip-Top Shape — An Incredibly Handy Home Maintenance Checklist
• AoM Article The Butler’s Book: How to Create the Instruction Manual For Your Home
• AoM Article: Towards a Philosophy of Household Management
• The Book of Household Management by Isabella Beeton

Connect With Charles MacPherson

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

When it goes well, cultural evolution works like biological evolution: the strongest things survive, while flaws, weaknesses, and superfluities disappear.

Unfortunately, the progression of culture doesn’t follow such a linear arc. Sometimes the societal pendulum swings simply because of boredom; technological innovations push current practices into obsolescence before we’ve considered what might be lost without them; new traditions seem superior to the old, until they don’t — and by then they’ve faded beyond return.

Inspired by ideas in Let’s Bring Back, Going, Going, Gone, my conversation with Walker Lamond about his book Rules for My Unborn Son, and simply our own observations about what’s lacking in modern life, below we present 57 things that have gone extinct or been waning that would be worth reviving.

These entries haven’t been chosen based on pure nostalgia, nor the viability of their comebacks — many have a poor chance of resurrection indeed. Rather these are simply things that it would genuinely be nice to see revived, and in many cases wouldn’t need to supplant culture’s current offerings, but could co-exist as happy supplements alongside them — additions that would make for richer and more varied lives. Even if they may never make it back into the societal mainstream, they could be worth adopting into your individual life, family’s culture, and local community.

57 Things We Should Bring Back

Soda Fountains

The soda fountain once served as a communal watering hole for teenagers and teetotalers. You could hang out at the bar while a soda jerk made you an egg cream or a “black and white.” Couples could sip a single milkshake through two straws. In an age where fewer people are drinking alcohol, the soda fountain just might be the third space we need again.

Wearing a Watch

Most of us don’t need a watch to tell time anymore — we’ve got phones for that — but it’s still one of the handiest things you can put on in the morning. Checking the time on your wrist is easier to do than fishing a phone out of your pocket, and makes for less of a disruption when you’re interacting with others. A watch is also one of the few accessories at a man’s disposal, and adds a touch of style and interest to your get-up. It’s a wearable bit of personality.

Sending Postcards

As much as we’ve long been advocates for handwritten letters, it seems the ship for mailed correspondence has largely sailed. If you’re close enough to someone to want to share the news of your life, neither of you likely wants to have week-long delays in discussing it. And even those who might appreciate a letter probably won’t write back, defeating the point of true correspondence. But there are a couple forms of snail mail still well-suited to our time. One is the thank you note (see below); the other is the postcard. For the postcard writer, sending one is fun and takes minimal effort. For the postcard receiver, finding one among their usual junk mail is a delight. So is the fact there’s no pressure to reply — it’s meant to be a one-way hello.

Attention Spans

Thanks to short form video and social media dopamine hits, the ability to sit with a book, focus on a task, or listen to another person has steadily atrophied. But real insight, quality work, and deep connection only come when we give something our dialed-in, undivided attention.

Dancing

Dancing is one of those activities humans have been doing for thousands of years, and up until a half century ago, it was one of the most common social pastimes. Today, adults may only dance once in a blue moon at weddings, and young people only get their groove on at homecoming and prom. The decline of dancing is particularly impoverishing for youth, as it teaches important interpersonal skills: how to weather rejection, read cues, move with another person without stepping on them, make small talk, be physically close to someone without being or feeling awkward about it — how to be more human, really.

Progressive/Walking Dinners

Progressive dinners — where each course is served at a different house — used to be a staple of neighborhood life. You’d get an appetizer at one person’s place, the main entree at another, and dessert somewhere down the street. By the end of the night, you were full, but more importantly, you knew your neighbors a little better and your street felt a little more like home.

Acquaintances

Words should mean something. Some, like “friend,” should practically be sacred. Unfortunately, friend has been bastardized by influencers who use it to describe their followers, by companies that cheerily apply it to anonymous customers, and by people who use the label for someone they say hello to in passing at church, a neighbor they borrowed a ladder from once, or the parent of their kid’s classmate they’ve only chatted with at school pickup. In regards to those latter situations, we do actually have a word for people you know, but not very well: it’s not friend, it’s acquaintance.

Real, Kitschy Christmas Trees

A lot of Christmas trees these days look like they were assembled for an Instagram post instead of a living room: artificial tree, matching lights, uniform ornaments. Christmas trees used to be a lot more wonderfully chaotic. You’d have handmade ornaments your children crafted in grade school and bubbler lights mixed with popcorn garland. Nothing was coordinated, nothing was curated, and somehow that made the whole thing feel more like Christmas. Bring back real trees with a hodgepodge of ornaments and plenty of tinsel. Bring back the kitsch!

Eating Sardines

Sardines used to be a grandpa staple. He’d pop open a tin, splash on a little hot sauce, and lunch was served. Well, grandpa was on to something. Sardines are convenient, full of protein, and packed with omega-3s (without the heavy metals you find in tuna and other big fish). Plus, they’re inexpensive and last a very long time. Puts hair on your chest, too!

Writing Things By Hand

In a time when most communication is typed and tapped, there aren’t many occasions that necessitate writing things out by hand. But it’s worth intentionally doing so sometimes — whether in the form of journal entries or notes — as putting pen to paper improves memory, boosts focus, enhances creativity, and strengthens learning and comprehension. It feels like a different cognitive experience and can lend a different angle to the expression of your thoughts. Plus, handwriting injects more idiosyncratic, connection-fostering personality into your missives.

Carrying Cash

Most people now walk around with nothing but a debit or credit card and the hope that every situation in life comes with a chip reader. But there are times and places where cash still comes in handy: a high school basketball game, the bait shop in the middle of nowhere, the after-hours campground fee box, the valet who deserves more than a muttered thank you. A few bills folded in your wallet is one of those small, old-school habits that still comes in clutch.

Hobbies

Hobbies used to be thought of as an essential component of a balanced and fulfilling life; they represented a commitment to lifelong learning and an outlet for the intellectual, creative, and self-reliant energies that didn’t get expressed in your day job. Tinkering with electronics, building model planes, messing around on the guitar — you did such things out of genuine interest and purely for personal enjoyment. Now people can’t allow themselves a pastime when they feel they should be doing something more productive, default to lower-effort entertainments, or turn what could have been a hobby into a side hustle or a performative stunt for short-form video. But a hobby done for its own sake — not for income or influence — is one of the rare ways you can lose yourself in something and come out feeling more like yourself. Click here to check out 75+ hobby ideas for men.

Farmers’ Almanac

After a 207-year run, the annual Farmers’ Almanac will cease production in 2026. But here’s hoping for a comeback. It’s been a perennial, charming source of wisdom on everything from the odds of a white Christmas to the best time to plant your turnips. Even if it doesn’t return, you can still get your almanac fix with The Old Farmer’s Almanac, which, for now, continues on.

Reading Poetry

The rates of reading have fallen in general, and surely some genres of literature have been hit harder than others. That definitely includes poetry. Poems certainly don’t lend themselves to our short-attention-span, easy-to-scan culture; they don’t follow a familiar format and aren’t always understandable on first blush. But that’s exactly what makes them worthwhile. They stretch our brains to think in different ways and help us reconnect with emotional and existential nuances with which we’d otherwise lose touch. Here are 20 classic poems every man should read.

Cracking Whole Nuts

From the Victorian era through the mid-20th century, it was common for hosts to offer guests a big, aesthetically pleasing bowl of whole nuts, along with nutcrackers and picks to extract their goodies. Cracking nuts around the fire or at holiday gatherings was part of the slow, social rhythm of the winter season. With the rise of pre-shelled nuts, this tradition has fallen out of favor. But nut-cracking is fun, and the fact that it takes a little effort probably makes it the most appropriate way to eat these calorie bombs — not by the pre-shelled handful, but by the well-earned niblet.

Boutonnieres

There are only a few ways to accessorize a suit. A lapel pin. A pocket square. And a once-popular but now forgotten (and worth reviving) option: a boutonniere. Most men only wear a flower in their button-hole at prom or their wedding. But you can wear a boutonniere on any occasion where you’re wearing a suit — and are feeling confident enough to make a unique style statement.

Bookplates

Bookplates — small, personalized labels pasted inside the cover of a book — were once a mark of ownership and pride. They signified that a book belonged to you and reminded borrowers who to return it to. Their bespoke designs and mottoes added individual character and expression to a personal library, giving a sense of recognizable identity to one’s collection.

Sleeping Porches

Sleeping porches were once a common feature of American homes in the early 20th century. These screened-in or open-air porches — usually on the second floor of a home — were used for sleeping during warmer months before air conditioning was common. They provided a cool, breezy place to rest on hot nights and were popular for both comfort and health reasons, as fresh air was believed to improve well-being. Jack London used his constantly. They’d still be a welcome place for a summertime slumber.

Barbershop Shaves

The barbershop razor shave is the facial for manly men. Nothing beats a hot towel on your face or the fragrance of shaving cream to sap the stress right out of your body. It’s also a little dangerous: letting another man hold a razor sharp piece of metal to your neck reminds you that you’re alive.

Eccentricity

There’s lots of evidence that people, on the whole, are getting less weird. Less deviant, less creative, less inclined to divert from the standard societal lockstep. It seems like we have less eccentrics than we used to — those oddballs who dressed differently, read strange books, and didn’t care if anyone understood them. Algorithms have flattened the culture, nudging us toward the same tastes and the same safe personalities. A little harmless oddity reminds us there are other ways to be human.

Dressing Up for Special Occasions

In a world that’s become blandly casual, dressing up for special occasions like weddings, parties, and nice restaurants gives life a little more texture. It makes an event not only feel more special for you, but, by contributing to the overall atmosphere, more special for others as well. Dressing up is an act of service.

Paper Maps

GPS may be efficient and convenient, but paper maps force you to really understand where you are and where you’re going. You spread one out on the hood of the car, trace a route with your finger, and suddenly the whole landscape makes sense. They don’t buffer, they don’t die at 3%, and they don’t reroute you into a lake. A good map turns getting somewhere into a small adventure instead of another task handed over to an order-barking algorithm.

Door-to-Door Knife Sharpeners

You’ve heard of door-to-door salesmen, but did you know there used to be door-to-door knife sharpeners? While the former were annoying, I feel like I would have welcomed the latter. A guy with a whetstone would knock on your door, take your dull blades, hone them on the spot, and hand them back to you all sharpened up. It’s a perfect service, because who can remember to sharpen their knives? And if you do, who wants to schlep them over to a shop? While house-call-making knife sharpeners have mostly disappeared, they might be making a comeback; I’ve employed a young man here in Tulsa who runs a mobile sharpening service, and it’s awesome!

Secrets

In an age of constant sharing and digital transparency, the idea of keeping something to yourself can feel almost subversive. But complete transparency is not an unalloyed positive, and secrets aren’t necessarily sinister — they’re essential for cultivating intimacy, mystery, and personal depth. Having a secret handshake, a private tradition, or something only you and one other person knows creates a special kind of bond. Secrets give weight to trust and texture to relationships. Not everything needs to be broadcast; sometimes the most meaningful things are the ones held closest to the chest.

Penmanship

If we’re going to bring back writing things by hand, it’s worth writing them nicely. Because we’re out of practice these days, our handwriting tends to be sloppy. But good penmanship has value: it makes your writing legible and aesthetically pleasing, and it’s simply satisfying to produce. It’s particularly rewarding to master cursive — a skill that’s especially endangered, not only in regards to writing it but even reading it.

Real Dates

Much of coed socializing these days takes the form of hanging out in groups, and even when people start going out more exclusively, their encounters may not rise above Netflix and chill. Real dates — those that follow the three P’s: planned, paired off, and paid for — would restore more intentionality to relationships. They signal commitment, effort, and respect, and they raise the stakes just enough to make the interaction meaningful. Real dates, centered on actual activities, teach you how to think ahead and make a little magic happen — skills that are foundational not just to romance, but to maturity.

Typewriters

Unlike the silent typing you do on a laptop, typewriters give your thoughts and writing a tactile, mechanical heft. You can hear and feel your sentences as you hammer them out on the keys. There’s no backspace and no instant revisions, so you’ve really got to think through what you want to write before you dive into the clickety-clack.

Bridge Nights

At the peak of their popularity in the mid-20th century, bridge nights were sometimes held multiple evenings a week. They were a staple of adult life, a communal pastime where friends and couples gathered around a card table to play, snack, laugh, and talk. The game gave people a reason to get together on the regular. In a world that’s feeling more fragmented and lonely, we could use more evenings like that — low-key, face-to-face, and anchored by something as simple as a shared deck of cards. We could also simply use more adults prioritizing having their own social life, rather than completely surrendering to their kids’ extracurriculars.

Landlines

While landlines used to be ubiquitous, now only a quarter of households still have one. Cellular phones have routed them from the field. But landlines still offer some benefits: they’re easy for kids to use in an emergency, the connection is consistently clear, and sharing a single phone requires the household to function as a unit — taking messages, relaying information, and so on.

Record Players + Vinyl Records

In a world of endless, algorithmically curated streaming playlists, listening to music on a record player makes music listening feel like an event, not just background hum. The friction of having to pick out a record and delicately putting the needle on the vinyl slows things down and makes you appreciate what you’re listening to.

Valet Chairs

The valet chair (also called a butler’s chair) used to be a staple in a man’s bedroom. A chair that often included a hanger-style backrest, trouser bar, small tray for cufflinks or a watch, and even a hidden compartment or drawer, it gave your jacket, trousers, and pocket contents a proper landing zone so they didn’t end up scattered around your room or in a sad heap on the floor. It’s the perfect place to drape clothes that you’ve already worn but can wear again before washing, and it lends greater order to your daily routine.

Singing Around the Piano

If you watch old movies, you’ll often encounter a recurring scene: people gathered around a piano, belting out some tunes. That actually happened in real life. When you didn’t have Spotify, you had to make your own music. Even in an age where we can stream any song on demand, there’s something incomparably fun, joyful, and connective about singing with other people. Of course, if we’re going to bring back singing around the piano, we’re going to need more skilled pianists among us, which means we’ll also need to revive the tradition of kids taking (and sticking with) piano lessons.

Colorful Insults

Modern insults are pretty boring — mostly the same set of expletive-laden put-downs. The 19th century did it better. Their insults had personality. They were clever. An unmannered youth might be called an “unlicked cub,” a lazy person a “slug-a-bed,” and a habitual complainer a “grumbletonian.” Here are 50 more colorful old-fashioned insults worth bringing back.

Drive-In Movies

At the peak of their popularity, 4,000 drive-in theaters operated across the country; today, only 300-400 remain. But they perhaps have more to recommend them these days than ever before; in a time where it’s hard to justify the cost of going to a standard movie theater, given how cheap and comparably immersive home viewing can be, the drive-in offers a truly different, and affordable, experience. You get to pack the whole family, along with as many snacks as you’d like, into the car for a distinctive indoor/outdoor night out.

Knowing Latin

Knowing a little Latin used to be a basic part of being educated — not because anyone expected you to converse in it, but because it opened you up to the ideas that built the Western world. Even building a small Latin vocabulary — mottos, legal phrases, liturgical language — gives you a sense of where our words came from and why they mean what they mean. It also makes reading old books more enjoyable, since authors often liked to casually drop Latin into their prose.

Safety Razor Shaving

Shaving with a safety razor turns a routine grooming task into a ritual. You have to make deliberate strokes instead of mindlessly scraping your skin with a plastic contraption; it’s rather meditative. And there are practical benefits: the resulting shave is closer and cleaner, and you save money and waste by not having to constantly buy and toss disposable razors.

Hosting and Entertaining in Your Home

In the 1970s, most households had friends over at least once a month. Since then, that kind of at-home socializing — dinners, game nights, parties — has fallen by more than half. Somewhere along the way, we got out of practice with hospitality, decided it required an unattainable standard of perfect lighting and gourmet food, got less comfortable with the intimacy of having people over, and succumbed to the inertia that eschews any fun that requires effort. But hosting something like a dinner party is a skill you can get good at with practice, brings people closer than any kind of outsourced entertainment can, and adds real zing and satisfaction to life.

Kids Playing Outside

Listen as you drive through most neighborhoods in America these days, and you might notice something missing: the shrieks and laughter of kids playing outside. It used to be you couldn’t walk down the block without dodging a game of kickball, stepping over a jumprope, or seeing a pack of bikes dumped in someone’s yard (plus a DIY bike ramp in the driveway). Now most of the action happens indoors and behind a screen. There are few things that would be better for today’s children than turning this dynamic around; outdoor play encourages kids to be independent, engage in health-promoting physical movement, and take competence and confidence-building risks.  

Roasting Chestnuts on an Open Fire

Roasting chestnuts enjoyed robust popularity until a blight in the early 20th century wiped out billions of American chestnut trees, making the nuts far less available. While the trees have only made a partial return, because imported chestnuts are readily available, the practice of eating them — particularly when roasted over an open fire — is primed for a comeback. Finally bring that line in “The Christmas Song” to life. The crackle, the smell, the slow business of peeling them while they’re still steaming — it all makes for a ritual that adds some memorable texture to the holiday.

Getting Married at Home

Up through the mid-1800s, the majority of weddings took place at the bride’s home rather than a church or another location. There were no sophisticated venues, no event coordinators, no anxiety about whether the flowers were Instagram-worthy. The practice was still fairly common up through the early 20th century — until weddings became increasingly elaborate and grandiose. An at-home wedding could re-root the institution, provide an appropriately homey and intimate setting for a ritual that joins lives — and families — together, and, of course, be a whole lot cheaper.

Physical Photo Albums

Most of us take photos on our phone. And that’s where those pictures usually stay — in an overwhelming, unwieldy archive perhaps thousands of photos deep. The lack of easy browsability makes it rare for us to go back and look at them. A physical photo album fixes that. Filled only with the best, intentionally curated shots, it invites you to pick it up, flip through its pages, and travel back in time.

Neckties

Neckties aren’t expected in many situations anymore — but that’s exactly what makes them meaningful. Wearing one signals intention, care, and the willingness to rise above the bare minimum. A tie is a chance to add some flair to a standard suit. It shows that you acknowledge that an occasion calls for formality. It’s a small gesture that says: this matters.

Reading Aloud to Kids

The number of parents who read aloud to their children has been dropping for decades. That’s a loss for everyone. Reading books aloud is one of the best ways to connect with your kid and increase their affinity for literature. It becomes a comforting family ritual that they’ll look back on fondly for the rest of their lives.

Sleeping With the Windows Open

Even if you don’t have a sleeping porch, you can get the benefits of a fresh-air sleep by slumbering with the windows open. In a time without A/C, when people thought well-circulated air warded off disease, doing so was the default. There are still reasons to crack open a window when you go to bed today. It does reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, and when the air is cool, it drops your core temperature, helping you fall asleep faster. Fresh air also, in an unquantifiable way, simply makes your sleep feel more refreshing.

Love Letters

As handwritten correspondence has declined, it seems that penning any kind of note — even the kind you leave on a nightstand instead of mailing — has too. That includes love letters. We’ve traded the convenience of communicative immediacy for occasionally writing out something more meaningful and heartfelt. But none of those “Love you!” texts will end up in a shoebox or get reread when you’re old. A proper love letter gives you the chance to express your feelings more ardently than you do on a day-to-day basis and is a surefire way to rekindle the sparks of romance.

Tailoring

Having your clothes tailored used to be standard practice. Nobody expected a jacket or pair of trousers to fit straight off the rack. You’d take them in, get measured, and end up with a set of superior duds. The difference tailoring makes is surprisingly striking; garments look significantly sharper when they’ve been altered to fit your unique body. Sure, in an era of athleisure there are far fewer clothes that even can be tailored, but those that remain could benefit from a little snipping and stitching.

Ghost-Hunting

Kids seem a lot more literal-minded and less imaginative today. Perhaps it’s the way the internet presents the idea that every question has been solved and every rock looked under, but they don’t seem to consider the possibility of the unknown and the invisible — that there might be mythic creatures or supernatural beings — as much. Certainly when I was growing up, Scholastic’s book catalogs were filled with scary stories and how-to manuals for hunting ghosts. And dares like “Bloody Mary” were more of a thing. Wondering if there might be ghosts around makes life feel more mysterious and compelling for kids. And for adults too, really.

Stretch Limos

There was a time when riding in a stretch limo — not those gaudy Humvee limos with disco lights you see these days — made you feel like an absolute baller. ’80s limos had a vibe straight out of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, even if your destination was the high school prom or the reception after the wedding. You could call up the driver from the phone in the back and ask him to whisk you away to wherever you pleased, make drinks in the bar, and enjoy the ride in style. We could use more things that make ordinary people and ordinary nights feel unforgettable.

Film Cameras

Digital cameras may win on convenience, but film cameras have benefits of their own. Since every click costs you, you’re more discerning about when to break your immersion in a moment to put a lens to your eye. You get the craftsman-like satisfaction of fiddling with the camera’s settings and knowing that the final result depends on your skill. And you enjoy the anticipation of not knowing how a photo turned out until the roll gets developed — and the surprise of opening the envelope of prints, seeing the ones that really hit, and chuckling at the mess-ups.

Handwritten Thank You Notes

A handwritten thank you note is one of the easiest ways to stand out in a world where most expressions of gratitude get reduced to a quick email or text. They only take a few minutes to write, but can make someone’s day. And because hardly anyone sends them anymore, the person on the receiving end will be disproportionately touched.  

Audio-Only Phone Calls

Everyone wants to talk over video these days, but there’s something undeniably awkward about those interactions: you’re often distracted by looking at yourself, and the feeling that you are — but aren’t — making real eye contact registers as off deep in the brain. Audio-only calls elevate the intimacy of a conversation above texting, without the weirdness of video. There’s something comforting and connective about just listening to someone’s voice.

Mumbley Peg

Mumbley peg was once a staple of boyhood. It’s a game that just required a pocketknife, a patch of dirt, and the ability to make said pocketknife stick in the ground with a bit of flair. Cowboys played it around campfires, soldiers played it between marches, and schoolboys played it at recess until risk-averse adults started shutting it down in the 1970s. It remains the perfect mildly dangerous game to while away the time.

Doctors in Doctor’s Coats

Doctors used to wear crisp white coats (and nurses had distinct get-ups as well). These days, most make the rounds in scrubs and Skechers. A tailored, distinguished uniform lent the medical profession a sense of dignity and gravitas — an authority that comforted patients, especially when discussing the weighty matters of health, or even life and death.

Giving Flowers With Meaning

Before the era of picking up a grocery-store bouquet and calling it good, men used to pick out arrangements for their lady loves very deliberately; each chosen flower had a special meaning and carried a message. A rose for love, a lily for devotion, a sprig of rosemary for remembrance, etc. The giver enjoyed creating the floral cipher and the recipient enjoyed (and probably sometimes felt a little anxious!) decoding it. If you’re going to say it with flowers, you ought to be really saying something.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Most fireplaces now run on gas. Flip a switch and you get some instant heat and ambiance. It’s convenient, for sure, but it’s not the same. Building a wood fire takes time and a little know-how, and there’s real satisfaction in getting the logs stacked just right and coaxing the first spark into a steady blaze. The smell of smoke, the crackle of the wood, the pleasure of giving the embers a poke — you can’t get any of that from a gas line.

Trunks in Attics

Every attic used to have at least one old, dusty trunk. Cracking one open was like stepping into someone else’s story. You could smell the memories. And you never knew what you might find: an old uniform, a box of medals, yellowed letters — and definitely, definitely a map to buried treasure.

The Civilian Conservation Corps

In our time of extreme partisan divide, could there possibly be two things all Americans might agree on? 1) The National Park system is awesome, and 2) The Civilian Conservation Corps ought to be brought back. During the 1930s, when jobs were scarce and the country needed a lift, the CCC put young men to work — not only in national parks, but in state parks and farmlands as well. The corps planted billions of trees, built trails and lodges, and fought soil erosion, all while learning the satisfaction of hard outdoor work, building friendships, and gaining a sense of purpose. Widespread national service, focused on improving not just our wild spaces but our crumbling urban infrastructure, might be just the thing our country needs again.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.

Updates: One of our commenters, Brandon Beeson, was kind enough to put this into a Google Doc as a checklist. Click here to access that document and feel free to print and use as needed. 

And Brett created a Todoist template that you can load into that app. 

When buying a home, most people probably first think of the financial responsibility. Don’t let yourself forget, however, about the time and labor that home ownership also requires. Just like regular oil changes for your car keep your engine happy and healthy, keeping up with regular home maintenance tasks will keep you from future headaches and wasted money.

It can be intimidating to think about these various tasks, especially if you’re a new homeowner. It’s a long list — there’s no denying that. The good news is that you can do the majority of it on your own without much experience. Google is your best friend, and if you really get stuck, call up your local handyman to help you out.

In order to maximize your efficiency and actually get all of these tasks done, you might want to create a home maintenance calendar for yourself. Whether online or on paper, you can jot down small, regular tasks for each weekend and not be too overwhelmed. We’ve listed tasks that need to be done monthly, quarterly, and biannually. We’ve also given you a list of tasks to be completed seasonally. Not every expert agrees as to which task needs to be done in which season, so this isn’t a black and white list, necessarily. Do what works for you and your schedule, and as long as all these things get accomplished, your home will be happy for years and years to come.

Monthly

• Inspect, and possibly change out HVAC filters. Many experts will say to change the filters monthly, but that’s not always necessary. For smaller families without pets or allergies, you’ll likely be okay changing the filters every 2-3 months. If the filter is dirty, change it out, otherwise inspect it again next month. I’ve also been told by handymen to go with cheaper filters and replace them more often versus going with the expensive filters. (You can also get it out of your mind by using a delivery service like Cleaner Filters.)
• Clean kitchen sink disposal. There are a bunch of ways to do this, but the handiest and best all-around solution seems to be vinegar ice cubes. Put some vinegar in an ice tray and let it freeze, then run the ice cubes through the disposal. It freshens it, but as a bonus, ice sharpens the blades. You’re welcome.
• Clean range hood filters. If you’ve never thought of doing this, you’re in for a real “treat” when you get that filter off the hood to clean it for the first time. The Family Handyman suggests simply using a degreaser from an auto parts store mixed with hot water. Let the filter sit for a few minutes, rinse it off, and you’re good to go.
• Inspect your fire extinguisher(s). We’ll assume you have and know how to use an extinguisher. This inspection doesn’t require much: ensure it has easy access (not being blocked by a garbage can or anything else), that the gauge shows adequate pressure, and that it has no visible signs of wear and tear.

Quarterly

• Test smoke/carbon dioxide detectors. Another simple task; your detectors should have a “test” button. If the alarm sounds, you’re good to go. If not, replace batteries immediately and test again. If it still doesn’t sound, it’s possible there’s simply corrosion on the battery terminal, and it won’t detect new batteries. Clean it and try again. If it still doesn’t work, you’ll likely need a new detector.
• Test garage door auto-reverse feature. In 1993, federal law required all garage doors to have this feature after multiple child deaths. Test every month by placing a 2×4 on the ground where the door would close. It should reverse after a second or so when the door hits the wood. Also test the photo-electric sensors if you have them by placing something in front of them (not your body). If the door doesn’t immediately go back up, you have a problem.
• Run water and flush toilets in unused spaces. This mostly applies to guest bathrooms, or any other sinks/water sources you don’t use on a regular basis. The idea is to prevent grime or any other kind of build up. Regularly running a little bit of water through will prevent this.
• Check water softener, add salt if needed. You shouldn’t need to add salt every month, but better to check anyway, as it only takes about 5 seconds.

Biannually

• Test your water heater’s pressure relief valve. This will prevent mineral and corrosion buildup, which safeguards against leaks. It will also help your heater run more efficiently.
• Give your house a deep clean. Take one Saturday every six months with your whole family, and give the whole house a proper deep clean. Appliances, windows, dusting every nook and cranny (including the basement), etc. Keeping things clean and not letting dirt/grime/dust build up over years and years will help keep your home in tip-top shape.
• Replace batteries in smoke/carbon dioxide detectors. I’d never heard this before, actually. I just assumed you changed it out when it started giving you the low battery beeping noise. This tip was in everything we researched, however. With something as important as this, you can’t be too careful, and batteries won’t break your bank. Change ‘em out every six months.
• Vacuum your refrigerator coils. I actually learned this tip from a refrigerator repairman, and our research confirmed it. The fridge can use up to 15 percent of your home’s total power, so you want it running as efficiently as possible. Over time, the coils get dirty and your fridge requires more juice. You can save up to $100 a year by doing this, and it’s not at all a difficult task.

Annually (Organized by Season)

Spring

Spring is a big month for home maintenance. They don’t call it “Spring Cleaning” for nothing. Especially focus on the exterior of your home as it’s just gone through winter and is preparing for summer heat, and in some parts of the country, brutal humidity.

• Check the exterior drainage. Will rain water flow away from the house? Puddles should not stand around your home for more than 24 hours. If water stays, or moves toward your foundation, you have a few options. First, check your gutters. It could be a bad spout or a loose connection there; they may also just need cleaning. Second, you can grade the area around your home yourself with some dirt; this has worked just fine for me in the past. Third, for pavement, you can have professionals come out and raise it so it drains away from your home.
• Clean out gutters. They’ve likely accumulated leaves from the fall and grime/sediment from the winter snows and/or rains.
• Inspect the exterior of your home. Is any paint chipping? Is any siding damaged from winter? Are there any holes in your brick? Take a close look all around your house, and make any repairs as needed. Also be sure to check the foundation for any cracks. A good silicone/caulk can fix a lot of your problems.
• Get your air conditioning system ready for summer; consider having it serviced. This one really depends on your individual home, and even which part of the country you live in. Some places mostly just use window air units, while other places use a big swamp cooler up on the roof — these are fairly basic machines where a quick internet search can help you fix any issues that come up. Also refer to the user guides for specific regular maintenance. Central air is obviously a more complex system. Getting it serviced by a professional should be around $100 or less, and it will save money and headaches down the road.
• Repair/replace damaged window screens. You don’t want bugs making their way in because you missed a hole in a window screen. And no, duct tape doesn’t count. It can be a quick fix, but don’t leave it for long. It just looks bad.
• Clear dead plants/shrubs from the house. This could double as a gardening tip, but if you didn’t trim trees or shrubs in the fall, do so now. Plants can weasel their way into cracks and holes on the exterior of your home, causing damage and shortened longevity. Nip that in the bud before it’s an issue. If you have decorative vines on the exterior, pay close attention.
• Check trees for interference with electric lines. Have professionally trimmed if necessary.
• Inspect roofing for damage, leaks, etc. Repair as needed; you may need a professional.

Summer

Summer is a great time to focus on the exterior of your home, as well as your lawn and garden. It’s also perfect for having that garage door open and utilizing the prolonged daylight to work on any manly projects you’ve had on the backburner.

• Check grout in bathrooms, kitchen, etc.; repair as needed. This will prolong the life of your tiled surfaces and just looks better.
• Inspect plumbing for leaks, clean aerators on faucets. Go around to all your faucets and toilets and check for any small leaks. If you have poor water pressure out of a faucet, the aerator is the likely culprit and it’s an extremely easy fix.
• Take care of any insect problems you may have. Summer is their playground. You probably won’t have to look too hard to notice any insect problems. Ants, spiders, moths, etc. are all common, and fairly easy to take care of. Keep cobwebs clear, have ant poison handy, make sure all doors are tightly closed, etc.
• Clean and repair deck/patio as needed. It generally just needs a good washing. A deck may also need re-staining. Also check for any loose boards or posts and repair as needed.
• Clean out window wells of debris. If you have a basement, you also have window wells. All kinds of things can get down in there from leaves, to trash, to animals.
• Check and clean dryer vent, other exhaust vents to exterior of home. While the dryer is running, check that the exhaust is coming out. It should smell nicely of fresh laundry. If there isn’t much exhaust, check for blockages as well as you can. You may need a professional. Also vacuum the lint from the hose at the dryer.
• Clean and organize garage. Cleaning and organizing the garage should be a summer ritual for every man. Keeping it tidy will extend its life (and the life of its contents) and make it easier for you to find the tools/gear/supplies you’re looking for. With all the extra dust it gets from the manly projects you’re working on, you should actually clean it even more. Once a year, however, give a thorough going-through, vacuuming up and blowing/sweeping out leaves/dirt/cobwebs and wiping down grimy surfaces. Here’s an essential key to keeping your garage organized and here are all the items you should finally throw away the next time you do a decluttering. 

Fall

Fall is an in-between season where you’re finishing up your summer home maintenance tasks as well as getting your home ready for winter. Cold, snow, and rain can do a number to a home, so you don’t want to ignore winter preparation.

• Flush hot water heater and remove sediment. This prolongs the life of the heater and helps with efficiency as well.
• Winterize air conditioning systems. Remove and store window units. If you have central air, cover the outside unit with a tarp or plastic sheeting and secure with bungee cords.
• Get heating system ready for winter. Check for any leaks in windows or doors; these can cost an arm and a leg. Make sure heating vents are open and not blocked by furniture. Get furnace serviced/inspected at least every other year, preferably annually. As with the AC, this shouldn’t be a huge expense. Don’t forget about fireplaces if you have them.
• Turn off and flush outdoor water faucets. Also flush hoses and store them. Winterize sprinkler systems as well, if you have one.
• Get chimney cleaned, if you have one. Some folks say to do this in the spring, some say fall. Either way, just make sure it’s done once per year.
• Test sump pump. You don’t want to wait until you need your sump pump to find out it’s not working.
• Check driveway/pavement for cracks. Make sure to have re-sealed before winter; water can freeze and expand in the cracks, causing more damage.
• Buy winter gear. Have sidewalk salt, good shovels, etc. ready for winter. You never know when that first snow will come!

Winter

Winter is the time to go around the interior of your home and check for any little things you may have overlooked, or perhaps noticed and said, “I’ll get to that later.” Winter is your later. If you have any interior honey-do projects, whether it be painting, building shelves, etc., now is a great time to tackle those as well.

• Regularly check for ice dams and icicles. De-icing cables that sit at the front of the roof work well. Don’t let icicles grow, as much as the kids may want you to. They’re not only a danger to people standing beneath them, but they’re incredibly heavy and can cause damage to your home. They also can cause water damage to your foundation when they  melt.
• Test your electricity to the extent that you can. Always, always be extra careful when working with electricity. You can do a couple things on your own, though. Check that all outlets work; if they don’t, you can re-wire them on your own. Also, test your GFCI outlets. There are wildly varying opinions on how often to test this. Some say monthly, others say annually.
• Tighten any handles, knobs, racks, etc. Go through the house and inspect anything that could have a loose screw.
• Check all locks and deadbolts on your doors and windows. If anything doesn’t work right, replace.
• Check caulking around showers and bathtubs; repair as needed.
• Remove showerheads and clean sediment. This prolongs its life and helps with water pressure as well.
• Deep clean and inspect the basement. Basements are notoriously overlooked, especially if they’re primarily just storage areas. Dust ‘em up, clean any windows, make sure there isn’t mold anywhere, etc. Give your basement a good inspection at least once a year.

With our archives 4,000 articles deep, we’ve decided to republish a classic piece each Sunday to help our newer readers discover some of the best, evergreen gems from the past. This article was originally published in October 2013.

This article was originally published on The Art of Manliness.