The Best Tech, Photography & Travel Gear I Bought in 2025 (Ranked)

In 2025, I shifted my focus from buying only photography and video gear to curating a collection of functional, well-designed products that genuinely improved my everyday life. From tech and travel essentials to photography tools, desk accessories, and automotive gear, each product on this list serves a clear purpose while maintaining a clean, minimalist aesthetic. After months of real-world use, here are the best tech, photography, and travel products I bought in 2025 (ranked).

Here are my top 10 favorite products that I purchased in 2025 ranked:

10. Nomi Lamp

I'm a sucker for minimal lamps, so when a photographer I follow posted this one on his desk, I knew I had to get it. This is the Nomi Lamp from Saloon, a brand that makes high-quality 3D-printed minimal lamps combining art and timeless design. It creates a calm yet productive atmosphere and looks great in any room. It's made of fully biodegradable Ivory White PLA, making it environmentally friendly, and fits any standard E26 smart bulb like Philips Hue or Govee. If you want to elevate your desk or living room setup without breaking the bank, this is the lamp for you.

9. HOTO Portable Tire Inflator

During winter, cold air causes tire pressure to drop, so it’s cruicial to check your PSI regularly to prevent flats. This is especially important for electric vehicle owners. Lower PSI reduces range and creates a rougher ride. Out of all the portable tire inflators I researched, this one from HOTO stands out with its modern, minimal, and compact design. It's one of the few you can charge via USB-C instead of your car's 12-volt outlet. It inflates a car tire from 0 to 35 PSI in just 5 minutes which is much faster than conventional inflators. Standout features include a large LED display, built-in 12lm LED light, and automatic shutoff at your desired PSI. I highly recommend keeping this in your car if you drive frequently.

8. Nikon 35mm f/1.4 Z Lens

I would have ranked this in my top 3, but it lands at #8. While it's a good lens for the value, it has its shortcomings. After using it several times, I realized it's suitable for hobbyists but not professionals. There were moments when I was out shooting and it missed a few shots. Compared to my 40mm f/2 SE lens, the 40mm nails autofocus more precisely than the 35mm. On the bright side, I love how lightweight it is, with fast, silent autofocus and suppressed focus breathing—essential for video. It's not an S-line lens, but it has a lot of character compared to other lenses, making it an attractive buy for Nikon shooters. The 35mm focal length is also perfect for portraits, landscapes, street photography, and more. If you're okay with some flaws, this is one of the best bang-for-your-buck lenses in the current Nikon lineup.

7. Flashpoint Rotating Camera Flash Bracket

Though I've only used it once for a red carpet event, this rotating camera bracket proved invaluable. The ability to rotate the camera 90 degrees horizontally and vertically without tilting the flash is a game-changer, especially when time is tight during red carpet shoots. This gave me consistent lighting across all my images, saving editing time in Lightroom. The downsides: it's a bit heavy, and if you have a flip-up screen, it might interfere when mounting the camera. That said, it's sturdy, and I appreciate the self-adhesive cork pad that prevents direct contact between the base plate and camera. This bracket works better with compact cameras than large DSLRs. Highly recommended for professional photographers who shoot frequent events.

6. Flashpoint iT30 Pro TTL Portable Flash for Nikon

This is a photography product I didn't know I needed until now. This compact portable flash is perfect for photographers who need an external flash in the smallest possible form factor. I didn't want to carry a full-size external flash while traveling, so I bought this portable flash from Flashpoint, and it works wonders! It has almost all the features you'll find in a regular flash—auto TTL and manual mode, high-speed and global shutter sync, built-in 2.4GHz wireless control, second curtain sync, and off-camera flash. The little flash packs quite the punch with its 1.5-second recycling time, ensuring you don't miss that perfect moment. This is a piece of photography gear I'll always have in my travel bag.

5. Deltahub Carpio 2.0

After misplacing my old wrist rest, I decided to try the Carpio 2.0 from Deltahub—something I'd been eyeing for a while. After a couple of weeks, I can confirm it's just as comfortable as my previous one. The wrist rest keeps my hand posture straight while using the mouse, preventing strain and injuries. The silicone pad feels great against the skin and lets my hand glide smoothly across almost any surface. It comes in three colors (black, white, and gray), and I went with white this time to give my desk setup a fresh look. Highly recommend for anyone spending long hours at their desk.

4. Apple AirTag

Sometimes we purchase things for peace of mind even though we don't really need them, and the Apple AirTag fits the bill perfectly. Setup is super quick and easy if you're in the Apple ecosystem, and it works seamlessly across all your devices. It pairs with the "Find My" app and even functions when out of Bluetooth range—the item will still show up on the map without a connection. I love the "Precision Finding" feature, which guides you to the exact location of the AirTag with on-screen directions, haptics, and sound, all on your iPhone. I keep an AirTag in my luggage and camera bag, and it's been incredibly handy when locating them at the airport. Battery life lasts about a year before needing replacement. If you have valuables you use frequently, these AirTags are a must so you never lose or misplace them again.

3. Anker Laptop Power Bank

This is the best laptop power bank for international travel. It features three USB-C ports, each outputting 100W of max power, with two retractable cables that save space and eliminate clutter. I love the real-time smart display showing useful info like remaining charge, charging time, output per port, and battery temperature. The only downside is its weight, which is worth considering if you're traveling with a lot of gear. Despite this, it's still portable and charges devices much faster than traditional portable chargers. This 25,000 mAh power bank is perfect for frequent travelers or anyone working in places without power outlets.

2. Hollyland Lark Max 2

As I started vlogging more this year, I realized how important clear, crisp, high-quality audio is—that's why I upgraded to the Hollyland Lark Max 2. After watching tons of YouTube reviews on wireless mics, I found these had the best sound quality. You can either clip on the wireless mic using their unique hover-clip design or attach it with magnets, giving you versatility and discreetness when recording talking head shots. The battery lasts incredibly long, and I rarely need to charge them after a full day of use. The AI noise cancellation is one of the best in its class, and it features 32-bit float internal recording. Other features include auto gain control, 32-bit full chain audio transmission, and timecode sync. I got mine for $200 during Prime Day and received 2 transmitters and 2 receivers—such great value for a high-quality product! I recommend this to anyone who wants to elevate their audio game.

1. Sonos Ace Headphones

This has been my favorite new tech purchase this year. It pairs seamlessly with other Sonos products like the Beam Gen 2. You can swap audio from the soundbar to the headphones with a single button press for a more immersive experience. When I watch Dolby Atmos content on Netflix with spatial audio enabled, it sounds incredible, like being in a movie theater. The earcups are comfortable once you adjust to them. Other features include lossless audio over Bluetooth or USB-C, up to 30 hours of battery life with ANC (one of the best I've seen on any headphones), rapid charging, aware mode, and dynamic head tracking. The only downsides are the flimsy case zipper—I'm not sure how long it'll last since I travel frequently—and the sound, which could be clearer. It feels slightly muddy compared to my AirPods Pro 2. Beyond those minor issues, using the Sonos Ace Headphones has been fantastic whether I'm traveling by air, watching movies at home, or listening to music while working.

I have a feeling that 2026 will be pretty heavy on the tech and photography side so stay tuned!

I hope you guys enjoyed my top 10 favorite products that I bought this year. If you want to check out my favorite products that I purchased in 2024, click here.

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