10 Men’s Accessories Worth The Money In 2020 (I’ve used these for at least one full year)

The post 10 Men’s Accessories Worth The Money In 2020 (I’ve used these for at least one full year) appeared first on Effortless Gent.

Want to know which men’s accessories I own that are still worth the money in 2020? That’s what we’re talking about today.

You could argue that accessories are a bigger part of our lives than our clothing, and I’d be inclined to agree.

That’s because we tend to use our accessories more frequently (some, every single day), but it’s rare we wear the same outfit every single day.

That’d be weird.

And smelly.

I believe that surrounding yourself with well-made things, especially if you use these items every day, is important. It’s a subtle life hack. It makes the mundane, everyday tasks (like styling your hair, strapping on a watch, or staying organized) more delightful.

In this article, I’m laying out my personal top 10 men’s accessories that are still worth the money today, in 2020.

I’m also including everyday carry items and grooming tools in this list. I’ve been using many of these for years. My one criteria for this list was that I’ve owned and used the items I mention here for at least one year.

So let’s get to it, shall we?

These belts from Anson

I have plenty of belts, but I’ve hardly touched any of them since I picked up my first Anson belt back in 2016. No lie! I can count on one hand the number of times I used any other belt.

Anson was the first product I thought of when I had the idea to write about the 10 men’s accessories still worth my money today, so I’m psyched they agreed to partner with me on this article.

If you haven’t heard of Anson Belt yet, I’d be surprised. They’re all over the #menswear internet.

But I’d say any hype surrounding the product isn’t really hype at all. It’s well-earned, and I can confidently say that as someone who’s worn them the past 4+ years.

What makes em so great?

• Micro-adjustability: instead of 5 holes, there are over 30 different (no-hole) size options in one belt
• Mix and Match: You can switch up your belt strap and buckle to any combo you like
• Many different strap materials (leather, suede, canvas, even vegan and real crocodile!) and buckle finishes (polished and matte, traditional and antiqued, yellow and white metal)
• One size fits all, literally: If you have between a 16″ and a 50″ waist, Anson works for you
• You get a lifetime guarantee for your belts

Can’t pick just one?

Well, you’re in luck because they have a box set option where you pick either two straps and 3 buckles, or 3 straps and 2 buckles for $99.

If you play your cards right, you could get all your belt needs covered in just one box set! This is what I did.

At the bare minimum, I suggest:

• one 1.5″ Chocolate Brown Vegetable Tanned Strap
• a 1.5″ Graphite Canvas Strap, and
• the 1.5″ Black Veg-Tanned Leather Strap (if you wear black leather shoes often) or the 1.5″ Saddle Tan Veg-Tanned Leather Strap (this is my most-used belt)

As far as buckles, consider what color metal you wear most (think your watch, your wedding ring, any necklaces or bracelets, etc.) and go with that.

My most common buckles I use are the 1.5″ Traditional Buckle in Antiqued Gold and the Classic Buckle in Gunmetal.

Again that’s just the bare minimum, but you have so many options. Check out all the potential belt and buckle combos from Anson here →

This wallet from Carl Friedrik

Among all your men’s accessories, a wallet is one of the most intimate and personal. You carry it with you, everywhere you go, practically every single day!

I’ve been a fan and advocate of slim wallets since, forever. And over the past year I’ve been using the Hatton Slim Leather Cardholder from Carl Friedrik. 

The cardholder is made in Italy from a sturdy vegetable-tanned Vachetta leather that softens nicely with age. It can hold a surprising amount; I keep 5 cards in mine, plus a subway ticket and a few folded bills.

The barely-there iPhone cases from Totallee

I love the form factor of the iPhone, but they’ve become more and more fragile with each new version.

Even though I’m generally anti-iPhone-case, I’ve reluctantly been using them since my iPhone 6, just to prevent any scratches. And with the more recent models being all glass, I’ve gotten even more paranoid. Replacing that ish is expensive!

The brand Totallee has incredibly slim iPhone cases in a variety of colors and finishes. They’re minimal, thin, and as out of the way as possible. They even have a version that’s completely clear (like my current one). It looks and feels like there’s no case at all.

I’m really careful with my stuff, so a clear, slim case and a shatter-resistant screen protector is all I need. Needless to say, this thing’s been on my iPhone XS Max since the day I got it.

My Beardbrand Comb

I’ve gone through a ton of cheap combs over the years. Typically, it’s an accessory I don’t think about. But the combs from Beardbrand have changed the game for me.

They’re definitely an investment if you’re used to buying cheap plastic combs from Wal-Mart or a gas station or something. But I truly believe these are worthy of their investment.

Each comb is made from an Italian cellulose acetate with interesting and beautiful patterns, polished and buffed to a shine. This acetate material is plant-based, super durable, and doesn’t produce any static. The teeth come to a slightly rounded point and have two different sizes as well as two different widths.

This results in easy styling and no tugging. In fact, quite the opposite: this comb glides through all hair textures, both on your head and on your face, with no static charge buildup.

I should mention each comb is a limited edition, produced in small batches. They rarely, if ever, make the same comb twice. So if you see one you like, snag it while you can.

The Flight Pack 2 from Aer

My Aer backpack is my go-to bag for commuting to my Brooklyn studio. I’m usually in something casual and this is the perfect accompaniment.

There are a number of things I love about the Flight Pack. For one, it’s incredibly versatile. Not only can you wear it as a backpack, but you also have the option to carry it like a briefcase (built-in handles) or a messenger bag (strap included).

It’s comfortable, tough, and super stealth. There are plenty of compartments and pockets for everything you might need to bring with you, no matter where you’re going.

These Barton Watch Bands

I first discovered Barton Bands when I picked up a vintage gold-toned Seiko dress watch. I wanted something equally eye-catching yet dressy in an interesting color or pattern.

After browsing the site a bit, I found a navy blue alligator grain leather band, which was exactly what I was looking for.

Since then, I’ve picked up several bands in leather, nylon NATO, and silicone for both my steel Rolex Datejust and Fortis Flieger 24h, and I’ve been happy with all of them.

Considering the wallet-friendly pricing, they’re well made with solid materials, and the leather bands have aged nicely so far.

If you’re looking to switch up your standard watch band, or maybe you want to match some of your outfits, I’d definitely check out Barton.

My Beats Headphones

I’m not a hardcore audiophile, let’s be real. I probably wouldn’t be able to tell a pair of $150 consumer headphones apart from $1500 studio headphones.

What’s important to me: bluetooth capability, over-the-ear design, noise cancellation, deep bass, and crisp highs. That’s it!

The Beats Studio3 Wireless headphones checked all those boxes for me back in 2017, and it’s still serving me well today. They’re especially useful on flights. I love being able to tune everybody out when the noise cancellation kicks in and zone out to a movie or some music and audiobooks.

They’re the priciest headphones I’ve purchased (at the time, around $300) but they’re perfect for what I need. And considering I use them almost every day, they’re well worth the price.

This Leather Pouch from Daveed

Being an incredibly organized neat freak, I love pouches. I need to have my small things contained inside my bag or in my suitcase when traveling.

This pouch from Daveed is my jam. The full-grain Nixburg leather is ridiculously supple. The full-length chrome RiRi zipper glides smoothly from the top of the pouch, all the way down one side. This design provides much easier access to what’s stored inside.

The pouch’s interior is lined with a luxurious burgundy twill fabric and has two pockets for your smaller items, in addition to the main compartment. On the outside, there’s one additional zipped pocket.

That’s right, my friends. Pockets for days, all over this travel pouch. Organizational options galore.

These Minnetonka Moccasins (as house shoes)

I’ve mentioned my Minnetonka moccasins in previous articles, and I still consider them the perfect pair of house shoes / slippers. I suppose you could wear these outdoors, but in my opinion they’re best suited for indoor use.

They’re made from a soft suede leather, so you can wear them year-round. I usually pair them up with wool socks in the winter and go barefoot in the summer. These moccasins have a nubbed rubber sole, so in case you have to run out to grab the mail and you’re too lazy to change your shoes, your moccs will survive.

My Travel Mug from Zojirushi

I’ve tried a number of travel mugs in my lifetime: a few from the infamous YETI brand, several from the classic Thermos.

And out of all the ones I’ve tried, the most handsome, reliable, and useful one I’ve ever owned comes from a Japanese brand, Zojirushi.

Handsome because it’s sleek and minimal, just how I like my shit.

Reliable because it keeps my coffee hot for hours. Literally, HOURS. Like 8 hours. Or more, probably. I can sip on one serving of coffee all day if I wanted to.

And useful, because it’s perfectly sealed and has a screw-on top that completely prevents any spillage in my bag.

It’s around $25 and it’s the best travel mug I’ve ever used.

Bonus: The Brio Beardscape Trimmer

I first started using my Brio Beardscape last December, so as of this writing, it hasn’t been a full year yet. But I have high hopes for this guy.

It’s become my favorite trimmer and I haven’t used anything else since. Full disclosure: I don’t have a beard, but I do use this for shaving the facial hair I do manage to grow

If you like keeping your stubble (vs. having a clean-shaven look), this tool is great. The bare blade can be adjusted from 1.0mm to 1.9mm, and it also comes with guards for multiple lengths, from 2mm to 18mm.

5 speed settings are built in, along with an “available time” readout (how much charge you have left). The dark mode-type display is easily readable and a nice touch I’ve come to appreciate after years of having really cheap shavers and trimmers. Funny enough, I haven’t had to charge this thing once since getting it over 6 months ago.

Highly recommended if you’re looking for a new trimmer, or to upgrade your old one. If you have a beard, you’ll appreciate this thing even more.

What are your favorite men’s accessories?

Hope you enjoyed this list. I’d love to hear what your favorite long-term accessories are, the stuff you’ve owned for years and continue to use, day in and day out!

The post 10 Men’s Accessories Worth The Money In 2020 (I’ve used these for at least one full year) appeared first on Effortless Gent.