Everyday Office Essentials: Gear You'll Be Glad You Have

Having the right tool for the job is what keeps a simple task from becoming an ordeal

Courtesy of Tactile Turn, Duluth Trading, Spyderco, Uncharted Supply Co., Leatherman

Most offices don’t have even the most basic tools, so when the power goes out or you’re struggling to open a heavily taped box or uncap an exotic bottle of lemonade, you’ll be relieved to have these “exactly what I needed” tools.

Courtesy of Duluth Trading

Bright Idea

Duluth Trading Inspectors Pen Light $16.95

A penlight is an item that will amaze you with its handiness as soon as you use it for the first time. Drop a contact lens or tiny thumb drive on the floor? No problem, shine the beam on the floor and under the desk to spot them. Priced to allow you to store one in your desk, another in a briefcase, and one in the car, all with spare AAA batteries, the 100-lumen, impact-resistant light is a must-have that you'll use very often.

Courtesy of Leatherman

Get a Grip

Leatherman Style PS $34.95

No need for a crisis when you need to tighten a nut on a piece of office furniture with this pocket-sized toolkit handy. Despite being tiny enough to easily stash in a briefcase or desk drawer, it has pliers for gripping, a file for smoothing, tiny scissors, a combo Phillips/flathead screwdriver, and tweezers to tug out tiny computer parts. The integral carabiner clip lets you put it where it’s easy to find.

Courtesy of Spyderco

No More Loose Screws

Spyderco ClipiTool Screwdriver/Opener $53

Our grandfathers always carried a small pocketknife, and they would be impressed by the bottle opener and screwdriver on this tiny marvel. The compact design incorporates a handy clip to attach it to a briefcase pocket. The combination bottle opener/screwdriver blade has a hole at the end for easy opening, and the screwdriver edge can be used on a wide variety of screws. The two-inch knife blade also has an easy-open feature, making it a perfect choice for opening well-wrapped packages.

Courtesy of Uncharted Supply Co.

Power It Up

Uncharted Supply Co. Athena Power Pack $139

At first glance, a power pack may seem like overkill, but it’s easily stashed in an office drawer or a vehicle trunk and can be invaluable when the power goes out. The 16,000 milliamp hours integral battery with USB-C, MicroUSB, and USB ports keep personal electronics and phones powered for many hours. It also comes with cables to be used to jumpstart a vehicle with a dead battery, which can happen all too easily. The integral flashlight can prove valuable in a windowless office or stairwell.

Courtesy of Tactile Turn

Write This Down

Tactile Turn Action Pen $99

We’ve all been in this scenario: You’re away from your desk and need to write down a phone number or address, but you either don’t have a pen, or the one in your briefcase was crushed under your laptop. Crafted with titanium in order to survive the worst abuse, this pen utilizes a clever bolt action to lock it open and is available in a compact 4 1/2-inch size that can be tucked into the smallest pocket.