31 Things Every Man Should Own

The things a man should own are mostly simple things that work in simple ways. And sometimes loudly. And often with a lot of grease. They function simply.

Yet they confer greatness.

Or at least competence. Because the things men own represent knowledge and skill. If we own it, we need to know how to wield it. We make that contract with our families, our neighbors, ourselves. Our fathers. Our stuff is impressive not because it has been purchased but because it has been used. Part of being a man is knowing how to exploit very simple things, the things we own — a collection of objects that should include the following.

It's not a specialty kitchen item, which means you can cook almost anything in it. Because you never use soap on it, it'll enrich your eggs and burgers and grilled cheese and fish fillets and rib eyes with the earned flavors of a well-used grill. It's impossible to break and can go in the oven. And it will last longer than you.

Lodge Logic 12", $34; lodgemfg.com

You can't even go to Canada anymore without one. Not having a passport is like not having money.

It's not that it's better than any of the seventeen individual implements it contains. It's that its seventeen implements are good enough that you don't have to carry any of them individually.

Leatherman Wave, $99; leatherman.com

Corkscrews should not be expensive. Or require instruction manuals.

Super Professional waiter's corkscrew, $29; winehardware.com</>

Because you need something to make firewood out of the tree that fell across your driveway.

If only for the door hinges. A man's house should involve no squeaking.

Electric hand tools should be cordless. Eighteen volts — contractor grade — is all the power you'll ever need.

DeWalt 18V compact drill/driver, $219; dewalt.com

Which should fit the following: a cotton blazer, jeans, khaki shorts, swim trunks, two T-shirts, a button-down, flip-flops, white sneakers, a leather belt, two pairs underwear, two pairs socks, one Dopp kit.

Hogan Rebel coated-canvas duffel, $835; 888-604-6426

Because you could freeze to death without one. Also, it's good for a picnic.

Because you need something to prepare the tree for the ax.

Stihl MS 390, $470; stihlusa.com

Without a good pair of work gloves, you blister in five minutes of picking up an ax or a chain saw. You need two pairs: rubber-coated for winter, leather for summer.

Because with a small one, you can level a picture. With this one, you can level a deck.

Sneakers are not for the garage.

Red Wing for J. Crew Classic Irish Setter, $325; jcrew.com

These are custom-fitted to your feet, so you won't go through two weeks of blistering and one week of healing before they're comfortable. And they're guaranteed for life, so you'll never buy another pair again.

White's Boots Outdoorsman, $355; whitesboots.com

Cars come with inferior jacks. You need a better one.

Because gravity. A good heavy hammer changes everything.

An electric lantern makes your campsite look cold. This one makes it look warm.

Coleman kerosene lantern, $80; coleman.com