If you watch a lot of YouTube or regularly scroll through social media feeds, you’re probably used to seeing a handful of brands show up time and time again.From minimalist wallets to bed cooling systems that promise a better night’s sleep, these products are pushed hard and at premium price points.Today we’ll have a look at some 3D-printed alternatives you can make yourself at home.
EDC wallets like The Ridge Customize your own for a fraction of the price Close This might have a lot to do with my gender, age, and what the algorithms know about me, but The Ridge Wallet has to be the most heavily promoted lifestyle brand of them all.The company shows up absolutely everywhere, from websites and social media feeds to YouTube sponsored ad reads that you can’t avoid even if you pay for Premium.The Ridge Wallet isn’t the only game in town, but it’s definitely the best-known.
These wallets are built to last, available in a wide variety of designs, and do a great job of keeping your cards and cash safe in a compact form factor.Thankfully, there are a lot of 3D-printed alternatives you can try making yourself at home.Top of the pile is version three of the The RIM Wallet, which boasts an improved design, RFID blocking capabilities, improved ergonomics, and simple assembly.
You’ll need to provide your own elastic plus some M2 4mm screws, aluminum foil (to block RFID), and some glue.The big upside to printing your own EDC wallet is that you can fully customize the design.Make it from your favorite filament (choose PETG or tougher for more resilience), pick a color, add a design, mix and match elements, and even laser engrave it when you’re done.
Check the reviews to see what others have done for some inspiration.There are some alternatives to The RIM Wallet, including a lite version.Beyond this, you should also take a look at the Ultimate Minimalist Wallet, the Slidr, and the Dovetail Wallet.
Magnetic cable mounts like those from LTT Store You can still buy a screwdriver to make up for it The LTT Store is the main storefront of the popular YouTube tech creators at Linus Media Group, best known for the Linus Tech Tips channel.The group covers varied nerdy topics like PC builds, smart home, network security, retro gaming, 3D printing, and more.On top of this, there’s a range of merchandise available.
In addition to typical YouTuber fare like t-shirts and water bottles, the company is known for designing its own products and putting a lot of time and effort into research and development.Perhaps the best-known example is the LTT screwdriver.For me, a close second is the company’s magnetic cable management clip, which you can print yourself.
While the idea is solid, the design is fairly unremarkable, so it's no surprise that 3D printing enthusiasts were quick to come up with their own.You’ll need to add your own magnets here, of course.Being able to color-match the clip with your PC case or desk design is a nice touch.
Key holder keychains like the Orbitkey Stop your keys jingling and stabbing you in your pocket Key organizers let you put all of your keys on a single holder and keep everything neatly together.When executed properly, they shouldn’t jingle loosely in your pocket or take up too much space like a traditional keyring.One of the best-known brands that does this well is Orbitkey.
Like cable management, key organizers don’t exactly represent a massive leap in product design.If you’re looking to produce your own, you have lots of options, with OrbitLock perhaps being the closest of the bunch.Simply adjust the screw length to suit the number of keys you want to hold.
Beyond this, there are alternatives like KeyHoldr and Key Organizer that do the same job with a slightly different design.Bed cooling systems like Eight Sleep Except far cheaper (and not as effective) The Eight Sleep bed cooling system is a very advanced bit of kit.It allows you to find the perfect sleeping temperature using temperature-controlled mattress toppers, blankets, pillowcases, and a “pod” controller.
You can even set two different temperatures, so that your partner can pick their own preference.The only problem is that the Eight Sleep system can cost more than a brand new mattress.If you’re an uncomfortably hot sleeper, there are cheaper ways to cool down.
The Bed Rocket is a 3D-printed ventilation system that blasts cool air into the bed between the mattress and your top sheet.The idea here is to keep you as cool as possible for minimal cost.All you need to provide is around 1KG of filament, a relatively cheap 4-inch booster duct fan, and a 5lb barbell weight to keep the system upright.
You can get this done for around $30, and even adapt it to your bed system by modifying the design as you go.The contraption has remarkably good MakerWorld reviews and is on its third iteration.Like the look of the Bed Rocket? Take a look at some other 3D printed objects you can put in the bedroom.
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