My “2020 Best Of Listicle” is over a month and a half late this year. It’s been “one of those years” and I just haven’t been as motivated as I have in the past.  Sorry about that, I’m sure you can empathize. Because of that, I’m just going to talk about a couple of things that I got in 2020 that I am happy I purchased.

The Number One Thing

The thing I purchased that I used the most in 2020 is a belt. 

Its primary function has been to hold up my pants.  It’s a good quality belt made out of steel and an FAA-approved nylon strap.  So, I suppose, if I ever had to escape from prison, and had to zip line myself down some power lines, this belt would be my choice. 

This belt is more than adequate for my daily needs.  

How I learned about this amazing belt.

I have several leather belts of varying levels of quality. One I’ve had for at least 15 years.  The leather is thick and the buckle is heavy, and the belt hasn’t changed much over the years. Unlike the belt, my thickness and heaviness have changed. I am, in fact, thicker and heavier.  

That belt no longer fits me, but I hadn’t found a good replacement.  Sure, I’ve bought new belts here and there but some were cheaply made or didn’t live up to their manufacturer’s claims.  They all eventually deform, stretch, and get a bit unruly.

Around May of 2020, I decided that I needed a new belt. I came to this conclusion after watching the dystopian science fiction zombie movie, Hostile. 

OK movie with a cool ass belt. 

According to the IMBD description, this is a movie about, “Juliette, a lone survivor of an apocalyptic era, fight(ing) to survive against hunger, thirst, a broken leg and strange disturbing creatures that only comes out at nighttime.” 

I give Caroline Di Paolo, the costume designer, kudos for giving Juliette such a practical and cool ass belt.  It’s about the only thing that stuck with me about the movie, well thinking about it I can recall a pastiche of images about an end survival scene and a few dabs about the characters and plot, and of course, the footnoted reveal at the end. 

Enough With The Wannabe Ebert Review, Tell Me More About This Belt

You might ask, if you were prone to excessive wordiness or perhaps paid a penny a word, “What assemblage of materials constitute this belt such that its presence on screen outshone other more typically captivating things?”

I guess the people in marketing would dub it, “the travelers’ belt.” It’s a nylon strap with a “lift lever buckle” that millions of passengers use every day. If you’ve sat down on an airplane seat, you’ve been forced to wrap yourself in its embrace. 

It’s a seatbelt from a commercial airliner.

This belt has no doubt been put through a rigorous amount of tests, many at taxpayer expense, to ensure its fitness for purpose. 

It should come as no surprise that it’s the easiest thing to use.  Insert one side into the other and lift the latch to release.  Simplicity itself that more than meets the demands of holding up my pants on a daily basis. 

And when people recognize what the belt is, there’s always some sort of reaction.  Usually, it’s a laugh at the wearer’s expense, but making someone laugh isn’t a bad thing. 

I purchased my “traveler’s belt” from Fly Buckle on Etsy. It cost the entirely reasonable sum of $10 with free shipping.  At that price, I don’t know how they stay in business.  And despite them being outrageously inexpensive, the customer service I received was very forgiving. I decided I had purchased the wrong size (I was a little optimistic in my waist size measurement) and they sent the next size up just for the cost of shipping. Once I got a new size and liked how it fit I ordered two more - in different colors.

Since then, I’ve had one around my waist for at least part of the day. 

The only thing that would make these belts better would be if they offered anodization or powder coating. But they are solidly made and look the same after 9 months of continuous use. 

So if you need a belt that is durable, rugged, as strong as leather but won’t stretch like leather, then this is the belt to buy.   I’m happy with mine.  

The Number Two Thing

Playstation 5. 

I managed to get one and Astro’s Playroom is great fun. Playing AAA PS4 games on it is a revelation.  Sackboy is a pleasant surprise and genuinely satisfying to play, especially if you have kids and play couch co-op games as a way to torture yourself and have fun together. 

If you can’t find one.  Don’t go out of your way or pay extra to get one.  Eventually, you’ll be able to find one.  It’s worth the wait.

The Technology of the Year Award

Canceled due to COVID - But, It Would Have Been the Oculus Quest 2 

But I also picked up an Oculus Quest 2 and paired it with the exercise app, Supernatural. You could make a plausible argument that it’s worth the price as a piece of take-anywhere exercise equipment. It also plays games and lets you effectively strap a movie screen to your face so even Netflix movies have a more cinematic feel.  It’s pretty neat and the tech will only get better.  

I purchased mine in 2021 at Best Buy using a 10% off birthday code that somehow worked on a gaming system. So it’s not eligible for 2020, but I did want to mention it since had I bought it last year, it probably would have won.