With 2026 now upon us, it’s time to look back at the purchases that made a difference. Some are practical, others are a bit indulgent, but all of them passed the ultimate test: I’d buy them again.
1. MacBook Air – Coolblue (Netherlands) – €1729.-
The most expensive thing I bought last year. But my 6-year-old Surface Book was well used up, so I had to upgrade. I went for the MacBook Air 15-inch (2025) M4 (10 CPU/10 GPU), 24GB/512GB, Midnight, QWERTY, 15,3 inch, Apple M4 24 GB.
The switch to the Apple ecosystem wasn’t as painful as I expected. In fact, it works best when you go all-in with Apple products. That’s how they get you, of course, but the result is that everything works seamlessly together. My MacBook talks to my iPad, my iPhone mirrors to my laptop, and my AirPods connect instantly. I still can’t get used to my iPhone’s lack of a back button, but being able to use my phone directly from my laptop makes up for it.
2. Moroccan Coffee – Carrefour Marrakech – 40 NOK
Right, this one’s just groceries, but hear me out.
The first night we spent at our Riad in Marrakech, we were served a wonderfully spicy, aromatic blend. I never had a ‘Christmas coffee’ or ‘Julekaffe’ in Norwegian. But I imagine it would taste like this.
It’s not an everyday coffee. The flavour is a bit too intense for a regular morning cup. But when you want something different, it’s perfect.
3. Olympic Barbell Clips – Amazon – €8,39.-
These cost less than €10 and save me a lot of frustration.
You know those metal spring clips at the gym? The ones that are always bent and require a workout of their own just to squeeze onto the bar? I got tired of fighting them. These plastic quick-release clips slide on and off in seconds. I toss them in my gym bag, and my training sessions run much more smoothly.
4. Gym Progress Journal – Amazon (Self-Published) – €12,94
Every gym journal on the market follows the same format: one workout per page. It looks organised until you’re standing at the bench trying to remember what you lifted last week. You end up flipping backwards through pages, hunting for that one number.
This journal solves this by presenting multiple sessions in a single view. Each exercise gets its own row; your training sessions go across the columns. Your progression history is right there. No flipping. No guessing.
Yes, I’m biased; I made this one myself. But that’s just because I couldn’t find what I needed anywhere else.
I’ve written about why paper beats apps for gym tracking and how this system helped me break through plateaus I’d been stuck at for years. The results? In 12 months: bench press +14.5kg, barbell row +21.6kg, overhead press +13.6kg.
Tip for Norway-based readers: Norway doesn’t charge VAT on imported books, so no surprises when ordering from Amazon Germany.
5. Leather Travel Journal – Amazon – €33,50
I take most of my notes digitally these days, handwritten on my iPad with the Apple Pencil, so nothing gets lost and everything becomes searchable. But sometimes paper is king.
When travelling, I want to disconnect. Bringing an iPad or laptop defeats the purpose of the trip for me. A physical notebook lets me capture experiences, jot down memories, and gather material for the blog without the temptation of notifications or the cold glow of a screen.
This particular journal from Newestor is refillable, comes with multiple inserts, and has a lovely aesthetic. Great value for money, and it’ll probably last me years.
6. Hydro Flask Insulated Shaker Bottle – Amazon – €47,24
Nothing ruins a post-workout moment quite like a lukewarm protein shake. This insulated shaker keeps drinks cold for hours, which makes a genuine difference when you’re mixing up your shake before leaving for the gym.
The Hydro Flask is the best in its class. It doubles as a coffee flask for the commute, cleans easily, and feels built to last. Not cheap, but worth it.
7. Dehydrator – Finn.no – 200 NOK
I don’t use it often, but every time I do, I enjoy it. There’s something creative and satisfying about dehydrating and storing food.
I’ve made turmat (dehydrated meals) for hiking trips, dried fruit for healthy snacks, and I’m planning to experiment with making tea blends from dried fruits and herbs. The possibilities are surprisingly broad once you start thinking about it.
My only complaint is that this cheaper model has plastic drying racks. Given my stance on reducing plastic contact with food, I’d like to upgrade to a more professional unit with metal racks at some point.
8. Savotta Keikka 50L Bag – Savotta.fi – €209,95
I use this Finnish-made 50L duffel as my gym bag, which is admittedly overkill. It’s designed as a multipurpose travel bag, not fitness gear. But hear me out.
This thing swallows everything: clips, resistance bands, dip belt, towel, notebook, chalk, snacks, water bottle, climbing shoes; the lot. The build quality is exceptional, and the design is endlessly practical with multiple carry options and attachment points. Luckily, my gym is spacious, so I’m not annoying anyone by hauling this beast around.
9. KitchenAid Artisan Stand Mixer – Finn.no – 2500NOK
Here’s a tip: right after Christmas is the perfect time to buy a KitchenAid second-hand. People upgrade to bigger or fancier models as gifts, and their old ones hit the market at great prices. These machines last for decades, so buying a model that’s a few years old is no risk at all.
I also picked up the ice cream maker attachment, and the whole set cost less than half the retail price.
What were your best purchases of 2025? Let me know in the comments.
None of these products are sponsored. I bought everything with my own money, and nobody asked me to write about them. Well, except maybe the gym journal, but since I made that one myself, I suppose I’m sponsoring myself 🙂
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