What's the best backpack to use for my jog to work in the morning?

Does anybody have a recommendation an app to help my first grader improve her spelling abilities?

Where can I find a high quality visual dictionary?

Please help me convert bookmarks into easily searchable tags!

Have an answer? Let us know!

It has been awhile since our last Ask Cool Tools update, and since then we've had a bunch of questions posted that need your expertise!

What's the easiest way to add GPS data to photographs?

What are some of the best DIY resources for solar power at home?

What's the best folding bike for casual riders?

Help me find a better glue gun!

What blood pressure monitor should I get?

What's the best poster or document storage tube for travel?

In the past we've highlighted an astonishing array of useful books that covered topics ranging from bioremediation to underground home building to fermentation. These books are tools because they not only help us learn but also put knowledge to use.

Help us fortify our library of useful books by submitting your favorite text for a particular subject including an explanation of why you think it's essential. We want to feature that dog-eared book that you wouldn't lend to a friend for fear you wouldn't get it back. It can be the best beginner's guide, or a slightly more advanced technical manual detailing materials or techniques. If you can, please include scans of pages that we can use to illustrate the book's content. This has been done before but never with any insight or explanation of what makes the book useful or cool.

What's the essential book for carpenters? Metalsmiths? Landscape designers? Tailors or seamstresses? What about information design? Or sous vide? Tanning or taxidermy? Home brewing? Car repair? Bicycle frame building? The list goes on and on.

Every trade and hobby has their own bible, and we want to identify and collect them all in one place so that others may benefit.

Submit your recommendation (or request) here, post it in the comments below, or feel free to email it to editor@cool-tools.org.

What's the best cheese grater for arthritic hands?

Which PDA has the best basic functions?

What's the most realistic driving simulator?

Do you have recommendations for a product that can help me strengthen my nails?

What's the best combined bag for a laptop and clothes for 5-6 days of travelling?

What kind of wireless light switches should I get?

Is there a better way to cut plastic food wrap or aluminum foil?

How can I stretch my shoes to fit my wide (EE+) feet?

What's the best bloatware free scanner that would work well to scan artwork?

What's the best smoke alarm?

Look for a specific tool? Have a question you need answered? Head over to Ask Cool Tools!

--OH

There are now over 3,000 reviews of great stuff on Cool Tools. In an effort to make that abundance more useful we've selected the best recommendations in a narrow field, updated the info, and formatted the reviews into a handy ebook. We are releasing the first of those ebooks today, as Cool Tools in the Kitchen: Things We Recommend. This collection of the best of Cool Tools was edited and updated by Steven Leckart, who formerly edited this Cool Tools website, and was designed and engineered in partnership with O'Reilly Publishers.

Steven Leckart picked out the best 80 kitchen-related tools you might not know about, updated their reviews and ordering information, and stuffed them into a very portable epub format for quick browsing. He also added a sprinkling of food-tool related tips. The book resurrects from the archives some great old kitchen tools that are still great, and brings together some speciality tools that few will need, but everyone should know about (almost just as important). I found it a great refresher course to flick through this collection of highly-evolved tools, reminding me of tools I had forgotten, and suggesting others that would make a great gift for someone else.

It costs $6. Yes, you can root through the archives of Cool Tools for free and eventually find all these, but for this modest price you get a carefully curated, winnowed, and updated serving of great tools specific for food lovers, cooks, kitchen mavens, and anyone who loves well-designed stuff. And you can screen it on a tablet or phone.

This ebook can be viewed on any device which takes the common epub format. It has been optimized for iBooks on the iPad, but it can be screened on your computer, Nooks, and with the appropriate readers, iPhones, Android phones, and iPads. We plan to do other ebooks such as Cool Tools for the Outdoors, or the Workshop, assuming folks find this one useful.

Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone and gift buying has gone into overdrive it's about time we announced our Cool Tools Gift Guide Contest. In previous years (2008, 2009, 2010) we've had people list what great tools they were buying as presents in the comments. This year we are offering two prizes from our prize pool for the two best reviews: the first for the best review of a new tool, and the second for the best update or re-review of an older tool in our archive. Given that Cool Tools has been around for eight years there are plenty of fantastic gifts and tool reviews already tucked away that need updating, and we want to hear what you think deserves to be highlighted again this year!

So what cool tools are you going to be giving as presents this year? Tell us what you're giving, and why. It can be anything useful, playful, or practical; but always cool. We want to know your gift ideas, and will be publishing the best new and updated reviews in a guide that we will publish in early December.

Remember, a great Cool Tool review consists of the following five parts with an extra for good measure:

1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things,
5) why we should believe you,
6) and why you're giving it as a gift

Submissions (submit as many as you'd like) will be accepted until Tuesday, December 8th, and the winners will be announced later that week. So tell us what you love to give and why!

And a hearty congratulations to Matthew Perks for his winning review of Fatwood for the Fall and Winter Tools Contest.

Don't forget to submit to the Fall and Winter tools contest ending this week.

So far we've gotten great reviews for a better way to rake leaves, an easy way to deice your car window, a chainsaw sharpener, and non-slip boots. What tools will you be depending on this fall and winter? Let us know!

-- oliver

With the arrival of November has come the occasional draft through my as-of-yet unsealed windows. As the temperatures begin to drop, and as the first frosts and snowfalls inevitably begin to fall it feels about right to have another Cool Tools contest.

What are the tools you depend on through fall and winter? What do you use to insulate your house? Have you found the best way to rake and bag leaves? Or the tools to winterize your vehicle (snow tires, chains, wiper blades)? Do you have tips and tricks about how to stay warm as the mercury plunges? What about the most energy efficient indoor heater? We want to hear about all these things and more!

As usual, the author of the most publishable review gets to select a prize from the Prize Pool and will be published the following week. So tell us what you love!

Remember, a great Cool Tool review is a story that includes the following five parts:
1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.

For some inspiration here are some seasonally inspired tool reviews to get you started:

Sno Wovel
Sno Boss Snow Pusher
Fantastic Ice Scraper
Pawz Dog Boots
Tilley Winter Hats
Neos Overshoes

-- oliver

What are the best rechargeable batteries (and charger)?

Where can I find a good mechanical timer?

What's the best, most cost-effective, way to soundproof a ceiling?

What's the best method to insure valuables while travelling abroad?

What's the quietest ceiling fan for someone who's sensitive to noise?

Where can I find a lay-flat keychain compass?

What should I have in a tool kit I keep in my car?

What's the best tree identification guide?

What is the best storage system for a small apartment?

Don't forget to check out a bunch more questions and answers over at Ask Cool Tools.

What are the best tools for keeping my desk/workspace organized?

Where can I find high-quality kitchen hoppers for bulk dry goods?

What are some good resources for someone who doesn't have a ton of coding experience but is interested in developing an iOS application?

Help me find a better recycling bin

Have a question or answer to add? Post it at Ask Cool Tools!

-- oliver hulland, editor, cool tools

Last week's set of questions received some superb answers, including a range of excellent desk chair options, a plethora of slow-cookers and cookbooks, and advice on how to get bike grease out of my clothes.

Can you answer any of this week's questions?

What's the best powered-USB Hub?

What wireless headphones would be good to wear while exercising?

I need a good rack for storing and sorting papers of all sizes in my home office, but all the ones I've found so far are absurdly expensive. What should I be looking for?

Keep the answers coming!

--oliver

From trash cans to desk chairs, this week's set of unanswered questions covers the gamut.

What's the best inexpensive desk chair? Are there good alternatives besides standing?

Is there a really great microscope that can easily take and display pictures for a classroom setting?

How do I get ink out of my clothes?

What's the best home safe for storing valuables? What should I consider?

Where can I find a solid raccoon-proof trash can?

Do you have a question you need answered? Drop by Ask Cool Tools!

We have some great unanswered questions over at Ask Cool Tools this week, and I have a feeling that the Cool Tools community has more than a few answers.

What's the best hand pump for ridding a basement of water post-Hurricane Irene?

Where can I find a push button pump vacuum flask for easy tea-making while at work?

Is there an alarm clock out there that has a hand-crank for emergency power-outages? Alternatively, is there a hand-crank power source I can use to charge USB-devices like a cell phone?

What's the best 16:9 movie projector screen?

What essential equipment should I have in my home gym?

--oliver hulland, editor, cool tools

Congratulations to Ethan Fardoux and Christopher Wanko, winners of the Ask Cool Tools Contest. Ethan's request for the best everyday backpack was the most popular question garnering nearly 2,000 views and an astonishing 23 answers, while Christopher's recommended use of colored rubber bands was voted the best solution for managing disorganized electronics cables.

Given the success of this contest we will definitely be holding something like this again in the near future. But for now, can you answer any of these questions?

What is the best way to fix a broken zipper?

What are the best remote classes for developing graphic design skills?

What is a good resource for historical stock price data?

What's a good supplementary power source for an iPhone?

What's the best backpacking compass? Orienteering how-to?

We have a bunch of new questions over at Ask Cool Tools that are in need of some answers. Seeing how the Ask Cool Tools contest will run until Wednesday, answering one one of these questions may win you a prize.

Can you answer any of these questions?

What's the best solid, simple every-day backpack?

What are the best headphones for running?

What is a good electric razor that will minimize cuts?

What's the best 3D-printer for hobbyists?

Is there a good introductory book on nanotechnology or associated disciplines?

What is the best way to label and organize electronic device cables and chargers?

How do I unkink and untwist an extension cord?

Be sure to check out all the other questions and contribute your own for a chance to win something from our prize pool!

-- Oliver Hulland, Editor, Cool Tools

The Cool Tools community has already displayed an incredible amount of knowhow and expertise over at Ask Cool Tools. In order to reward those who continue to contribute, we are holding a contest looking for the best individual question and the best individual answer. That's right, you can win a prize by asking a question, and by answering one. Furthermore, there is no limit to the number of questions or answers you can contribute as long as you follow the guidelines found in the FAQ.

The contributor with the most popular question and the contributor with the most voted answer will get to pick any prize from the Cool Tools prize pool. The winners will be decided next Wednesday, August 3rd at 12:00 PM PST.

For the past ten years Cool Tools has recommended one cool tool per weekday. Despite the thousands of tools reviewed, we still move slowly relative to all the options that are out there. But what if you need a specific tool recommendation now and don't want to wait until we get around to it?

Ask Cool Tools! That's the name of our reader-generated, crowd-sourced, community-based recommendation service. On the front page of the Cool Tools site you see a new column which will link you to the Ask Cool Tool section.

Here you'll see the questions that folks have already asked, the answers to date, and the places where you can ask your questions. What kind of questions? Well, mostly along the lines of: I am trying to accomplish X, what's the best tool? Or I need this kind of tool Y, what's the best brand? Or, I have tool Z, are there any tips on using it? Or, simply, how do I accomplish X?

Answers are supplied by you and the community. It's sort of like the comments section, but instead of being relegated to a published tool, anyone can start a request. More details are explained in the FAQ.

This is a beta version. There will be some rough edges. Suggestions for ways to improve are requested. Send them to us, editor@cool-tools.org.

We think Ask Cool Tools is itself a pretty cool tool.

-- KK

Self-trackers use tools like body weight scales to record and examine their lives in numbers. Recent developments in self-tracking technology has encouraged a renaissance of personal science and experimentation; all kinds of personal dimensions can be tracked -- from mood, to sleep, to location, etc. Those pioneers figuring out how to quantify their life are part of the Quantified Self movement, tracked by our sister site, Quantified Self. The first Quantified Self Conference will take place in a few weeks and it promises to be a seminal event.

Although the Conference (May 28 and 29, in Mountain View, CA) is almost sold out, Cool Tools will award one free ticket (valued at $399) as a prize this coming week for the best suggestion of a quantified self-tracking tool.

In particular, we are looking for the best self-tracking hardware (we will still accept reviews of software but you are going to have to really convince us why it's better than the copious competition). For inspiration, the following is a list of potential reviews we would be interested in: Ant+ enabled scales or tools, a better calorie counter, a wireless vitals monitor, an improved sleep tracker, an updated energy consumption monitor, productivity tools, etc.

If you don't have any self-tracking tools to review but are still interested in winning a ticket to the conference send us a review of a tool you think should qualify you and explain why.

As usual, we are looking for the following in a review:

1) a succinct narrative description of what the tool/tip/fix is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run it,
4) why it is superior, and
5) why we should believe you.

Submissions will be accepted for one week until Friday, May 20th. Reviews can be submitted through email to editor@cool-tools.org or through this link.

-- Oliver Hulland, Editor, Cool Tools

When things break down it's not likely you'll have the tools needed to make a perfect fix. That's why for this week's contest we are looking for quick fixes. These aren't meant to be perfect, but rather stop-gaps that will let you get by until you have the resources needed for a longer term solution.

Send us your tools, tips, and accumulated know-how that allow for quick fixes when things break down. For this contest we have a special prize pack graciously contributed by Jane ni Dhulchaointigh, inventor of the quick-fix wonder-material Sugru. The winner of the Quick Fix Contest will receive three Smart Hacks Super Packs of Sugru, and a special Maker themed T-Shirt. Runner up will receive their own Sugru Super Pack. Be sure to check out Sugru's gallery of uses for inspiration.

There is no limit to how many tools, tips, and quick fixes you can submit, but remember to keep the following five parts in mind:

1) a succinct description of what the tool/tip/fix is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run it,
4) why it is superior, and
5) why we should believe you.

Submissions will be accepted until Wednesday, May 11th. This time the author of the most publishable tool/tip/fix will receive three Sugru Super Packs (or, if they'd like somethin else they can choose what they'd like from the Prize Pool).

For inspiration, here are some previously reviewed Quick Fix Cool Tools:
Gorilla Tape
Shoe Goo
Superglue Stitches
Tongue Depressors

Get fixing!

-- Oliver Hulland, Editor, Cool Tools

The tools you have with you are the ones that are going to get used, and so it is with great pleasure that we are announcing our newest contest seeking the best everyday carry (EDC) tools.

The diversity of tools that people carry with them whether on keychains, in pockets and/or bags never ceases to astonish. From Moleskines to Leathermen, and flashlights to Buffs, the shear number of tools we have to choose from is overwhelming. That's where you come in.

Send us reviews of your everyday carry tools, and explain why they have made the cut. There is no limit to how many you can include, and feel free to submit EDC tools from specific situations like camping or biking. Just remember every tool should be reviewed with the following five parts in mind:

1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.

Submissions will be accepted until Tuesday, April 19th. As usual, the author of the most publishable review gets to select a prize from the Prize Pool and will be published the following week. So tell us all about the tools you have with you when it counts!

For inspiration, here are some previously reviewed EDC Cool Tools:
Split-Pea Lighter
Credit Card Survival Tool
Fisher Bullet Space Pen
Nite Ize S-Biner
Utili-Key

Good Luck!

-- Oliver Hulland, Editor, Cool Tools

Now that Android and iOS smartphones have matured and given rise to a robust application marketplace, it is about time we hold a contest to identify the most useful mobile applications that qualify as Cool Tools.

We are seeking reviews of the best and most useful apps out there. Seeing as how there are so many (over 300,000 in iOS alone) we only want the absolute best. As long as you think its useful or have found that it has somehow improved your life, we want to hear about it.

Remember, a great review consists of the following five parts:
1) a succinct description of what the application does,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.

We will be accepting entries until Friday February 18th. The author of the best and most compelling review gets to select a prize from the Prize Pool and will be published the following week. So tell us what applications you are using, and why they rock!

For an idea of what we are looking for in an application check out some previous reviews:
Anki
Cyclemeter
How to Cook Everything
Evernote

In the two years since commenting was turned on at Cool Tools nearly 12,000 comments have been posted. It has become abundantly clear that this enormous outpouring of advice, expertise, and dialogue represents one of the site's best features.

But since launch we have also heard time and time again that the commenting system posed some problems while lacking what many considered to be critical features. The CAPTCHA system often lead to multiple postings. It was hard to track comments over time. And many noted that it was impossible to edit any comments after they were posted (without, that is, an editor going in and editing them for you).

In order to resolve these problems we are, as of today, switching to a new commenting system called Disqus. Over the past year Disqus has shown itself to be one of the most stable, easy to use, and friendly commenting systems throughout the web. It affords users the options of signing in through multiple platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and OpenID, while also allowing for anonymous commenting for those who don't want to sign in. In addition to new ways of logging in, commenters will now be able to easily reply to a given comment, favorite comments they believe offer the best solution, and track comments over time. These are but a few of the fantastic features we hope will improve the conversation here at Cool Tools.

As with anything new there are bound to be some hiccups. But we believe that the added functionality will be worth the trouble. That being said if you see an area that needs improving, or if you notice something that is not working please don't hesitate in contacting us so we can get it fixed right way.

Here's looking to the next 12,000 comments.

Oliver Hulland
Editor, Cool Tools

We recently received several reader requests seeking recommendations for:

• The best windshield ice scraper
• The best affordable bike pump

If you have any recommendations or requests don't hesitate in emailing me at editor (at) cool-tools.org or use the submission form.

-- OH

If you are going to give a gift why not make it a useful one? What tools or tool-ish gifts will you be giving this holiday season? Share with us your favorite utilitarian gifts by sending us a description and link. We'll award the best review a prize from the prize pool.

We'll be assembling a running list of the best gift ideas, so submit as many gift ideas as you would like.

Remember, a great Cool Tool review consists of the following five parts with an extra for good measure:
1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things,
5) why we should believe you,
6) and why you're giving it as a gift

Submissions will be accepted until Monday December 4th 6th, and the winner will be announced that week. So tell us what you love to give, or leave a recommendation in the comments!

Oliver Hulland
Editor, Cool Tools

Here at Cool Tools we love things that really work. But what happens when a great tool ceases to function? Do you just throw it away and buy a new one? Given how expensive this can be it is often a better investment to find a company that stands behind their product for life.

For example, I recently had a great experience with Patagonia. I bought an expensive ice climbing jacket from them several years ago. It was my favorite jacket: light, windproof, water resistant, and warm. But in the past year I found it no longer blocked the wind effectively, and didn't fare well in the elements. So I wrote to Patagonia, and asked what they could do about it. They asked me to send in my jacket for inspection along with a list of what I felt were suitable replacements. Within two weeks they had sent me a brand new jacket that is as nice if not nicer than the one I originally owned.

This kind of commitment is admirable in any company and I believe deserves to be rewarded. So we at Cool Tools are asking our readers to submit companies with stellar customer service, lifetime warranties, and a commitment to their products. Have you ever been impressed by a company's customer service or warranty? If so, we want to hear about it.

Help us compile a list of great companies so that we can make informed decisions and support those that stand behind their products. Leave your recommendations and stories in the commentssubmit them through this link, or send us an email at editor@cool-tools.org.

Here are a few to get the list started:

Patagonia- Yvon Chouinard's company honors an Iron-Clad Guarantee. Simply call customer service or drop into a store in order to get your product repaired or replaced.

REI- The legendary no questions asked return policy is one of the biggest reasons why I shop at REI. It gives me the confidence to try out new tools, and is well worth the slight premium you pay over other online retailers.

Costco- Costco has a fantastic lifetime return policy that has unfortunately been abused by many. The updated policy sets a 90-day limit for returns on high-end electronics, but almost everything else you can purchase in store is covered.

LL Bean- My parents recently returned a set of 10-year old luggage to LL Bean because of malfunctioning zippers. Customer service credited them the full purchase price within minutes. Needless to say, my parents are life-time LL Bean customers.

Starting this week, the user-written cool tool reviews which appear here every weekday will also appear on the Boing Boing blog a few hours later. We are doing this to increase the exposure of Cool Tools to a larger audience. This parallel run will not change either the appearance or frequency of the reviews here. If you are a regular reader of this blog, everything will look the same and you don’t have to do anything.

The one change we do hope we’ll notice is an increase in submissions of suggestions and an increase in the quality of great tools posted. That is really the only reason why we are extending the content in this way. There may be a few Boing Boing readers who previously came here to read Cool Tools but won’t any longer because they can now do that from the comfort of BB. But we are hoping they will stop by here to comment, and to suggest better things. All comments for Cool Tools will run on this site, and not on BB, so you can expect new users in the comments. Be polite. Remember, you can insult tools, but not people. We’ll be policing the comments for civility as always.

But why Boing Boing? Why we are partnering with the Happy Mutants instead of another potential site? Because of our parallel origins.

I started Cool Tools ten years ago. This collection of “tools that really work” began as a special issue of a magazine I used to edit, Whole Earth Review. Whole Earth Review, an outgrowth of Whole Earth Catalogs, was a completely user-supported publication, written mostly by readers, and paid for by readers, without the support, or interference, of advertising. In the 1970s, 80s, and early 90s this user-generated publication reviewed great tools for do-it-yourselfers, but over the years after I left it, it eventually mostly reviewed books. I decided to give the magazine one last go by guest-editing an issue dedicated entirely to cool tools. So on my own I polled my friends and gathered up about a hundred reviews and great recommendations. I used the new-at-that-time tool of InDesign to lay out the pages myself, and after scanning in photographic images (I did not have a digital camera at the time), I prepared 80 pages of the magazine, ready to be printed. (Years earlier when I was editing the magazine it took a crew of 7 to accomplish the same.) The result of my do-it-yourself efforts appeared as the Winter 2000 (#103) issue of Whole Earth Review. I followed up that issue with an email list among my friends, emailing out new cool tools whenever a friend suggested one. The core of that set became the first items posted on this blog, originally named Recomendo, later renamed Cool Tools. Today there are about 2,100 items reviewed on this site.

To keep things interesting in that first issue ten years ago, I mixed in a few longer essays of “cool stuff.” One of the short articles I included was a reported piece by Mark Frauenfelder, called “Blogging.” Mark not only wrote the piece but illustrated it as well:

In his piece, Mark eagerly introduced this new technology with an ugly name. He explained why blogs were useful, why you might one to start one, and how you would go about it. Mark was frustrated because he had tried to sell his piece on the leading edge to other magazines during a crazy period (1999) when technology magazines were 300 pages fat and desperate for content. Yet they all rejected this piece on blogging -- whatever that was -- as too “fringe.” To be honest I had never heard of blogs either and in my introduction I wrote that “it is hard to tell whether this is a trivial exploitation [of the web], or profound.” Mark worked with me at Wired, and so I had long ago learned to follow him wherever he goes. I was betting that if Mark found it significant it would be. I wrote in the introduction that Mark “has a great track record for uncovering street uses of technology that later play out huge.” Boy was I right, or rather, was Mark right. Blogs went from fringe to mainstream almost overnight.

Shortly after he wrote this piece, Mark took his own advice and started a blog. He resurrected the idea for a paper magazine he and his wife ran for a few years, but then cancelled, called bOING bOING. They turned the ‘zine into a blog. (I was a fan of the ‘zine bOING bOING and was so impressed by Mark that I hired him for Wired.) Boing Boing the blog quickly transcended the limited success of the paper magazine, and in fact proved that once again Mark has seen the future coming.

So in a kind of lopsided circle, we’ve gone from Whole Earth, to Boing Boing on paper, to Wired, to Cool Tools, to Boing Boing blog, to Cool Tools blog, and now back to Boing Boing and Cool Tools. For all I know Mark Frauenfelder may see something very important going on here, but for me, this is merely a chance to increase the audience for Cool Tools. At its simplest Cool Tools is a venue for fans to rave about their favorite tools, tips, and gadgets (in the broadest sense of utility). We only run -- and will only run -- great reviews about great stuff (why waste your time on anything else?). The items we run have been used by real folks with real experience, vetted by editors, and presented in an easy-to-digest one item per day. This formula has worked for ten years. I think it can go another ten years. Welcome BoingBoingers!

For Mark's side of this circular story see his parallel post on Boing Boing.

We love tools that work. Unfortunately, there are times when a tool simply doesn't exist. Or there are times when the tool you need isn't on hand, so you have to improvise.

Our newest contest is a search for the best home-brewed tools out there. We want to discover the many creative ways our readers have responded to problems by creating their own tools and hacks. You could be using a tool for something other than it's original purpose. Or, as the name implies, it could be something you have made yourself for a problem only you have ever encountered. We are looking for creative solutions to any and all dilemmas, whether they be everyday or once-in-a-lifetime.

Send us a description of your favorite DIY Cool Tool you have discovered/made and used, and explain why it is so great. Bonus points for reviews that come with a set of instructions so other readers can try it out at home. Include all relevant information including supplies, instructions, prices, pictures and anything else you feel might be useful for others to know about.

Remember, A great Cool Tool review consists of the following five parts:
1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.
and a special DIY-themed
6) how do you make it

Here are some previously reviewed DIY- Cool Tools:
Hands-Free Phone-Interview Setup
Vinegar
Pepsi Can Stove
Oven Stick

You don't have to be the original inventor of the DIY-tool to submit the idea, but please give credit where credit is due. Finally, don't limit yourself. Feel free to be creative with your interpretation of what qualifies.

Submissions will be accepted until Monday, September 6th. As usual, the author of the most publishable review gets to select a prize from the Prize Pool and will be published the following week. Get your DIY thinking caps on and tell us what you love!

Good Luck!

Given the success of the two contests we held earlier this spring, we have decided to continue the tradition and are pleased to announce our third Cool Tools contest.

Now that summer is finally upon us many of you are no doubt preparing to head into the wilds. Whether you are hiking, backpacking, or car-camping, having the right tools at hand is of the utmost importance. That is why our third Cool Tools contest is seeking reviews of indispensable tools you use while hiking, backpacking, or camping (or preparing to do any of those things).

Send us a recommendation of a cool tool you have used while exploring the great outdoors (or even your backyard), and include a bit about your experience using it, and why others might want to know about it. We are looking for tools that are tried and true; submissions should be for tools that the reviewer has been using for a while, the longer the better.

The world of camping/hiking/backpacking is overwhelmed with new products every year. Here at Cool Tools we aren't necessarily interested in those products that shave off an ounce or two but cost a fortune (unless, of course, you can justify the added cost). We are interested in utility and how the tool improves your experience. Also, don't limit yourself to tools you use in the woods; we are also interested in books, websites, or sources that have improved your outdoors experience.

Remember, A great Cool Tool review consists of the following five parts:
1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.

The author of the most publishable review gets to select a prize from the Prize Pool and will be published the following week. So tell us what you love!

Previously reviewed backpacking/hiking/camping tools include:
Fiskars Pruning Saw
Guyot Designs Squishy Bowls
Gossamer Whisper Uberlight Pack
Sierra Designs 1- Person Tent
Free Topo Maps
Allen and Mike's Really Cool Backpackin' Book

For the past year Elon Schoenholz has expertly managed the flow of reviews on Cool Tools while he worked as a professional photographer. Recently Elon took on a full-time editorial position at a museum which precludes his ability to moonlight any longer at Cool Tools. Today will be Elon's last posting. Under Elon's editorship Cool Tools found and evaluated high quality but little known items, as it has done for seven years now. Finding the right combination of useful and appropriate is a tricky feat, but Elon fully "got" what Cool Tools is about. It was always a joy to see what he would turn up each week from the reader submissions and his own network of makers and doers. Thanks, Elon.

The stream must go on, so I would like to introduce the next editor of Cool Tools, Oliver Hulland. Oliver is a well-rounded enthusiast who has worked as a glassblowing instructor, an environmental educator, a commercial photo assistant, and a stern-man on a lobster boat off the coast of Maine. And he has contributed to Cool Tools. Beginning next week Oliver will curate, edit, vet, and select your cool tool reviews. If you have been using something you find yourself raving to friends about, send that rave to Oliver. He can be reached at editor@cool-tools.org. As always, tell us what you love.

The winner of the Cool Tools Enthusiast Sources Contest is David Zicarelli who submitted a well-written review of a cool, but little-known (to us) source for DIY hobbyists. His review will run shortly. Many other solid reviews of cool tools were also submitted and some of them will be posted in future days.

Indeed, we are so encouraged by the quality of the recommendations that we are running another contest this week. We seek suggestions for:

Little Known Rental Tools

One of the best kept secrets about tools is that you can easily rent a fantastic variety of them. There are a number of reasons to rent, rather than buy, a tool: to complete a one-time job, to try out a new kind of tool, to use a big tool you don't have space to store, or to avoid having to maintain it.

But folks don't take advantage of rentals as much as they should because they are often unaware of what can be rented.

Send us a recommendation of a cool tool you have rented, with a bit about your experience in using it, and why others might want to know about it. Rental tools are one case where esoteric matters. These are tools you don't need to buy, but do need to know exist and are rentable.

The author of the most publishable review (if any) gets to select one prize from the Prize Pool.

-- KK

Cool Tools is offering a prize to the person who submits the best review of an Enthusiast Source. Let's call it The Enthusiast Sources Contest.

Before the web, knowledgeable buyers shopped with mail order catalogs. You could sit at home and purchase all kinds of merchandise rarely seen in your neighborhood shops or mall stores. These specialty mail order stores usually catered to niche customers, offering cool things for every type of hobbyist and enthusiast. The major problem was finding these cool catalogs in the first place. Usually a friend of a friend had to introduce you to one.

Today, of course, websites have replaced mail order catalogs. But while search engines have made finding a prospective niche store a little easier, it still sometimes requires a recommendation of a friend to find an esoteric or reliable source.

I am looking for the best sources for enthusiasts. These online sources would be the best website that offers a deep selection in a very narrow field, with fair prices and service. Often (but not always) these specialty stores are also valuable sources for information, community, advice, and tips. There are many online forums where enthusiasts hash out preferences and brag about their gear. On the other hand some Enthusiast Sources are simply extremely knowledgeable vendors who cater to enthusiasts.

I am seeking reviews by folks who patronize an Enthusiast Source. For the next week I will offer a prize for the best recommendation submitted to Cool Tools. An ideal recommendation of an Enthusiast Web Source will tell us why this source is superior to anything else out there and why we should believe you. Really, why is this source any better than 3 or 4 others?

Winners can select a prize from our Prize Pool. Assuming this works out, I'll run contests for other kinds of cool tools in future weeks. As usual all published reviews are edited and fact checked. If no submitted reviews are publishable, no prize will be awarded for that week.

A great Cool Tool review consists of the following five parts:
1) a succinct description of what the tool is,
2) how it changed your behavior,
3) why Cool Tools should run the item,
4) why it is superior to other things, and
5) why we should believe you.

Also the item needs to be easily available, with a link. Extra points awarded for little known sources.

Over the years Cool Tools has reviewed a number of Enthusiast Sources. Here are a few to give you an idea of what we aim looking for. (Don't bother submitting these since we already know about them.)

Peaceful Valley -- Serious small farm and large garden tools and supplies
Chinook Medical -- Medical supplies for first aid and search and rescue
X-Treme Geek -- Tools for techies
Eagle Optics -- All scopes, and binoculars
Small Parts -- Unusual materials in small quantities
Micro-Mark -- Model-makers and miniatures
Plastruct - Materials for models
Elemental Scientific -- Chemicals in small quantities
Ben Meadows -- Heavy duty forestry supplies
Tire Rack -- Automobile tires
Fire Mountain Gems -- gems, beads and jewelry
Cabela's -- Outdoor recreational and outdoor living gear
Gempler's -- Outdoor work gear
Uline -- Industrial, janitorial, and maintenance supplies
Harbor Freight -- Cheap tools
Lehman's -- Old-fashion household appliances and tools
Gohn Bros. -- Amish clothes and goods
Dick Blick -- Art supplies
Japan Woodworker -- Japanese woodworking tools

But what about the best Enthusiast Source for?:

Quilting
Salt water aquariums
Cooking gear
Bicycles
Kites
Natural dyes
Electronic parts
Puppet makers
Radio controlled airplanes
Horse riding
Beekeeping
Weaving stuff
International maps
Travel gear
Old house hardware
Pottery making
Health supplies
Car gear

Or your own favorite hobby or enthusiasm.

Tell us what you love. Prize for the best new review this next week.

-- KK

So many useful things around my house arrived via the personal recommendations posted by Cool Tools. But the "staff" of Cool Tools is not limited to the staff listed on the About page. That's where you come in. We'd like your recommendations.

Here are a few things we are currently looking for:

The ultimate walker for an elderly person?
A decent vacuum-cooking cookbook for amateurs?
The best digital wildlife trail monitor camera?
Is there a product available that uses WI-FI to connect a desktop hard drive to a stereo? The previously reviewed Roku Soundbridge did, but is no longer available.

Best inflatable kayak?
Cheap hair analysis for heavy metals?
Affordable, high-functioning walkie talkies?
Racquet stringing machine?
Best time accounting software/website?
Best (cheapest/most efficient) dimmable CFL replacement for a 60-watt tungsten bulb
What's the best guide to internet radio? A site, blog or forum where various internet radio stations are reviewed, compared, and recommended. Not just listings of links.
Best intro to beekeeping book?
Best fiction podcast?

Have you used/read and can you recommend the following, or something comparable that's superior?

Drill Doctor
Cobrahead gardening tool
Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle
Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth?

Or anything else you can heartily recommend from your own personal experience. If you love something you'd love others to know about as well, write me. (If you are feeling extremely helpful you might want to check the Cool Tools archive to make sure we haven't already featured it.)

If you're not already a subscriber receiving our weekly e-mail with five new tool recommendations every week, sign up and submit your recommendation. For a broader perspective of this site's tool philosophy, I recommend this essay. Tell us what you use to open up possibilities, save money, make stuff, live better.

-- es (elon {at} schoenholz dot com)

The "staff" of Cool Tools is not limited to the staff listed on the About page. That's where you come in. We'd like your recommendations.

Has anyone used a Gigapan Epic for making a composite panorama? Or a better tool?

Does anyone recommend the Makerbot 3D printer?

Best overall vegan cookbook?

Looking for comparative reviews of LiveMocha vs Rosetta Stone and other language learning sites. Someone who has tried more than one system.

Is there a reliable Ask Dr. Weil for pets? A sort of online vet answer place for non-dog and cats pets?

Where's a good place for glass making supplies?

You can leave your recommendations in the comments below, or better yet e-mail:
elon {at} schoenholz dot com

We want to hear from you again. Tell us about a book you've read, a website you've visited, or a hand tool you've been using. It might be something that's opened up possibilities, introduced a new skill set, helped you make something, in any realm of your life.

Specifically we've had inquiries about the following:

What's the best guide to internet radio? A site, blog or forum where various internet radio stations are reviewed, compared, and recommended. Not just listings of links.

Have you used Shapeways and do you recommend them?

Have you used both Black & Decker's Ready Wrench and Sears' Dogbone Wrench, and can you compare them?

What's the best compact/folding shovel?

What's the best lightweight/packable down jacket?

Collapsible silicon colander?

Best book/website on seed saving?

Best guide to barefoot running?

What's the best introductory video site for learning origami?

Have you used and can you recommend the Travel Mate?

Cool Tools and other blogs on my site have been targeted by hackers. A few days ago they succeeded in inserting invisible links to other sites with malware apps. When that happens visitors to any pages on kk.org can get a warning from Google or their browser that this site, kk.org, may be infected. We've spent the last two days going through the site and did not find any virus, or malware, though there were links to another site with malware on the "iframes" of our pages. These were removed within a few hours of detection a few days ago, but visitors may still get a warning because it takes time for browser filters to update. I apologize for the alarm and hassle. We are working with the server host, blog software, ad network, and security consultants to make sure it does not happen again.

-- KK

We're looking for recommendations for the following:

What is the best (cheap and great interface) domain manager if you have one or two dozen (not one or two and not a hundred or more) domain names to keep going?

Best field guide to insects (North America)?

Best single AA battery flashlight (torch)?

A great how-to site you just discovered?

Also, we're still accepting holiday gift ideas for a Cool Tools guide coming later this week. Leave your input in the comments or e-mail me directly: elon {at} schoenholz dot com.

Thanks to all of our readers who have written in to notify us about malware warnings that the site has prompted in the past couple days. I wanted to update you that the malware was all removed by Thursday afternoon, although it took a bit longer for the warning messages to come down.

Please accept my apologies for not publishing this notice sooner. When we discovered the issue, we immediately and completely locked down site publishing for the clean-up and initial diagnosis, hence the silence on our end. I do want to address a couple of specific concerns you may have. The malware that the hackers injected onto the site was located in an invisible link -- this is not something you could have accidentally "clicked on." So visiting Cool Tools would not put you in any danger of malware. The reason these folks embed links in high-traffic sites like this in order to get higher page ranks from Google. Second, our sys admin has tested the site extensively on multiple machines, both Windows and OSX -- all of our machines remain uninfected.

We're continuing site updates this weekend and should be back to a normal publishing schedule Monday morning. You may notice some lag time in comment publication until then. Please accept our sincere apologies for the inconvenience, and our thanks and appreciation for your concern.

-- CC

We need your input. Can you tell us about any of the following?

Online source for 3D table maps from around the world
Best Satellite phone rental service
Pro-quality online photo printing service with poster-size print capabilities
Company that turns your photo or other design into wallpaper
Best emergency hand-crank/solar radio
Best backpack for hiking with a toddler on board
Best beginner's field guide to North American insects
Best guide to growing medicinal herbs

What do you use and love? Tell us about it. Tell me about it: elon {at} schoenholz.com

- Place that will print your own custom-designed wallpaper in small runs
- Best (cheapest/most efficient) dimmable replacement for a 60-watt tungsten bulb
- Ideal backpacking tripod, sufficient for an SLR
- Best super-compact folding umbrella that won't fall apart in a week
- Best projection clock

Is there a tool you use and love, not on this list and not in the archive? Tell us about it. We look forward to hearing from you.

-- es (elon {at} schoenholz dot com)

Our recent call for submissions netted some excellent recommendations. And we're looking for more.

Specifically, can you recommend:

Best inflatable kayak (solo), under $500?
Best introductory, weekend welding gear?
Best air rifle for a boy?
Cheap hair analysis for heavy metals?
Anyone know if there is software that takes music input and outputs musical scores?
Need a starter set of most common nuts, bolts, screws. Any good deals?
Something better than gypsum sheet rock?
An economical home windmill?
Entry-level speaker system better than JBL Creature II?
Affordable, high-functioning walkie talkies?
Pocket garden tool/knife sharpener?
Best mechanical stud finder?
Magnetic paint?
Racquet stringing machine?
Best time accounting software/website?

Have you used/read and can you recommend the following, or something comparable that's superior?

Drill Doctor
Cobrahead gardening tool
Backyard Ballistics by William Gurstelle
Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth?

We look forward to hearing from you.
-- es (elon {at} schoenholz dot com)

So many useful things around my house arrived via the personal recommendations posted by Cool Tools. But the "staff" of Cool Tools is not limited to the staff listed on the About page. That's where you come in. We'd like your recommendations.

Here are a few things we are currently looking for:

Can you recommend the best snorkel in the world?
An outfit that will make wallpaper to your designs?
The ultimate walker for an elderly person?
The cheapest long-range walkie talkie?
A 5-gallon capacity bird feeder?
A decent vacuum-cooking cookbook for amateurs?
The best digital wildlife trail monitor camera?
A gardening tool that performs at least seven distinct functions?
A site with detailed plans for building an owl house?

Or anything else you can heartily recommend from your own personal experience. If you love something you'd love others to know about as well, write me. (If you are feeling extremely helpful you might want to check the Cool Tools archive to make sure we haven't already featured it.)

If you're not already a subscriber receiving our weekly e-mail with five new tool recommendations every week, sign up and submit your recommendation. For a broader perspective of this site's tool philosophy, I recommend this essay. Tell us what you use to open up possibilities, save money, make stuff, live better.

-- es (elon {at} schoenholz dot com)

Over 220 of the most interesting folks from around the world applied as candidates for the position of curating this collection of cool stuff. The range of skills offered was impressive, and reassuring. It was a hard decision. In the end one of those candidates convinced me that his version of Cool Tools would be a lot of fun. Since I couldn't imagine who I'd rather curate Cool Tools than science fiction author, blog master, and raconteur extraordinaire, Bruce Sterling, he gets the assignment.

The deal is the same. Cool Tools only runs positive reviews of stuff that works. We love tried and true tools, rather than flimsy and faddish gadgets that only look good on the screen. Most of our reviews come from you, the reader. To keep the quality high, the reviews sharp and reliable, Bruce Sterling will edit the reviews you submit.

Bruce is taking over from the low-key but amazingly professional Steven Leckart. Steven is now more visible writing over at Boing Boing Gadgets, which to my mind now has much of the flavor of the early original Boing Boing. Thanks, Steven. You did a fantastic job! (The "Random Item"  was one of his ideas.) One of these days we should meet. (For two years we've only communicated by email and phone.)

So to return to your regularly schedule programming, send Bruce a favorite cool tool.  A cool tool...

1) Is not commonly known, or if known, not appreciated for this particular use.
2) Really works over a long time period.
3) Is significantly better than the competition.
4) Assists individuals (verses institutions) in self-empowerment and self-learning.
5) Is not one you've invented, sell, or promote.

The ideal Cool Tool review begins: "Over the years I've tried dozens of tools to accomplish X, but this one is by far the best thing. After using this tool every day for 2 years, it continues to amaze me. The problem it solves for non-professionals is this..." and it goes on to say why this item is so wonderful compared to other choices and why most of us here at Cool Tool might be interested in at least knowing about it.

Just so you know.

Do you have a favorite problem solving tool? Send your rave about it to Bruce Sterling, bruces@well.com.