Just a quick summary of this year's hauls as I get ready for 2026.
2024 Roundup: [Link] 2023 Roundup: [Link] 2022 Roundup: [Link] 2021 Roundup: [Link] 2020 Roundup: [Link]
iPhone 13 Pro Max I was doing fine with my 13 Mini, but a friend upgraded to the 16 Pro Max and just handed this down to me. Other than the screen being huge, I don't see much difference, but the camera is so good I don't even need a separate one for trips. The next week, he bought an Apple Watch Ultra, so I asked him if I could have his Apple Watch 7 Titanium if he was gonna toss it. Since I was already in the ecosystem, I completed the set with AirPods 4 ANC for $99 on Amazon. They're a bit big though.
Topten Sweatshirts My old sweatshirts were literally falling apart after 4-5 years, so I recycled them and was forced to buy new ones. I remember them being 1+1 for 19,900 KRW back in the day, but they've lowkey hiked the prices so much that it was 1+1 for 39,000 KRW. Basically 20 bucks a pop. Problem is, after a few washes, the color and durability scream 'only good for one year.' Time to look for another brand.
Patagonia Retro-X Jacket From what I know, the Patagonia designers in Ventura, CA, mostly just surf whenever the waves are good, so the design has been exactly the same for 10 years with just the colors swapped. But the CEO must've chewed them out because they finally renewed it this year. The jacket is nice, but the old inner windproof film was so stiff it made me look like a teddy bear and didn't fit right. The new inner is softer, making it lighter and easier to wear—but of course, the price went way up too. I'm not the type to buy at retail price, so I sniped it for half off at Shilla Duty Free. Planning to wear this for the next 20 years.
Jean Prouvé Standard Chair This was on my bucket list because it's even more expensive than Fritz Hansen or Herman Miller. I bought four Herman Millers last year so I was gonna hold off, but someone on Karrot Market (local used app) listed it for half price. I ran over and grabbed it. My firstborn's reaction was: 'Why did you buy a school chair?' Well, exactly.
Dreame Robot Vacuum The 5-year-old robot vacuum I had was pretty weak, so I got a new one. I don't know when they got this good, but these days, vacuuming is just the bare minimum. It washes the mops with hot water, mops the floor, rinses them again, collects the dirty water, takes photos of obstacles to avoid them (it even recognizes pets), and just constantly does the annoying chores perfectly. Usually, my wife gets mad when I buy stuff, but this purchase actually brought a smile to her face. Makes me feel like it was a total steal.
LG Styler Since this thing first launched, I thought it was completely useless. But a section of my wardrobe broke—the wood rotted so I couldn't even fix the hinge—leaving a big empty space. Then I saw a Styler at that same friend's house (the one who gave me the iPhone). He didn't give me the Styler, but he gave me a look like 'how do you not have this?' and said it's great for getting cigarette smells out. I don't even smoke, but I bought it anyway. My wife smiled for the second time this year because it makes the kids' uniforms and sweaters feel brand new and fluffy. My clothes are all Topten or Patagonia, so I don't really need it, to be honest.
Dental Unit Chair My dental equipment was 16 years old. It wasn't broken, but I just felt like splurging on a new unit. It feels like going from a 2010 Avante to a 2025 Genesis. The high-speed bur feels like a work of art.
David Gerstein (Art Piece) My wife never asks for anything, but she saw this somewhere and asked for it about 30 times in two weeks. I gave in and ordered it. It's not flowers, it's not stainless steel, it's just a painted metal plate... I don't really get it, personally.
Was it necessary?
Whisky Hobby The COVID-era Balvenie craze—where people were fighting at Costco—is over, and the bubble has burst. Around that time, a junior from school gifted me a Dalmore with no age statement. I was like, 'This kid gave me an entry-level bottle?' But I took it to a whale meat dinner, and man, I didn't know high-proof spirits could be this smooth. We finished the whole thing. The box was so cool I couldn't throw it out... and my iPhone friend got so drunk he literally peed himself on the street. The next day, I looked it up and realized it was the 'Dalmore King Alexander III.' The legendary King.Al.Sam.
They say 'the late-blooming thief is the scariest.' I went down the rabbit hole of Sherry, Bourbon, and even the local legend Kim Chang-soo. Now I somehow have SFTB, SBBS, and ECBP all lined up.
Got a whole collection of Islay Peats, plus Hakushu, Yamazaki, Hibiki, and the Nikka line.
I eventually ran out of space, so I had to buy a cabinet too. Hahat.
People say Japanese whiskies are 'overpriced for what they are' (Geu-don-ssi) lately, but they're still excellent.
Bose SoundTouch 30 I love the Bose Wave sound the most, but the lack of Bluetooth, internet radio, and a good remote was annoying. I got a SoundTouch 20 as my main, but I kept dreaming about the flagship Series 30 with the woofer. Luckily, I sniped one on Karrot for 200k won ($150). It fits perfectly on the cabinet with my turntable. It's a versatile system for radio, Bluetooth, or vinyl. But I only listen to the radio.
Kim Dong-ryul Concert Managed to succeed in 'blood-ticketing' (super competitive booking) again! Also enjoyed the Yoshigo and Tom Sachs exhibitions.
Hokkaido Family Trip I had to visit Osaka and Fukuoka for work this year, but the Otaru-Noboribetsu-Sapporo trip was definitely the highlight.
The sulfur hot springs were great, but the Yoichi Whisky at the Nikka Distillery in Yoichi was a total romantic overdose. Of course, I tried the legendary Yoichi 10yr Single Cask.
The biggest 'haul' of the year: D&D Pharmatech (Stock). Thanks, Seul-gi hyung.
"Users were initially fooled by the humble 'sweatshirt' intro, only to be hit by the massive flex of a professional dental chair and a high-end whisky collection. The 'Karrot Market' sniping skills of a wealthy dentist earned both respect and envy."
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