Each week we cut through the noise to bring you smart, practical recommendations on how to live better – from what is worth buying to the tools, habits and ideas that actually last.
Since I was a tween, I’ve spent hours looking down at a screen. Ten years later, I’m hungry for phone-free alternatives that’ll let me spend more time connecting with others and less on social media.
Luckily for me, other people are on the same page. 2026’s analog resurgence has brought about many creative hacks for staying offline. Content creator Sierra Campbell is the mastermind behind one of them: the analog bag, a travel-friendly tote filled with screen-free activities.
Our colleagues in the UK recently interviewed Campbell, detailing how she dreamed up the idea and the bag’s rising popularity among younger generations.
I asked Campbell how I could put together a bag of my own. She shared her best tips, helping me curate a kit that encompasses her essentials for what a great analog activity should provide you: convenience, creativity and community.
At a glance: what’s in my analog bag
Papier planner
$28.80 at PapierOlympus Muji II film camera
Varied prices at eBayWinsor & Newton Watercolor Kit
$18.45 at AmazonWuthering Heights Book
$18.45 at Amazon***
Make it portable
Your analog bag should be travel-friendly.
“The same way that my phone is in my back pocket, my bag is on my person because that’s the habit replacement,” Campbell said. She uses the cult favorite Trader Joe’s mini tote to hold her tech-free items.
What’s in my bag: I got Campbell’s pick from my local Trader Joe’s, but you can also find them secondhand on Depop or use a tote bag you have on hand.
***
Pack physical replacements for phone apps
Phones are capable of more than revealing that your friends all hung out without you or plunging you into TikTok’s addictive algorithm – we’ve been known to use them for taking pictures or listening to music.
Campbell recommended putting items in your analog bag that will replace some of your most-used smartphone apps. If you’re constantly checking the time on your phone, add a pocket watch. In her case, she packed a print edition of the New Yorker instead of reading the news online.
What’s in my bag: I popped in my Papier planner to replace Google Calendar and my Olympus Mju II film camera in lieu of my iPhone’s camera app.
Papier planner
$28.80 at PapierOlympus Muji II film camera
Varied prices at eBay***
Include a variety of activities
To build community, Campbell recommends adding games to play with friends to your analog bag. Recently, we’ve shared our favorite card and board games, including portable options like Flip 7 and The Gang.
If cards aren’t your thing, Campbell adores crossword puzzles. “I’ve brought [crossword puzzles] to wine bars and restaurants. People are so into helping with a crossword, and it gets the community involved,” she said.
Art supplies are also an analog bag staple. “One of the main things that our phones take away from us is our creativity because we’re just comparing ourselves to everybody else,” she said.
What’s in my bag: I added my travel-friendly Winsor & Newton watercolor kit, which helps me channel my inner child on the move.
Winsor & Newton Watercolor Kit
$18.45 at Amazon $21.51 at Blick Art Materials***
Change your inventory with the seasons
Your July analog bag might look a lot different from January’s – and that’s OK. In the run-up to Valentine’s Day, Campbell has added scrapbooking supplies to her bag so she can create cards for her friends.
What’s in my bag: I opted for a romance novel, adding a paperback copy of Wuthering Heights so that I can re-read it before its anticipated theatrical release.
Wuthering Heights Book
$7.07 at Amazon $8.99 at WalmartRead more of our tips to stay offline:
How to read more: 12 book-ish things to help clear your to-read list
‘Put a rubber band on your phone’: I asked experts how to reduce screen time – here’s what they said
Product of the week: lip balm
Chapped lips and winter go hand in hand. So what better time to test out lip balms? We tried out 37 varieties, enlisting the help of 29 testers and two professional dermatologists.
While Kiehl’s nabbed the top spot, our photo editor Tracy Allison got to try all the top picks after her photo shoot, and loved our picks for best “premium lip balm” and best “tinted and flavored”.
Prada Lip Balm
$50 at Sephora $50 at NordstromNivea Fruity Cuties Lip Balm
$8.52 for pack of four at AmazonHer testimonial:
I was a little skeptical of anything other than my beloved Aquaphor, but these two lip balms quickly earned a permanent spot in my handbag. The cost of the Prada lip balm feels justified for how lightweight and luxurious it is, and I love the subtle color the Nivea offers.
Read the full story here: We tested 37 US lip balms – these are the best to soothe and hydrate
Everyday luxuries: best sleep masks
A few months ago, we asked Filter US contributor Juno DeMelo to pin down the very best sleep masks that might actually help us get a better night’s rest. To find her favorite, she wore each model for at least two nights. And she got pretty creative with her testing locations, which included an Airbnb with broken blinds and a tent.
Ultimately, she landed on this inexpensive mask as the very best, which just so happened to be one of your favorite products of 2025.
MZOO Luxury Sleep Mask
$29.99 at AmazonRead the full story here: The best sleep masks in the US: I spent six weeks testing 24 masks, and these are my favorites
In the kitchen: the very best induction cookware
Do you constantly fret that you’ve forgotten to switch off your stove or worry about indoor air pollution? It might be time to try an induction cooktop. They’re safer, greener and faster to heat, but they require compatible pots and pans.
To find the very best induction cookware on the market, culinary expert Bernadette Machard de Gramont cooked up a slew of sauces and did plenty of sauteing. She ultimately declared Caraway’s 12-piece set as her favorite, praising its quick heat-up time and temperature control.
Caraway 12-Piece Ceramic Cookware Set With Complimentary Storage
$445 at Caraway $445 at AmazonBuy it for life: Kent combs
In his 40s, Filter US contributor Josh Patterson acknowledged that his hair isn’t getting any thicker.
To preserve his hair’s health, he decided to swap out his cheap, snagging plastic comb for a durable alternative. He credited the comb, made of cellulose acetate, for keeping his hair feeling smooth, earning a spot in his grooming routine.
Kent Comb
$9.99 at Amazon $14.50 at WalmartRead more about the Kent comb here: Better hair, less waste: this durable British classic replaced my basic plastic combs
