Let’s take a break from the typical Interesting Iron column and do something a bit lighter this week.
Today, I want to present the Interesting Iron-approved list of gifts for the tractor nerd in your life. Toys, tools, and other cool stuff that everybody who works on “stuff” needs in their life! For the most part, these are all things that I either use everyday, or enjoy using/collecting/reading. So, if you’re stumped as far as what to buy for somebody who’s bonkers about tractors in your life, maybe this will give you a few ideas!
Before we dig in, I don’t get any commissions if you buy something on this list. This isn’t TikTok shop!
Let’s get to it.
Olight Arkfeld flashlight
I’ll admit it — I’ve been a flashlight nerd for a long time. But I’m still surprised by how many times a day I end up reaching for one. Olight really nailed it with the Arkfeld’s flat-profile design. Don’t get me wrong, round flashlights have their place, but the brighter they get, the bulkier they usually are. And big, round barrels don’t exactly ride comfortably in a pocket. The Arkfeld fixes that. It’s slim, it’s smooth, and it’s been my daily carry for the past year.
What I love most is how tough this thing is. It’s CNC-machined from a solid block of aluminum, so it can handle the bumps and scrapes of life on the farm or in the shop. It throws out a ton of light, too, and the magnetic tailcap is handy when you need both hands free to work.
The Arkfeld family has a few variations, priced around $70–$120. Mine’s the standard model with both a light and a laser pointer (the cats at my house are big fans of that feature). If I were buying again, I’d probably go with the Arkfeld Pro since it uses a standard USB-C charger instead of the proprietary one. Either way, they’re great little lights that practically disappear in your pocket.
They do tend to sell out on Olight’s site, but you’ll find them at plenty of other retailers — Amazon included. Shop around and grab one while you can!
Leatherman Sidekick
If you’ve ever used a multi-tool, you already know how handy these things are. I’m a firm believer in them — I think I’ve got three scattered between home, work, and the car. They’re perfect for those “I don’t want to dig for the right tools” kind of fixes. My Leatherman Sidekick rolls with me in my laptop bag, another model stays in the basement, and I’ve even got a tiny keychain version somewhere. A few offices ago, I used mine to assemble a rolling TV stand and mount the TV on it — and it worked great! That’s the beauty of a multi-tool. It packs a ton of usefulness into a pretty small package. I know farmers who keep ’em in every machine they own!
There are plenty of brands out there, but Leatherman is still the gold standard — and as far as I know, they’re the only ones made right here in the USA. Most of their tools come with a 25-year warranty, too, which tells you they’re built to last.
The Sidekick I carry runs about $70 on Leatherman’s website, but you can find them all over if you poke around. It’s a great all-around tool that earns its keep every single day.
Toy Tractors
I haven’t met a farmer or tractor nerd yet who doesn’t have a soft spot for die-cast tractors. They may not serve any real purpose, but they sure bring a lot of joy. There’s a reason Dyersville, Iowa, triples in size every year during the National Farm Toy Show. That show just wrapped up last weekend, and even with the cold and rain, it was great to get up there, catch up with old friends, and meet a few new ones too.
Everyone’s tastes are a little different, but the die-cast market is still red-hot. Personally, I’m a 1/64th guy — they don’t take up much space — but I’ll bet whoever you’re shopping for has a favorite scale. Ask around, find out what they collect, and grab them something neat. The nice part is that they don’t have to break the bank. Depending on what you’re after, you can find tractors for just a few bucks. There’s something for every collector and every price range.
So what’s hot this year? If the past few months are any clue, it’s the 785 Quadtrac in traditional Steiger green — the one Case IH surprised everyone with at the 2025 Farm Progress Show in Decatur. Nobody saw that color coming, and it made a big splash. Even better, they had Douglas Steiger sign the real one under the door!
Case IH also offered models at the show, and the 1/64th versions sold out every day at Farm Progress, Husker Harvest Days, and I think even the Farm Science Review. Nearly every vendor had them in Dyersville this year, but they were flying off tables Friday night. If you want one, don’t wait. The 1/64th model runs about $100, and the 1/32nd closer to $175 — both are fantastic pieces.
Case IH 785 Quadtrac in Steiger green (1/64th)
Milwaukee M18 Tire Inflator
I’ve never met a tractor collector who didn’t have at least one soft tire somewhere in the shed. Shoot, I’ve probably got at least one tire that’s a little low, and I don’t have anywhere near the equipment that most of you do! Until last year, I relied on an old corded Kobalt inflator for jobs like that. It still worked after fifteen years, but man, it was slow. You could practically hear the poor thing wheezing.
I’ve used some Milwaukee tools over the years, but my father in law was a Milwaukee guy for most of his life, and he used his stuff hard. They just kept coming back for more. Last year, I mentioned the M18 inflator in this article, hoping my wife would take the hint — and she did! I’ve found plenty of reasons to use it this year, too.
The bare tool sells for about $180, though bundle deals often include a battery or charger. Milwaukee runs sales all the time, so it definitely pays to shop around.
Milwaukee M18 Cordless Inflator
Snoopy and the Spy
I just finished this book for the second time, and it still makes the list. It’s a great read about pivotal moments in American ag history. Author Lee Klancher has interviewed some of the biggest names in modern tractor history, and these are their stories. This book focuses on the late ’70s and early ’80s — a turbulent, fascinating era when International Harvester, John Deere, and others locked horns to survive the tough years. Axial-Flow development, the 4WD wars, and even corporate espionage — it’s all here.
If you’re a fan of Ageless Iron, you’ll love this one. The chapters are short and easy to pick up anytime. It’s perfect for quick reading between projects in the shop.
The Coolest Carpet Farming rug ever…
A couple of years ago, I was leaving one of the exhibits at the National Farm Toy Show when I stumbled on Boundri. Literally. It was the only booth that weekend where nearly everyone was on their knees, carpet farming on area rugs.
I remember thinking, “That’s pretty cool.” Then I looked closer and realized these weren’t ordinary play mats. They were printed with satellite imagery of real farms! That’s when Nathan, the company’s president, walked up, shook my hand, and started explaining the idea. We had a great chat, and I told him how impressed I was.
Since then, Boundri has expanded far beyond play mats. They now offer a huge range of products, all built around satellite imagery of your own land. I tried their online design tool recently, and it was surprisingly simple to use.
If you’re shopping for something unique for the kiddos — or the grandkids — check out Boundri. A play mat of their own farm is a gift they’ll never forget.
Knipex Cobra XS Mini Water Pump Pliers
So about a year ago, my buddy Corey Hillebo sends me a Snapchat of him cranking on this bolt with this teeny tiny pair of Knipex pliers. Then when he’s done, he throws them in his pocket and says something to the effect of, “I think I just found my new EDC pliers!” Now Corey and I have discussed the stuff we carry with us on multiple occasions and we’ve both agreed that the typical six inch Channel Locks don’t work for us, so seeing him drop them in his pocket when he was finished was a surprise. I figured he’d given up on the whole pliers thing like I had.
At any rate, he got me curious enough that I talked myself into spending $32 on a pair of my own and I gotta tell you, these things are about as handy as the pocket on your shirt! I use ’em for all sorts of stuff around the house and at the office. They’re itty-bitty things, but the jaws open up enough to get around a 24mm bolt. They definitely punch above their weight class!
I got mine on Amazon, but I know you can buy them a bunch of places.
Knipex Cobra XS Mini Water Pump Pliers
Wrapping up….
So there you have it. My first stab at a list of the “stuff” that makes my life better, either because it’s handy or because it’s cool (or both). Hopefully that’ll give you a few gift ideas for the tractor nerd in your life!
(And for those of you who still want to browse tractors at auction, start your search here!)
