I've been collecting vinyl for over a decade — 12 products I think you should add to your cart this Record Store Day

Record Store Day 2026 arrives on April 18th, and like most years, I usually make a mistake or two when checking out my cart.

There's something about the occasion that bypasses the part of your brain that asks sensible questions, and if your shelves look anything like mine, you've got a growing section of limited pressings you bought because the sleeve was beautiful and have listened to approximately once.

This year, instead of adding to the pile of records I'll never play, I started thinking more about the listening experience itself, and these twelve accessories are what I'd actually point you towards to celebrate your record listening.

These 12 products might not be the most exciting, but anyone starting out on their record collecting journey will instantly improve their setup with just one or two products from the list below.

After ten years of collecting I've come to the conclusion that half the joy of vinyl is in the ritual around it, and the right kit makes that ritual considerably better. Everything here is worth your money, and while you might not notice the improvement straight away, even the act of seeing your sleeve on display is a simple joy that's worth having.

Happy Record Store Day to all who celebrate, I hope you manage to snag all the limited edition pressings you've got your eyes set on. But remember, you don't need to buy records on Record Store Day to take part in the hobby, so don't fall for the FOMO unless you absolutely love what's on offer.

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