Best sustainable gift		Lomi		SEE IT	Turn egg shells, banana peels, and apple cores into compost for the garden.
Best robovac		Narwal Freo X Ultra		SEE IT	You can control this mop and vacuum combo with Alexa or your phone.
Best cooking aid upgrade		Vitamix A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System		SEE IT	This blender and food processor combo can tackle tough veggies and fruit to make yummy soups and smoothies for the whole family.

Mother’s Day provides an excellent opportunity for you and your siblings or children to try and one-up each other in an effort to prove yourself as The Favorite. Yes, being supportive is not a competition, but you can’t be the one who gives Mom a gift that doesn’t suit. Thankfully, the PopSci staff has extensive experience in gift-giving of almost every variety. If you’ve spent years cultivating the perfect gift for mom—or grandmom, or the mother of your children—and have run out of ideas, we have recommendations to make her smile and you shine. Win-win! 

• Best coffee: Zend
• Best coffee maker for some on-the-go get-up-and-go: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi
• Best pastel pastime: Nintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bundle – Isabelle’s Aloha Edition
• Best for those with loud children: Vibes Ear Plugs
• Best wine upgrade: Ullo Open Wine Purifier
• Best cookbook: Eataly: Contemporary Italian Cooking
• Best dinnerware: Fortessa Nosse 16-Piece Dinnerware Set
• Best cooking aid upgrade: Vitamix A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System
• Best snacks: Spirit Almonds
• Best food prep set: Falcon Enamelware Prep Set
• Best for new moms: Birthdate Pendant
• Best shoes: Allbirds
• Best for working moms: Troubadour Ember bag
• Best for outdoorsy mom: Backpackers Pantry
• Best for impromptu picnics: Nomadix Festival Blanket
• Best for staying hydrated: OXO Strive XL Tumbler with Handle
• Best for athletic moms: Hydro Flask 24 Oz Insulated Shaker Bottle
• Best sustainable gift: Lomi
• Best for traveling: Monos Carry-On Pro
• Best to recreate the spa at home: Sun Home Infrared Sauna Blanket
• Best splurge: Dyson AirWrap
• Best for those chillaxing: Liiton The Peaks Mountains Crystal Bourbon Whiskey Glasses Gift Set
• Best for those expecting: Proxies Tasting Set
• Best for music-loving moms: Sony WH-1000XM5
• Best robovac: Narwal Freo X Ultra
• Best for working out: OMORPHO G-Vest+
• Best for sore muscles: Theragun Mini 2.0
• Best for support: Casper Backrest Pillow
• For grandmas: Aura Mason Luxe Smart Frame
• Best cozy: Big Blanket Co. Original Stretch Blanket
• Best watch: Garmin vivoactive 5
• Best for crafting: Cricut Explore Air 2 Lilac Machine Bundle

Best coffee: Zend

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These coffee beans go way beyond that crummy old can of Folgers mom keeps on her counter. Zend coffees give a mom the option to enjoy the coffee on its own, or they can infuse them with one of three functional blends: Beauty, which supports hair, skin, and nail health; Recovery, which supports heart health and reduces inflammation; Serenity, which supports stress relief and balance. Mom deserves plenty of caffeine for everything and most definitely deserves to feel beautiful, healthy, and serene. We can’t think of a better gift if a single cup of coffee accomplishes both. Unless …

Best coffee maker for some on-the-go get-up-and-go: Nespresso VertuoPlus Coffee and Espresso Machine by De’Longhi

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This machine—our best overall choice among Nespresso machines and a supremely easy espresso maker—is great for mom’s home, office, or home office: Just insert a Nespresso capsule, push a button, and watch it go. The Nespresso VertuoPlus offers options for single (1.35-ounce) espresso, double (2.7-ounce) espresso, or Americanos in 5-, 8-, or 14-ounce sizes. Any of these pours can be extracted from a single capsule. The removable water tank holds 40 ounces, and the used capsule container can store up to 12 pods before it needs emptying. This is a more hands-off option for somebody in need of a quick fix to fill their travel mug. The espresso drinks pour nicely with crema on top, though the VertuoPlus does not have a steam wand for milk, so mom will also need a frother. It does, however, come with a complimentary assortment of 12 capsules to get you started.

Best pastel pastime: Nintendo Switch Lite Animal Crossing: New Horizons Bundle – Isabelle’s Aloha Edition

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If you’re looking for a portable game system that’s kid-tested mother-approved, it’s the Nintendo Switch. Particularly the Nintendo Switch Lite. Particularly a Nintendo Switch Lite with a download code for Animal Crossing: New Horizons. The signature characters in this social sim are charming, and the gameplay is perfectly paced for winding down, not riling up the kids. But then there’s the fact that the game, and this cozy handheld printed with a leaf motif, is just as appealing to adults looking for a mental getaway. Maybe you can’t get Mom a trip to an exotic island this year, but you can offer her the chance to create her own paradise and enjoy a peaceful existence, even if it’s just for a few hours here and there.

Best for loud children: Vibes Ear Plugs

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Let us be frank: babies are not quiet. Toddlers are cacophonous. Kids make a lot of noise. You only reach silent nirvana when they ship off to college. Before then, you’ll still need to hear in case they break something or start a fight with each other. By gifting a mom these reusable high-fidelity earplugs, you’ll give them a little peace without being completely unaware of what the kids are up to. 

Best wine upgrade: Ullo Open Wine Purifier

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Enjoying a bottle of wine is all fun and games until two glasses warrant a hangover the next day. Help prevent them with the Ullo Open Wine Purifier, which uses a selective filtration system to remove sulfites and reduce the histamines that can cause headaches and hangovers—all while preserving the wine’s flavors and aromas. A built-in aeration dial lets you choose the amount of air to incorporate, from off for light whites to full air for rich red varietals. Plus, it’s easy to transport and use: just place the device over your glass and pour. Don’t worry about mess, either—the Ullo’s lid can be used as a base to rest the filter on when not used, making it perfect at home and easy to take to book club. Think mom would prefer something she doesn’t even have to carry and clean? The Ullo Uno single-use wine-purifying wands are perfect for some quick aeration and filtration of wine by the glass.

Best cookbook: Eataly: Contemporary Italian Cooking

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“What should we eat for dinner?” is sometimes the hardest question to answer. Make the decision process 100 times easier with the Eataly: Contemporary Italian Cooking cookbook, which packs 300 recipes, including pasta with cavolo nero pesto and clams. With clear instructions and helpful tips, mom won’t want to ditch the entire recipe and just order takeout (although we’re not judging if they do).

Best dinnerware: Fortessa Nosse 16 Piece Dinnerware Set

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If your mom loves to host, Fortessa’s 16-piece dinnerware set will impress all her guests. Each piece is made from a twice-fired ceramic material that’s both dishwasher- and microwave-safe. The set includes four 10.8-inch dinner plates, four 8.8-inch salad plates, four six-inch bowls, and four 12.5-ounce mugs, and is available in three colors: deep blue, stone, and terracotta. We’re especially fond of the higher curved lip on the dinner and salad plates, which are both aesthetically pleasing and prevent foods and sauces from accidentally slipping off.

Best cooking aid upgrade: Vitamix A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System

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Kitchen gadgets shouldn’t make life more difficult, and Vitamix’s A3500 Gourmet SmartPrep Kitchen System is a two-in-one tool that’ll cut down on mundane cooking tasks like chopping and pureeing. The blender is equipped with a powerful 2.2 horsepower motor, can crush ice into a smooth slushie consistency and demolish vegetables to make hearty, yummy soups. A 64-ounce cup means that mom can make enough servings for the whole family with enough for seconds for themselves. The blender has five distinct modes for common foods like smoothies and soups, plus a clean setting that’ll prevent food particles from remaining in the blades and bowl after it’s been used. A touchscreen on the blender’s base ensures there’s no chance of gunk accumulating around buttons. This system also comes with a food processing attachment with several blades for dicing and shredding.  We also think the Yummly—a wireless smart meat thermometer that’s app-controlled—is also a great choice if she already has a swaggy countertop appliance setup and is a fan of roasting, grilling, broiling, and more.

Best snacks: Spirit Almonds

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If there’s a mom-on-the-go in your life who can appreciate always having a snack packed, look no further than Spirit Almond. Each protein- and healthy fat-rich nut gets one of six Japanese-style flavorings: black garlic, curry, koji salt, miso, mustard, and seaweed. It comes in a handy single-serve pack to easily throw in a purse or bag (making it easy to snag one for yourself, since one gift box comes with three packs of each flavor). If they’re more of a sweet snack mom, consider the Sahale Snacks Glazed Nut Variety Pack, which adds dried fruit and expands the nut varieties to pistachios, cashews, and pecans. 

Best food prep set: Falcon Enamelware Prep Set

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Falcon’s Enamelware Prep Set is the type of gift your mom wouldn’t buy for herself, but would really enjoy if she loves cooking and baking. It’s comprised of five color-coordinated ceramic mixing bowls and a colander, all of which are dishwasher and freezer-safe. The bowls can even be used in an oven at temperatures up to 530 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the bowls fit neatly inside one another, which makes storing them simple, and their timeless style will look good in any kitchen.

Best for new moms: Birthdate Pendant

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Technically, these pendants are meant as a lovely wearable to show off the wearer’s astrology (if they’re into it). However, between the unique collection of stones for every day of the year and personal engraving, we think it makes for a great gift to celebrate a firstborn. Each stone tells the story of their birthday, including their birthstone. Talk about a personalized gift. 

Best shoes: Allbirds

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Moms are always on their feet, between running after grandkids or working off all the child-related stress at the gym. Between their lack of flashy logos and synthetic materials, Allbirds is a natural gift for moms: they’re stylish, comfortable, and come in plenty of styles: Need some business-professional flats? They have that. Need some running shoes? They have those, too. The company itself is dedicated to sustainability, so you can feel good gifting them.  

Best for working moms: Troubadour Ember bag

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Work backpacks don’t have to be boring. This leather-and-neoprene variety has a waterproof lining to keep things dry, a sturdy grip handle that won’t break on the go, and a trolley sleeve for use as a carry-on. The main compartment folds down once opened for easy access to essentials, and a separate laptop compartment can fit a 16-inch laptop. Plus, there are plenty of pockets for essentials, like keys, a phone, or an emergency pacifier. A five-year guarantee means a mom always gets quality in case something goes wrong in manufacturing. 

Best for outdoorsy mom: Backpackers Pantry

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Camp cooking can involve a lot of grilled cheese, reheated soups, and boxed mac and cheese. These aren’t bad meals, but sometimes that mom deserves something a little more five-star after a long day of hikes. Backpackers Pantry has breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert covered with various dried and dehydrated foods. These meals aren’t wimpy, either—each averages around 15 grams of protein, which energizes you on your hike. We like to start our outdoor morning with the company’s Blueberry walnut oats and a cup of coffee. Once we get to basecamp, we sit down and enjoy some lasagna (it’s what Garfield would want), followed by the most important meal: dessert. Our choice? Dark chocolate cheesecake. 

If you want to give a mom the outdoor experience at home, we love the Solo Stove Mesa tabletop fire pit, which makes it safe and easy to roast some marshmallows on the balcony or porch.

Best for impromptu picnics: Nomadix Festival Blanket

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A large blanket is great if you find yourself at the park and need to find something to separate your bum from the cold, wet ground underneath you. The Nomadix festival blanket has a lush top and water-resistant base, meaning you’ll be comfortable sans soggy pants. It’s made with post-consumer recycled materials and comes with small loops at each corner to anchor with stakes (not included). No more floppy corners.

If sitting on the ground makes your back want to scream, consider gifting this Kelty Low-Love Seat Camping Chair. It sits about a foot off the ground, is lightweight, and manages to be perfectly stowable.

Best for staying hydrated: OXO Strive XL Tumbler with Handle

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Whether mom loves coffee, tea, or water, she’ll appreciate OXO’s Strive XL, a 32-ounce insulated tumbler that’ll keep her drinks hot or cold longer than a traditional mug. The BPA-free tumbler has a see-through lid, so she can keep an eye on how much of her drink is left, and it comes with a flexible straw, which makes drinking on the go easier. Once she’s done drinking, Mom will be able to pop this tumbler in the dishwasher to keep it clean. OXO offers the Strive XL Tumbler in five colors, so you can find one that matches her style.

Best for athletic moms: Hydro Flask 24 Oz Insulated Shaker Bottle

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Pre-workout. Greens. Protein (vegan or otherwise). Electrolytes. If your mom lifts weights, runs miles, crushes most yoga or pilates moves, or does a combination of activities, she’s probably using some sort of shaker bottle to combine some form of workout-enhancing powder with water for bigger gains. Unlike plastic shakers, which make fast messes, the Hydro Flask shaker has a leakproof flip-top lid that stops chocolate protein rain before it happens. It also keeps drinks cool for 24 hours, meaning Mom can enjoy her athletic liquids all day long.

Best sustainable gift: Lomi

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Mom’s coffee grounds, egg shells, and banana peels can live second lives as compost in the flower garden with this gift. Lomi makes composting easy: It’s odor-, pest-, and mess-free, and turns food waste into compost in less than four hours. It easily fits onto countertops and is discreet. With all that compost, your special someone’s rose garden—and kitchen—will be the envy of the neighborhood. 

Best for traveling: Monos Carry-On Pro

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Jet-setting moms will appreciate the gift of nice luggage that makes traveling a little less stressful. Our pick is the Monos Carry-On Pro, made for organization and easy access. It comes in eight standard colors and four limited-edition colors and includes an integrated TSA-approved lock for keeping belongings safe. An aerospace-grade polycarbonate shell prevents breaking from TSA agent rough-handling, and a built-in front compartment lets you store a laptop, passport, and other need-haves in one easy place. All-paid vacation not included.  

Best to recreate the spa at home: Sun Home Infrared Sauna Blanket 

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If there’s something a mom rarely rues and can most likely use, it’s a trip to the spa. Instead of giving a gift card to a spa, why not bring the spa along with the Sun Home Saunas Infrared Sauna Blanket, which allows you to feel the heat without even needing to become vertical. It helps relieve stress and anxiety and can help treat chronic pain. It’s like a sleeping bag that makes mom feel like a Hot Pocket in a microwave. 

Best splurge: Dyson AirWrap

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The Dyson AirWrap is the hair styler to have—it dries, curls, and styles hair, combining at least four styling tools into one. We’ve gone hands-on with it before and love that it gives salon-quality, shampoo commercial blowouts at home. It comes with two barrel sizes (both with switches to change airflow direction), a soft smoothing brush, a firm smoothing brush, a round volumizing brush (our favorite attachment), and a blow-drying attachment. If the AirWrap is out of your budget, consider the Shark FlexStyle, which has a bendable arm and a diffuser attachment for curly hair. Protect strands beforehand with the K18 molecular repair oil, and help keep hair healthy when it’s shower time with the Kitsch Pre Wash Scalp Oil and K18 leave-in conditioner. For the in-between days, we recommend the Act+Acre Plant-Based Dry Shampoo, which uses rice and tapioca powders—along with fulvic acid—to keep tresses bouncy and fresh.

Best for those chillaxing: Liiton The Peaks Mountains Crystal Bourbon Whiskey Glasses Gift Set

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The average day can have lots of peaks and valleys, so an above-average way to unwind is with these crystal quick-chill mountain replica whiskey glasses for lifting spirits both emotional and intoxicating. Made of X1 Crystalline with the shapes of iconic summits within them (Denali, Mont Blanc, K2, and Mt. Fuji), these glasses can be stored in the freezer so that they will chill a drink in just 18 seconds, no ice to water down the beverage. Help Mom relax after a long day with a refreshing cocktail and a restorative mood.

Best for those expecting: Proxies Tasting Set

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If a pregnant person in your life wants to enjoy a fancy little beverage sans alcohol (we happen to have tons of recommendations), nothing looks better in a wine glass than Proxies. There are de-alcoholized wines on the market, but some may have traces of alcohol left after the process. Proxies, however, is boozeless from the start, made from wine grape varietals without the fermenting. The resulting product has a similar mouthfeel and taste to wine but without the “Am I hurting baby?” anxiety. They’re perfect to pair with pizza, fish, pickles, and any other pregnancy cravings. 

Best for music-loving moms: Sony WH-1000XM5

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If Mom has a killer vinyl collection and puts you on to some of the grooviest artists, you should give them a gift that says, “Thanks for giving me good taste.” We think the Sony WH-1000XM5 is an excellent choice. They’re sleek and comfortable on the head, including some killer noise cancellation (perfect for tuning out nosy neighbors) and four beamforming microphones to be heard clearly on work calls. If they’re more of an earbud person, the easily pocketed Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II have excellent sound and the most effective noise cancellation on the market. 

Best robovac: Narwal Freo X Ultra

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Messes happen, and if you’re not going to help clean them up, at least buy a robot that will. The Narwal Freo X Ultra is both a mop and a vacuum cleaner, and it’s pretty smart for a robot: It can sense the type of flooring it’s cleaning and adjust its power level accordingly. Sensors on the front and sides of the vacuum can detect objects as small as a centimeter and navigate around your room using LiDAR, mapping the space to clean more efficiently in the future. It’ll continually assess the cleanliness of an area before moving on to another one and will return to its base for charging and dirt removal. The vacuum’s base will automatically clean the Freo X Ultra’s mop pads, dry them, and apply additional detergent totally hands-free. Mom will appreciate someone finally helping out around here. 

Best for working out: OMORPHO G-Vest+

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Up any workout with this weighted vest from OMORPHO, which adds five pounds of resistance to level up burpees, sprints, and more. However, it doesn’t feel like a five-pound vest, thanks to even weight distribution. It’s a comfortable piece of workout gear that fits great (adjustable cables and straps help, too) and doesn’t limit your range of motion. Connecting the vest to the OMORPHO app gives you workouts that are quick but effective. If someone wants to outrun the other soccer team moms, gifting this vest is a great start. This leads us to our next pick …

Best for sore muscles: Theragun Mini 2.0

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For soothing sore muscles after working out—or anytime, really, especially for someone actually outrunning the other soccer team moms—we recommend the Theragun Mini 2.0, which is small enough to throw into a gym bag or hide in a drawer away from small hands. It comes with three attachments, but we love the thumb attachment, which is great for lower backs and pinpoint therapy. My back hurts, I don’t even have children, and even I could benefit from a percussion massager—we’re sure your mom will get a lot of use from the Theragun.

Best for support: Casper Backrest Pillow

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Whether a mom-to-be or a mom who just wishes to be by herself for a little while, anyone with a child on the horizon or in the house has a lot on their shoulders, which takes a toll on the back. Support the need for support by buying her a pillow that props up the woman who does the same for you. Then, leave her alone with a book or movie and the Casper Backrest Pillow, which has an ergonomic teardrop shape that cradles her entire spine and provides extra lumbar support (though you can flip it for just her head and shoulders if she needs a nap).

For grandmas: Aura Mason Luxe Smart Frame

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Although it’s perfect for any and every generation of moms, we think grandmas especially will love the Aura Mason Luxe Smart Frame. Grandmas love showing people pictures of their extended family (including granddogs), and this WiFi-connected cloud-fed frame makes it easy to update those photos from anywhere. Add photos and videos to the Aura app, and they’ll show up on your loved one’s frame as long as it’s connected to a network—there’s no work they need to do to get the photos up after the initial connection. You don’t need to worry about storage, either—it’s unlimited. And, you don’t need to worry about photo orientation since the Aura automatically rotates and resizes based on whether it’s placed landscape or portrait. PopSci’s managing editor sent one to his mother for their birthday—take their word for it: “What I have enjoyed the most … is the burst of joy every time I see a photo of a loved one or a picture a loved one has shared with me!” You can get an Aura Mason Luxe Smart Frame for the entire family, or you can check out some other digital picture frames we recommend. 

Best cozy: Big Blanket Co. Original Stretch Blanket

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If you know someone that hogs the blanket, or someone tall who deserves to have their feet covered when sleeping at night, the Big Blanket—providing 100 square feet of blanket—was made for them. This extra-large, giant soft blanket gives whoever is in the nap trap plenty of real estate to turn into a blanket cocoon, with room for you. We’re not kidding. It’s huge and soft—just like mom’s heart.

Best watch: Garmin vivoactive 5

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We’re all about the metrics at PopSci, so we love Garmin smartwatches. And one of the things we love about Garmin’s watches is there is one for everyone, whether you are a multisport athlete or just someone who wants a little insight into their everyday fitness. The Garmin vivoactive 5 is just as smart as it is beautiful—it has a 1.2-inch AMOLED watch face with built-in apps, including GPS, yoga, running, swimming, and more. Mom gets 11 days of battery life, and Gamin Pay lets them pay for a post-jog coffee without having to bring their wallet with them. They don’t even need to bring their phone, thanks to the ability to download music onto the watch. People won’t even know it’s a sports watch until Mom turns and says, “Thanks, it’s a smartwatch!” when they get a compliment on it. Looking for a model for a smaller wrist, with a more fashion-centric style? Check out the Lily 2, just one of many Garmin smartwatches on sale for the holiday.

Best for crafting: Cricut Explore Air 2 Lilac Machine Bundle

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If mom is crafty and doesn’t already own a Cricut, change that with this bundle gift that combines an Explore Air 2 machine with everything they need to get started on making their own bespoke goods for family, friends, and themselves. Heck, they could even start a small business! Built-in Bluetooth allows for wireless cutting, writing, and scoring, and the included spatula, weeder, scraper, scissors, and tweezers make it easy to lift and transfer your designs onto cups, mugs, sunglasses, and more. And if they already have a crafty corner, consider a Cricut Bright 360 lamp to help them capture and cherish all the details of their hard work customizing.

The post Last-minute gifts for Mom to make up for all the times you didn’t say ‘Thank you’ appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best powered speakers		Klipsch The Nines		SEE IT	Uncompromised sound from a set of powered speakers perfect for both analog and digital music listening.
Best record brush		Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Anti-Static Record Brush		SEE IT	This brush keeps your vinyl’s grooves free from hair, dust, and static.
Best turntable cartridge		Ortofon 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge		SEE IT	Ortofon’s 2M Bronze was designed from diamond-tip to tail to extract the best sound from your albums.

• Best powered speakers: Klipsch the Nines
• Best preamp: Cambridge Audio Alva Solo
• Best record weight: Andover Record Damping Weight
• Best record cleaner: Spin-Clean Record Washer Complete Kit
• Best turntable slipmat: Pro Spin Cork Turntable Mat
• Best record brush: Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Anti-Static Record Brush
• Best turntable cartridge: Ortofon 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge
• Best power conditioner: WAudio AC Power Filter Power Conditioner
• Best vinyl subscription: Vinyl Me, Please

Record Store Day 2024 is this coming Saturday, April 20, and to enjoy your limited-edition slabs of wax to their fullest, you’ll need a few accessories. (If you need help finding the right turntable, we have recommendations, too.) Add-ons for your record player typically fall into a couple of categories: maintenance and audio fidelity improvements. The former will keep your treasured grooves in tip-top shape to avoid creating scratches that can result in unwanted clicks and pops. The latter are components to add to your analog audio system to help your albums sound their best. Having a few turntable accessories from both categories will ensure your vinyl gives you maximum enjoyment for a lifetime—if not multiple lifetimes.

Best powered speakers: Klipsch the Nines

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The Nines topped our list of the best turntable speakers, and they’re an incredible upgrade for turntable owners looking for an audiophile-grade all-in-one system. In our full review, our author praised The Nines for the presence of an internal preamp, which will allow you to quickly plug any turntable with a moving magnet cartridge into it. Many modern turntables come with a built-in preamp, but older models and lots of high-end record players don’t. Using an external preamp will always yield better results, but it’s nice to be able to use The Nines with a turntable out of the box. Additionally, The Nines have a grounding peg for your turntable’s RCA cables.

The Nines are stacked on the audio hardware side: Each speaker has an eight-inch long-throw woofer, one-inch tweeter, custom DSP, and an amp that delivers up to 480 watts of power. In addition to a turntable function, The Nines supports native playback of 24-bit digital audio files up to 192kHz when connected to a source using its optical audio or USB port. Yes, you can connect The Nines directly to a computer using the included USB-B to USB-A cable or optionally pick up a USB-B to USB-C cable, depending on your computer’s ports. The Nines also sport an HDMI port to use them as home theater speakers with a television.

This versatility makes The NInes’ $1,499 price tag easier to justify. You can use them as a pair of incredible speakers for your turntable while pulling double or even triple duty as the Bluetooth wireless audio system and home theater setup in a living room. Just make sure you have enough space for the speakers because at 19 inches tall and 13.38 inches wide, you’ll need a fairly large entertainment center.

Best preamp: Cambridge Audio Alva Solo

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A phono preamp sits between your turntable and amplifier (or powered speakers) and boosts its signal so that you’ll be able to actually hear your music. Cambridge Audio’s Alva Solo works with turntables outfitted with moving magnet cartridges, and we like it for both its understated look and powerful features. Its all-aluminum enclosure houses a 10-watt preamp with 39dB of gain, RIAA equalization, and a built-in subsonic filter that can reduce the sound of some subtle sonic imperfections from your albums. Critically, the Alva Solo’s power supply is built inside its relatively svelte box, so you can connect it to the wall with a single clean cable. The preamp’s relatively small footprint (just under seven inches wide and two inches tall) means it’ll fit in any turntable setup, either beside or below your deck. Our favorite touch is that Cambridge Audio labeled each input and output above and below the RCA jacks, so you can easily identify them if you’re looking at them upside down (aka from in front of the equipment).

Best record weight: Andover Record Damping Weight

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The purpose of a record weight is to help keep vinyl from moving vertically as it spins around; even a visually imperceptible amount of movement can cause distortion. Andover’s Record Damping Weight weighs 9.35 ounces and fits right on top of your vinyl’s label, with a cutout that fits over the turntable’s spindle. The company says using this weight can result in less distortion, improved dynamics, righter bass, and a deeper sound stage, among other benefits.

Best record cleaner: Spin-Clean Record Washer Complete Kit

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If we could only recommend one vinyl maintenance tool, it’d be this record-washing kit from Spin Clean. Here’s how it works: the spin clean’s basin gets filled with a mixture of water and the included record cleaning solution, at which point you submerge your album inside. The water only gets high enough to reach the innermost groove, so your vinyl’s label won’t get damaged. Once it’s submerged, you’ll physically rotate the vinyl clockwise a few times. Soft brushes on the inside of the spin clean will get the gunk out of your record’s grooves, which can reduce the album’s surface noise and the number of clicks and pops you’ll hear. Once it’s been cleaned, wipe off your album with the included cleaning cloth. It won’t turn your VG- mono copy of The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society into an NM-sounding album, but the difference will be noticeable.

Best turntable slipmat: Pro Spin Cork Turntable Mat

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Static buildup is one of the reasons you’ll hear clicks and pops on your albums, but you can eliminate this issue by switching to a cork turntable mat instead of using the felt mat that comes with most record players. There’s no increased risk of scratching your albums using a cork mat, and you’ll ensure the grooves of your records won’t accumulate stray stands of felt in them. This cork turntable mat from Pro Spin was designed to fit both 12-inch and 7-inch vinyl and is thick enough to absorb a few stray vibrations to reduce overall distortion.

Best record brush: Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs Anti-Static Record Brush

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Another way to reduce static clicks and pops from your albums is using an anti-static brush like this one from Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs each time you play a record. Its fine plastic bristles will clean your album’s grooves while removing static simultaneously. To use this brush most effectively, start your turntable and gently place the brush’s bristles over your spinning record. Repeat this process each time you flip the album for the best results.

Best turntable cartridge: Ortofon 2M Bronze Moving Magnet Cartridge

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If you’re using a turntable that lets you upgrade its cartridge, we highly recommend stepping up to the Ortofon 2M Bronze moving magnet cartridge to get the most out of your record collection. It’s a level up from the already excellent Ortofon 2M Red and 2M Blue (found on excellent turntables like the Fluance RT85, which our reviewer loved). Its Nude fine line diamond-tipped stylus was specifically cut to a profile optimized to stay inside the groove of a record even if it’s wobbling a little bit, and it uses split pole technology to send a clean signal from the needle to the tone arm using a copper wire. The Dutch-made cartridge we’re recommending has been premounted, which means it can plug directly into the tone arm of a record player rather than requiring you to futz with removing and replacing an entire needle. A turntable’s needle is the literal point of contact between your vinyl and the rest of your audio system. A weak or lackluster signal cannot be improved as it moves through your chain, so having a strong piece of hardware right up front is the best way to ensure you get the best possible sound from your albums.

Best power conditioner: WAudio AC Power Filter Power Conditioner

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If you’re incredibly sensitive to any noise when listening to a new or mint album, turn to WAudio’s AC Power Filter Power Conditioner. The truth is that some noise can come from the quality of the electricity coming from your wall due to old or low gauge wiring. You can eliminate this by plugging your turntable (and other audio accessories) into a power conditioner, which will pick up and eliminate this noise before it hits your system. WAudio says its power conditioner can restrain interference above 1kHz and will up to 10dB of digital noise between 2MHz and 100MHz. This power conditioner has 10 outlets—six of which are filtered—and also provides overload and voltage protection to avoid electrical spikes from damaging your equipment.

Best vinyl subscription: Vinyl Me, Please

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So, you got the taste for premium pressings of classic albums but don’t want to wait till the next RSD to flesh out your collection. Well, look no further than Vinyl Me, Please. The site allows you to join a “club” and will send you one LP per month. Clubs are broken down by genre (country, hip-hop, rock) plus essentials (covering soul, blues, and jazz) and a generalist essentials option for listeners who want a little bit of everything. A subscription costs $46 per month, with discounts if you subscribe for three, six, or 12 months. Albums and box sets are also available a la carte for varying prices. Finding original pressings of albums in near-mint quality can be difficult, and Vinyl Me, Please takes the hassle out of crate digging with the hopes of striking gold.

The post The best turntable accessories for Record Store Day 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best candle		Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses Scented Candle		SEE IT	Give them a bouquet of roses they won’t have to worry about watering.
Best lube		Maude Shine Organic Lube		SEE IT	This lube is organic and vegan.
Best for cuddling		Bedsure Oversized Big Fleece Blanket		SEE IT	Say goodbye to fighting over the blanket with this giant throw.

Finding the perfect Valentine’s Day gift seems impossible—it’s even harder if you’re shopping last minute. There are so many candles, wallets, and whiskey stones in this world—how are we ever supposed to know if those items are something your partner wants that’s also in stock? Sure, they could tell you what you should buy them for Valentine’s Day, but that takes the fun and mystery out of gift-giving. And, there’s no other feeling like finding the perfect gift, agonizing over the wait to give it, and finally watching your partner’s face light up at your thoughtful present. Building on our 14 for Feb. 14 suggestions from earlier in the week, our last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts are as close to perfect as one could get.

Best topping: Hello Cake Flavored Lube

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This is Valentine’s Day, after all. This water-based lube makes oral and penetrative play a little zestier with flavors like coconut lime, peach ginger, and vanilla chai. Throw it on your favorite sex toy or lick it off your sweetie—we won’t tell anyone how you decide to use it.

Best candle: Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses Scented Candle

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Setting the mood to explore some of our more interactive suggestions? If you can’t buy them an actual bouquet, this candle makes for a great last-minute Valentine’s Day replacement—and a perfect standalone gift. We recommend getting a Classic Large Jar, which yields 110 hours of burn time. That’s lots of time to relish in the sweet scent of roses and love.

Best lingerie: Adore Me Yolandi Babydoll

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Impress your partner by buying them lingerie they’ll look stunning in. You won’t have to guess their cup size and risk buying the wrong size thanks to straight sizing, which is imperative when you’re shopping last minute; fully adjustable straps and a mesh skirt add to the garment’s size flexibility. And, it’s just the right amount of revealing without making your partner feel exposed. This one is also machine washable for easy care.

Best vibrator: MysteryVibe Poco

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This bendable targeted G-spot vibrator adds a bit more excitement to the boudoir thanks to its discreetness: it fits in your palm, meaning it won’t be as clunky while using it with your partner or during solo time. It’s also showerproof, bendable, and can be used externally or internally—talk about versatility. And, app connectivity allows you to customize vibration and save your favorites. Or, you can hand your phone off to your partner and give them the controls.

Best lube: Maude Shine Organic Lube

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You’re not using lube? You’re missing out. This vegan and cruelty-free lubricant adds a bit more slip for easier insertion or for solo play (save the lotion for your body, please). The organic version is aloe-based and can be used with devices or condoms; the silicone version should not be used with silicone toys, but it can be used underwater and with condoms.

Best for a couple’s shower: Womanizer Wave 2-in-1 Showerhead

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Speaking of using lube underwater … upgrade your shower with this discreet option that’s just as utilitarian as it is steamy. Adjust the shower head from rain to jets, and customize intensity with a built-in slider. You can even install it yourself in less than five minutes. It also uses 60% less water than conventional showerheads. Take that, every single joke made in an early-2000s rom-com.

Best NA wine: Surely Dealcoholized Sparkling Brut and Rosé

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You don’t need booze to have a good time. We love sipping on the best non-alcoholic drinks when we want to give our partner all of our focus or when we just aren’t in the mood for a high-ABV cocktail. This dealcoholized wine is aged in the barrel and then goes through vacuum distillation to evaporate the majority of the alcohol in the wine. The flavors remain without the next-day hangover or regrets.

Best for cooling things down before things heat up: QelviQ Personal Sommelier – smart wine chiller & warmer

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When it comes to a romantic evening, the little details count. Details like ensuring the wine is at the optimal temperature—whether it’s the effervescent NA sparkling wine above or the lush, fleshy and floral Tensley Santa Barbara County Syrah pictured above. And if you want to take the guesswork out of things for yourself or a wine-loving partner, the QelviQ Personal Sommelier is the perfect investment. The sexy cylinder connects to an app on your smartphone, which you use to scan the label of your wine. The app then determines the perfect temperature for the varietal and, once the bottle is placed inside, the QelviQ’s thermal engine circulates air to cool or warm the wine to the perfect pour and maintain it indefinitely. On top of that, the app offers food pairings, so it can be the centerpiece of a seductive surprise in more ways than one.

Best for nibbling before nibbling: Boos Block

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Need something to pair with your bubbles? Prepare that special someone a snack-cuterie board. First, you’ll need a sturdy cutting board, naturally, like this John Boos Walnut Wood Block—a 1.5-inch thick, large edge grain rectangular reversible platform for nibbles (that’s right, Boos and booze). Fill little bowls with everything from CheeseBits Mozzamini Pearls (the wood-smoked are particularly good) to the umami bombs that are the Confetti Snacks Green Curry Mushroom Chips. Plus, add your sweets of choice to balance out the savory.

Best wallet for men: Fossil Men’s Leather Bifold Wallet with Flip ID Window

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It wouldn’t be a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift guide without a wallet listing. This one is made of 100 percent cowhide leather and is RFID-protected, meaning you don’t have to sacrifice style when keeping your banking data secure. It has two ID windows, two slide pockets, and eight card pockets to keep all of your frozen yogurt punch cards organized and at ready.

Best wallet for women: Kate Spade New York Staci Medium Compact Bifold Wallet

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Women carry wallets, too, so it’s about time women’s wallets get representation in a last-minute Valentine’s gift guide. This one from Kate Spade will last for years thanks to its high-quality Saffiano leather and timeless design. It’s just as practical as it is beautiful, thanks to eight credit card slots, an ID window, four slip pockets, and a spacious zipped pocket for change, receipts, or a sweet note from your lover.

Best face mask: Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant Hydrating and Exfoliating Face Masque

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Nothing completes a couple’s DIY spa night like a face mask. But what if you are looking for some exfoliation while they want some hydration? Kill two birds with one stone with this mask that does both: bamboo provides the exfoliation, while snow mushroom tackles hydration. Simply push the top to dispense, apply liberally to face and neck, massage until the spheres disappear, wait 3-5 minutes, rinse, and you’re done. Now you and your partner have baby-smooth skin and can get back to that Love Island marathon.

Best electric razor for men: Braun Series 9 Electric Razor

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If you’re looking to give one of the best electric razors as a last-minute gift, this one from Braun is guaranteed to give a close shave and prevent a close call with gift giving. The battery will keep going up to 50 minutes at full charge, and a digital display counts down the time left so you don’t have to worry about surprise power outages. For tricky, hard-to-cut hairs, two specialized titanium-coated trimmers use 10,000 micro-vibrations to catch them where they grow. You can also use this razor wet or dry.

Best splurge for her: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum

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TikTok perfumeheads consider this to be the perfume people lust after, thanks to its floral-woody combo that has a powerful, all-day projection and sillage. It’s the Bella Hadid of perfumes at the moment, and it will be well-appreciated even if she occasionally dabbles in perfume. It’s unisex, in case you want to get a sniff for yourself.

Best splurge for him: Salvatore Ferragamo Mens IP Yellow Gold 38 mm Vega Bracelet Watch

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This two-tone watch will go with any outfit, and the Guilloché watch face is simple and elegant without being boring. And, Swiss-made means it’s built to last—just like you and your partner.

Best for backyard dates: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

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Sometimes, you just want to cozy up by the fire, but not everyone has a fireplace in their home. Enter the Solo Stove, which we’ve found easy to use, portable, and less smoky than a traditional fire. We also love the company’s Pi Pizza Oven for pizza night and the Mesa tabletop fire pit in red for a smaller—but equally as romantic—outdoor fire.

Best that says “USB-Mine?”: ASUS ROG Swift PG32UQ

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A computer monitor is an essential tech accessory for remote students or workers, which is why it’s one of the most thoughtful tech gifts you can give this Valentine’s Day. ASUS’ ROG Swift PG32UQR is a 32-inch 4K monitor with multiple inputs, which will allow your partner to use it as a TV for their game console or media streamer when they’re not at work. Gamers will appreciate the PG32UQR’s high refresh rate, which will allow them to play the latest titles at their maximum level of fidelity.

Images, videos, and text will look extremely clear on the screen, and its sheet size will give them a massive digital canvas to work with. The best part about this gift is that you know they’ll use it every day for years to come, and they’ll think of you each time their screen comes in handy.

Best for the classroom: American Greetings Scratch-Off Space and Astronauts

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If you’re a busy parent, you know the anxiety of finding the perfect last-minute Valentine’s cards for your child’s classmates. These feature an astronaut pattern (cool) with scratch-off messages (even cooler), which equals a very happy kid chuffed to have given one of the coolest Valentines in class.

Best for gamers: Nintendo Switch

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In a relationship with a gamer and don’t know what to get them? The Nintendo Switch is the third-best-selling video game console of all time, has a robust catalog including the latest entries in the Super Mario and Legend of Zelda series, and features a hybrid home and portable console design. But what makes this system the perfect game console for a couple is the fact that it comes with two detachable Joy-Con controllers, so you and a partner can play the best multiplayer Nintendo Switch games out of the box.

Best for home chefs: Anyday Large Dish

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We get it: The idea of cooking your Valentine’s Day dinner in a microwave sounds like a recipe for disaster, but that’s not the case when you use quality cookware. And Anyday encourages you to use an appliance most of us already have but don’t use to its full potential. Its Large Dish was designed to accommodate roughly four portions of a main dinner dish—the company has dozens of recipes on its site, which you can follow along to make dishes like One-Dish Chicken, Orzo and Feta, Scalloped Potato Gratin, or Momofuku Miso Cacio e Pepe Noodles—in under half an hour. The cookware looks wonderful, and the meals we’ve made there have always turned out. Anyday even has a recipe list for desserts, which can help you end the night on a sweet note.

Best for music lovers: Fluance RT81+ Turntable

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Want to set the mood with some music this Valentine’s Day? Pick up the Fluance RT81+. There are less expensive decks out there, but the Fluance is a perfect balance of quality and price. The belt-driven turntable comes pre-loaded with an Audio Technica VM95E cartridge and comes with a built-in preamp if you don’t have one already—or your receiver or powered speakers don’t have a dedicated phono input. We’ve used this record player for a couple of months, and it offered rock-solid performance and great sound whether we played new or vintage vinyl. Building up a record collection together is a great way for couples to bond throughout the year, and you can relive the memories of picking up a hard-to-find album on special nights.

Best for audiophiles: Klipsch R-51 PM Speakers

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What’s a turntable (or home, really) without a good pair of speakers? Klipsch’s R-51 PMs were designed to work with everything from the most analog of turntables—there’s a phono input—to your smartphone via Bluetooth. We’re recommending a pair of powered speakers because it’s an all-in-one audio system, with no AV receiver necessary. The R-51 PMs are also outfitted with an optical audio input and USB port so that they can be connected directly to a TV or computer in a home theater or home office respectively. If you and your partner love music, this gift is a slam dunk. If you really want to impress them, consider gifting the Klipsch The Nines speakers. Trust us on this one.

Best for kids: LEGO Icons Wildflower Bouquet

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Bouquets of flowers are a classic last-minute Valentine’s Day gift, but they only last about a week and a half before they need to be discarded (hopefully composted!) The LEFO Icons Wildflower Bouquet will last a lifetime and a kid can help put it together. Once assembled, the 939-piece set looks like a traditional assortment of flowers, and LEGO even includes stems of varying lengths, so they can be arranged on a tabletop or in a vase. If you want even more arrangement options, LEGO recommends combining this set with similar flower sets from its botanical collection.

Best for movie lovers: XGIMI Halo+

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Show the cinephile in your life you care with an HD projector that can be taken anywhere. XGIMI’s Halo+ is an HD projector with built-in stereo Harmon Kardon speakers that runs Android, which means you can access the latest streaming services like Netflix or Hulu directly from the device. If you want to connect a game console, like the Nintendo Switch, for instance, you can use the Halo+’s HDMI port—no adapter necessary. This projector’s greatest strength is its battery, which allows the Halo+ to last up to two and a half hours without being charged. You can take this projector anywhere there’s a screen or blank wall, and set up a movie night with your partner. Whether you’re checking our new releases, introducing them to one of your old favorites, or re-watching a movie you’ve seen a zillion times, using a projector is completely different than watching it on TV.

Best for cuddling: Bedsure Oversized Big Fleece Blanket

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Bedsure’s Oversized Big Fleece Blanket is every bit as comfortable as it sounds and encourages copious cuddling for Valentine’s Day and beyond. The couch-length blanket comes in multiple sizes, can be used as a comforter, and will comfortably cover couples relaxing in the same room. We’ve tested this blanket, and while its size initially seems ridiculous, its utility becomes apparent very quickly. Who doesn’t want a giant blanket, after all? We’ve been especially impressed by how well it’s held up after months of use, with minimal pilling and no sign of wear. If this particular blanket doesn’t scratch your snuggle itch, consider our other picks for the best blankets.

Best for remembering memories: Aura Mason Luxe Smart Frame

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This frame, which topped our list of the best digital picture frames, allows anyone with a WiFi connection and a smartphone to add photos in seconds—making it perfect if you want to remind your partner of gorgeous vacations and memories of yore. Unlimited cloud storage also means you’ll never run out of space to store those photos.

Best fitness watch: Garmin vívomove Trend

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If you’re looking for a last-minute Valentine’s Day gift for an active person in your life, consider the Garmin vívomove, which has a sleek, analog face with smart features like sleep monitoring, stress tracking, and specific activity profiles for pilates, yoga, running, and more. If you’re looking for other fitness watches to gift last-minute for Valentine’s Day, Gamin has other fitness watch deals that will come in time for the big day.

Best for audio smut lovers: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)

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“What in the world is audio smut?” Well, it can encompass the audiobook version of your favorite smut novel, or delicious audio platforms like Dipsea and Quinn that offer short, sexy stories—kind of like NPR meets the late-night programming on the IFC channel where they play European art films. They’re noise-canceling and have spatial audio … we’re not going to judge the kinds of things you’ll listen to on them.

Best to block it out or get into it: Nodpod Sleep Mask

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Want to really lean back and give into the power of the audio smut, smelly candle, battery-operated pleasure assistant or doting partner? The nodpod sells itself as a “weighted blanket for your eyes” and the gentle pressure it applies, plus the 100-percent blackout design, really does lead to better relaxation. You can even throw it in the freezer if you need to cool down after exercise, or to soothe a migraine, or to try and take your mind off of all the TPS reports you have due. You spend all day under pressure, so when you get home at night you’d think the last thing you’d want is more pressure … but this is the good kind.

Best for the next morning: ESPRO BLOOM Pour-Over Kit

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So you had a great Valentine’s Day … so great it lasted till the next day. And what better way to wake up that special someone than with a cup of rich, flavorful pour-over coffee. The ESPRO BLOOM Pour-Over Kit includes everything you need to make it. The kit includes a brushed, stainless-steel brewer with a precision-cut micro filter. The steep slope of the brewer, along with the filter design process, allows it to finish brewing in just 2 minutes. The thermal sleeve keeps coffee hot (without burning your fingers), and the borosilicate glass carafe has a dot and line marking system, as well as a handle on the side. Of course, you can’t have a great cup of coffee without great coffee beans, so gift a Bean Box World Coffee Tour variety pack, which comes with 12 freshly roasted selections you can grind after you grind. Then you can sit around and fantasize about traveling together, whether it’s to Seattle, where Bean Box and many of the small-batch roasters are based, or to all the regions these microlot bean producers are sourced from. (Got extra beans? You’ll want to store them in an air-tight container, like the Planetary Design Airscape Stainless Steel Coffee Canister.)

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To recap:

• Best topping: Hello Cake Flavored Lube
• Best candle: Yankee Candle Fresh Cut Roses Scented Candle
• Best lingerie: Adore Me Yolandi Babydoll
• Best vibrator: MysteryVibe Poco
• Best lube: Maude Shine Organic Lube
• Best for a couple’s shower: Womanizer Wave 2-in-1 Showerhead
• Best NA wine: Surely Dealcoholized Sparkling Brut and Rosé
• Best for cooling things down before things heat up: QelviQ Personal Sommelier
• Best for nibbling before nibbling: Boos Block
• Best wallet for men: Fossil Men’s Leather Bifold Wallet with Flip ID Window
• Best wallet for women: Kate Spade New York Staci Medium Compact Bifold Wallet
• Best face mask: Dermalogica Hydro Masque Exfoliant Hydrating and Exfoliating Face Masque
• Best electric razor for men: Braun Series 9 Electric Razor
• Best splurge for her: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
• Best splurge for him: Salvatore Ferragamo Mens IP Yellow Gold 38 mm Vega Bracelet Watch
• Best for backyard dates: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
• Best that says “USB-Mine?”: Asus ROG Swift PG32UQ
• Best for the classroom: American Greetings Scratch-Off Space and Astronauts
• Best for gamers: Nintendo Switch
• Best for home chefs: Anyday Large Dish
• Best for music lovers: Fluance RT81+ Turntable
• Best for audiophiles: Klipsch R-51 PM Speakers
• Best for kids: LEGO Icons Wildflower Bouquet
• Best for movie lovers: XGIMI Halo+
• Best for cuddling: Bedsure Oversized Big Fleece Blanket
• Best for remembering memories: Aura Carver HD WiFi Digital Picture Frame
• Best fitness watch: Garmin vívomove Trend
• Best for audio smut lovers: Apple AirPods Pro (2nd generation)
• Best to block it out or get into it: Nodpod Sleep Mask
• Best for the next morning: ESPRO BLOOM Pour-Over Kit and a Bean Box World Coffee Tour

The post The best last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts to spread the love appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

If you clicked into this gift guide expecting a spicy selection of salacious items, you’re about to be disappointed. This is a guide for people who want to spend their Valentine’s Day in bed scrolling, snacking, or just plain rotting. While the big Valentine’s Day agenda tries to push lacey undergarments and overly suggestive sweets, we’re offering up the best way to scroll TikTok while lying totally still. So, if you plan to spend this V-day making the most of the best spot in your home, these are the gifts worth giving or getting. Or, go check out our list of the best sex toys and find what you expected in the first place.

Lamicall Phone Holder Bed Gooseneck Mount

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Your phone makes a phenomenal partner in bed, but finding a comfortable position to doomscroll can be tricky. If you’re like me, you’ve dropped your phone on your face more than once because you dozed off while looking at Reels. This adjustable mount offers an adjustable gooseneck that will hold steady in just about any position. The integrated clamp can hold any modern smartphone, even if you have a monstrous model like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Plus, it simply clamps to a desk, nightstand, or bedframe, so it’s easy to install or move around without damaging your walls or furniture. — Stan Horaczek

SOFAMIRI Auto Clicker for iPhone TIK Tok Remote Control

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Once your phone is mounted in the perfect spot, you don’t want to have to keep poking it to go to the next video or turn the page on your Kindle. This ring-style device connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and allows you to swipe through TikToks and Reels or move through the pages of a book at the simple click of a button. It also offers media controls, so you can start a stop romantic music should you choose to celebrate Valentine’s the old-fashioned way (by listening to Jimmy Buffett and eating a cheeseburger in your bedroom paradise). — Stan Horaczek

Philips SmartSleep Connected Sleep and Wake-Up Light

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You could add LED strips around your room to bathe the place in sensuous red light. Or you could get this advanced sleep system to achieve good vibes all year round. This oddly suggestive-looking alarm clock provides color-changing light that can simulate sunrise or sunset depending on whether you’re trying to wake up or get to bed. It has a number of programmable modes and alarm settings to ensure you’re not jolted out of a pleasant dream in which Miley Cyrus or Harry Styles (or whatever celebrity you prefer) agrees to be your Valentine. — Stan Horaczek

Parachute Brushed Cotton Sheet Set

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Frustratingly, scientists haven’t figured out hover beds just yet, so we have to make the most of our boring old mattresses. These brushed cotton sheets took top honors in our list of the best sheets for their phenomenal feel and easy care. They’re slightly warmer than typical cotton sheets, ideal for cold February days. Maybe get a couple of pairs since you’ll probably need to change them on the 15th (because of all the Oreo crumbs). — Stan Horaczek

Quility Weighted Blanket for Adults – 20 LB

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The science isn’t totally settled on weighted blankets, but experts still regularly suggest them in order to trigger the brain-based benefits of deep pressure. This model won best overall in our buying guide of the best weighted blankets. It’s relatively affordable, easy to clean, and offers a solid 20 pounds of weight. There’s something very comforting about a heavy blanket smushing you back into bed, and this is a great way to achieve that. — Stan Horaczek

JMLHMXC Bamboo Laptop Desk Bed Tray Table

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Sure, you could spend $200 at a crowded restaurant full of arguing couples in uncomfortable clothing. Or, you could fire up a batch of Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken and eat it in bed with no fear of spilling, thanks to this sturdy tray. The 27.95” x 13.78” surface is split into three areas. The middle section offers five different angles, so it works with a book, a laptop, or a big plate of spaghetti. Flatten the whole thing out and use it to paint your 3-D printed miniatures with your partner in bed. What could be more romantic than applying a skimcoat to a space marine? Nothing, that’s what. — Stan Horaczek

Yogasleep Dohm

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Everyone knows that “Careless Whisper” has one of the most romantic arrangements of all time (it’s pure sax-ual tension), but once it sinks in that the time for romance is over, you want white noise to lull you to sleep. This mechanical white noise machine is the standard for its simple design, relatively affordable price, and its fan-based mechanism. Digital white noise machines can struggle with making truly random sounds, which can trick your brain into hearing weird things, including voices. Nothing kills a romantic evening like your brain hallucinating demon voices because you cheaped out on your sound machine. — Stan Horaczek

Loop Quiet Earplugs

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Maybe you don’t want to hear white noise while you sleep. Maybe you don’t want to hear anything. That’s where the Loop Quiet Earplugs come in. These suggestive-looking plugs come with four different tip sizes to perfectly match your ear holes. Once firmly inserted, they reduced incoming noise by up to 26 decibels. They come in nine different colors and are easy to clean once you’re done wearing them in bed. Now, let’s all take a moment to be proud of my ability to resist making even a single filthy pun during this write-up. — Stan Horaczek

BrüMate Uncork’d XL MÜV – 100% Leak-Proof 14oz Insulated Wine Tumbler

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Whether you’re sharing an expensive bottle of bubbly or downing a few glasses of box wine by yourself, you don’t want to spill in your bed. This 14-ounce insulated tumbler comes with a tight-fitting lid that promises 100-percent leak protection. That means if you doze off during your Sleepless in Seattle/You’ve Got Mail doubleheader, you won’t wake up in a puddle of anything that isn’t tears. — Stan Horaczek

Welfut Memory Foam Pillow-Couple Pillow Breathable Arm Rest

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The 1995 movie Mallrats hasn’t exactly aged well, but the uncomfortable metaphor about spooning delivered by Jason Lee still applies. Sure, cuddling is great, but if you’re the big spoon, you have to figure out where to shove that bottom arm. This pillow creates a solid tunnel that supports your partner’s head without putting pressure on your shoulder or bicep. Grab one, cuddle up with your partner, and watch a movie while you snuggle. You probably shouldn’t choose Mallrats. — Stan Horaczek

Hatch Restore 2 Sunrise Alarm Clock

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Nothing says “Romance!” like waking up with your partner’s iPhone alarm … and then consequently hearing them hit “snooze” at least seven times. Choose peace—and waking up with a sunrise—with the Hatch Restore 2. It comes with plenty of light options, soundscapes, alarm tones that aren’t annoying, and even bedtime stories to make waking up and winding down a team effort. The TikTok girls are right about this one. — Amanda Reed

XGIMI HORIZON Ultra 4K Laser Projector

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If you’re going to veg out in bed all day, a projector is the ultimate way to bring the movie date experience to your home. This model from XGIMI is luxe, but it’ll provide entertainment long after the Valentine’s Day season is over. Its resolution is 4K, guaranteeing excellent picture quality from streaming services. It has built-in speakers that sound surprisingly good. And it runs Google TV, so you can run all your favorite apps and watch videos right from the projector. — Brandt Ranj

Homesick Candles

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Homesick’s candles are an easy way to add some pleasant ambiance to your room, and they come in an assortment of fun names and scents. We’re recommending The Hunny Tree, a candle inspired by the literary classic Winnie the Pooh, which features notes of honeysuckle, cotton, oakwood, and more. Homesick says the candle has a burn time of between 60 and 80 hours, so it can reasonably last a month or more, depending on how long you keep it lit. — Brandt Ranj

Nintendo Switch

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Want to put your relationship to the test? Try playing a few rounds of Mario Kart with your partner and see if you’re still talking by the end of it. The Nintendo Switch (or even more visually stimulating Switch OLED) is the ultimate multiplayer gaming machine because it comes with a pair of Joy-Con controllers, so two players can hop into a game from the moment it’s booted up. It doesn’t hurt that the system can be used portable in addition to being plugged into a TV, so you can play a few rounds in bed if you don’t have a screen (or the projector recommended above) in the bedroom. — Brandt Ranj

The post 14 Valentine’s Day gifts that you’ll want to use in bed appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best for record collectors		Audio-Technica Sound Burger Portable Bluetooth Turntable		SEE IT	Gift vinyl history and new nostalgia this season.
Best nugget ice maker		GE Profile Opal 2.0		SEE IT	The “good ice” is a few scoops away when you gift this countertop ice maker.
Best mega-viral product		Solo Stove Ranger 2.0		SEE IT	We’ve been Solo Stove stans forever, even before Snoop Dogg partnered with the company.

The internet has changed the way we shop. You don’t need your wallet to purchase a pair of pants, and window shopping involves more tabs than peering through glass panes. Now, we’re more likely to buy something we see on social media versus not. According to TikTok, people are 1.4 times more likely to purchase something they saw on the app versus other platforms. And, plenty of things in 2023 took the internet by storm. If you’re shopping for a trendsetter—or finally seeing what the hype is all about—these viral gifts will come to your doorstep before Santa comes to town and help family and friends keep it reel for real in 2024.

• Best for record collectors: Audio-Technica Sound Burger Portable Bluetooth Turntable
• Best water bottle: Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
• Best nugget ice maker: GE Profile Opal 2.0
• Best LEGO set: LEGO Icons Flower Bouquet
• Best spin scrubber: SCRUBTASTIC Electric Spin Scrubber
• Best kitchen gadget: Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper
• Best mega-viral product: Solo Stove Ranger 2.0
• Best for her: Kitsch Satin Heatless Curling Set
• Best neck fan: TORRAS Coolify Portable Air Conditioner Neck Fan
• Best for bird-watching: BIRD BUDDY Original Smart Bird Feeder

Best for record collectors: Audio-Technica Sound Burger Portable Bluetooth Turntable

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From waiting for Anthony Fantano‘s reviews with bated breath to finding new gems from Locked Groove‘s massive collection, vinyl collection TikTok is a hub of tunes and bops you wouldn’t find otherwise. Gift a piece of vinyl history with Audio-Technica’s Sound Burger portable Bluetooth turntable. First introduced in the ’80s, this fan favorite returned in 2022 with major fervor. It’s easy to set up and use: Simply unscrew the tonearm fixing screw, connect the Sound Burger to your Bluetooth speaker, pop your record on (we’re enjoying Into It. Over It.’s “15 Years” here), and go on a nostalgia trip. If you already have a turntable under $500 and a pair of speakers, consider the Sound Burger a sub-$200 gift that will get the audio nerds arguing. (And gift them, or you, a subscription to Vinyl Me Please, while you’re at it.)

Best water bottle: Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

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The Stanley Quecher won’t come in time for Christmas; the Owala FreeSip, which rose in popularity this year, does. You can choose to chug or sip thanks to its FreeSip spout, and it keeps drinks cold for 24 hours. The wide mouth easily accommodates a handful of ice cubes and makes cleaning seem like less of a chore. A push-to-open lid protects the spout from your own germy hands, and the carrying loop doubles as a lock, so you don’t have accidental spills if you throw it into your bag or backpack. It’s our favorite water bottle for the gym, but it’s majorly giftable.

Best nugget ice maker: GE Profile Opal 2.0

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If you stumbled on #watertok, you’d know that pebble ice is the ice du jour of the internet. Nugget or pebble ice cools more evenly and rapidly than ice cubes. The GE Profile Opal 2.0 is our favorite smart ice maker. You can control it via phone, or it can be connected to your voice assistant of choice. Its stainless steel construction is premium, and little touches, like having a water tank that can be detached from the side of the machine to be refilled more easily, make a big difference in how easy it is to use. Additionally, the Opal 2.0 makes nugget-shaped ice rather than hollowed-out bullet-shaped cubes. If the GE Profile Opal 2.0 didn’t have smart features, it’d still be one of the most premium ice makers we could recommend for gifting.

Best LEGO set: LEGO Icons Flower Bouquet

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If you’re doing last-minute shopping for the crafty person in your life, there’s no better craft to do than building a Lego set. This one is under $100 and adds quirky charm to anyone’s home. It’s an alternative to real flowers, and the flower has posable petals and leaves, along with adjustable stem lengths. Your loved one will appreciate the chance to let their creativity bloom.

Best spin scrubber: SCRUBTASTIC Electric Spin Scrubber

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#Cleantok is one of the most relaxing corners of the internet. There is something about a dirty thing becoming sparkling and shiny that inspires us to clean up our own messes. The shower is the most difficult thing to get clean, thanks to grout crevices and having to bend over to clean the bottom of the tub/shower floor. This electric scrubber has an adjustable handle, three interchangeable heads, and is rechargeable. Please make sure your loved one doesn’t create a hazardous cleaner concoction.

Best kitchen gadget: Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1, 8 Blade Vegetable Chopper

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If your pal hasn’t sharpened up their knife skills, this chopper lets them cube cheese, shred carrots, and dice onions with ease. The included container is perfect for storing or keeping your Mirepoix ingredients together before throwing them into a cast iron Dutch oven. There’s also something satisfying about slamming a fist down on the lid. Our executive editor was influenced to buy it and highly recommends it: “I suck at making sandwiches,” Stan says. “The lettuce is too chunky, the tomatoes are lopsided, and the pickles drag everything out of the sandwich when I take a bite. I figured I could either spend my entire paycheck at Jersey Mike’s every week or jump on the chopped sandwich trend. It’s a little tricky to clean, but the sandwiches really are great.” You’ll have to change your friend’s contact name to “New Jersey Michael” after gifting this chopper.

Best mega-viral product: Solo Stove Ranger 2.0

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This one technically *might* come after Christmas. But, based on Solo Stove’s smart marketing campaign with Snoop Dogg, we’d be remiss to exclude this product that had a viral moment off of TikTok. It’s one of our favorite smokeless fire pits (we’ve had a Solo Stove stan Stan forever), and they make for a great gift for the grandparents. Snoop Dogg is celebrating the holiblaze and you can too sans smoke with the Solo Stove Ranger 2.0.

Best neck fan: TORRAS Coolify Portable Air Conditioner Neck Fan

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It may be cold outside, but we all know the time to buy things for spring and summer is now when it’s the off-season. This Coolify neck fan comes with a built-in ceramic semiconductor radiator that provides air conditioning. It also features a fan with a motor that operates at a speedy 500 rpm, blowing cool air out and up to your face through 36 vents. At just .77 pounds, it’s lightweight and has a sleek design. The included lithium-ion battery charges in about 2.5 hours and lasts up to 4 hours in cooling mode and up to 8 hours in fan mode. It’s on the pricey side, but having an air conditioner at all times? Major upgrade, if you ask us.

Best for bird-watching: BIRD BUDDY Original Smart Bird Feeder

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If you’re shopping for a birding buddy or someone who wants to channel their inner Mary Poppins, we absolutely adore this smart bird feeder. You won’t need a pair of binoculars to see feathered friends thanks to a removable camera that automatically snaps photos. Its app alerts you to visitors and can identify more than 1,000 bird species. You can mount the feeder in many different ways, and there’s very little assembly required. Maybe your pal can train some crows while they’re at it.

The post The best last-minute internet gifts for the TikTok lover in your life appeared first on Popular Science.

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• Best bang-for-the-buck headphones: Meze Audio 109 PRO
• Best professional-grade headphones: Audeze MM-500 Planar-Magnetic Headphones
• Best summit-fi headphones: Focal Utopia 2022
• Best portable DAC/amp: iFi xDSD Gryphon
• Best wireless headphones: DALI IO-12
• Best Bluetooth turntable: Cambridge Audio ALVA TT V2 Direct Drive Turntable
• Best powered stereo speakers: KEF LS50 Wireless II + KC62 Subwoofer
• Best passive bookshelf speakers: Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3
• Best multiroom connected speakers: Bluesound PULSE M 
• Best spatial speaker: Syng Cell Alpha

Best bang-for-the-buck headphones: Meze Audio 109 PRO

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Since being launched in 2015, the Meze Audio 99 Classics headphones have been a gateway drug to the audiophile addiction because of the immediate rush delivered by the detailed but never-fatiguing sound. Well, that precision-driven high is heightened 10x by the Meze Audio 109 PRO, one of the all-star introductions of 2022, thanks to its comfortable balance of euphoria and technicalities. A dynamic, open-backed headphone, the 109 PRO shares the design language and agreeable ergonomics of its sibling but refines and reinforces the organic texturing and warm but never congested bass response thanks to a new beryllium-coated polymer + cellulose-carbon driver in the sustainably harvested walnut ear cups. Punchy with panache that performs well above its $799 price point, the 109 PRO can be another flavor to some and end-game to others, able to please an audiophile regardless of experience.

Never resting on their laurels, Meze introduced the extremely seductive Empyrean II in 2023, offering a flagship supple in sonics and aesthetics that outperforms many headphones in the $3,000-$5,000 range. But for pure value, the 109 Pro is still amazing (and cable upgrades can help it extract that last ounce of engagement).

Best professional-grade headphones: Audeze MM-500 Planar-Magnetic Headphones

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Know someone with a home studio that wishes they could work on their mixes more but is worried about disturbing housemates or neighbors? But they’re also just a music lover in general? Audeze—the Southern California-based headphone designer that probably did the most to popularize planar-magnetic headphones—introduced what amounts to a set of portable, personal near-field studio monitors in 2022. And they’re equally amazing for less analytical, more leisurely listening—especially with vocal material. Developed with renowned mix engineer Manny Marroquin, the $1,699 MM-500 feels solid in the hand but not excessive on the head. And, once music starts playing, it’s like the headphone itself isn’t even there—the song laid out before you without ever being overly diffuse, perfectly poised for a scintillating playback session or identifying where to apply that last little bit of EQ glue. Thanks to the lithe transients, spacious midrange, and energetic bass of its orthodynamic drivers, the MM-500 headphones can be both a daily driver and a sonic scalpel as it makes music more approachable and more transparent. It’s an imminently pleasuring, natural not just neutral response.

Does someone need to test the raw emotional response of a recording, whether a personal mix or a commercial one? The Sennheiser HD 660S2 stands as one of the best dynamic releases of 2023, thanks to its retooled, bass-reinforced revisions. It’s a supremely comfortable open-back headphone with a toned sense of imaging, offering a wide, silky soundstage buoyed by an underpinning of evocative sub-bass—great for sound design, gaming, or just lavishing in lush mids. Pair it with a deep well of output, a DAC/amp like the $399 HiFiMAN EF400, and become absorbed in pure engagement.

Best summit-fi headphones: Focal Utopia 2022 Headphones

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Suppose someone you love is looking to replicate the indulgence of a luxury listening station. In that case, the Focal Utopia headphones are as close to a pair of freestanding loudspeakers as you can slap on a head. These flagship open-back over-the-ear headphones produce an ultrawide frequency response and holographic imaging with startling realism thanks to 40mm M-shaped beryllium drivers inspired by high-end audiophile towers. Soft lambskin earcups and headphone padding make these headphones feel as good as they sound. As we said once in our best headphones roundup, the Focal Utopia 2020 is “the idyll ideal—impressing not with its sheer power, but with its absolute prowess.” And the $4,999 2022 model further enhances the emotional resonance while reducing the detrimental vibrations. Both highs and lows are extended without reduced focus or lightning-quick finesse, especially when paired with a DAC/amp such as the Naim Uniti Atom Headphone Edition.

Best portable DAC/amp: iFi xDSD Gryphon

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Those new ’cans can’t showcase their best without proper power, which can be difficult to get on the go … difficult, that is, if someone doesn’t have the iFi xDSD Gryphon. The magic of the Gryphon lies in its versatility, which more than justifies its $599 price. You can cut the cord and use it, when fully charged, for up to 8 hours on the go with Bluetooth streaming over SBC, AAC for iOS, and up to 96kHz using LDAC, LHDC/HWA, or aptX HD/Adaptive on Android devices. Or you plug it in via USB, Coax, or Optical and ensure that no audio bit gets adulterated by wireless compression. Once you’re listening, you can enhance bass and/or upper midrange presence, as well as soundstage with iFi’s innovative XBass II and XSpace analog enhancements. Connected to your PC over USB-C, it will act as an external soundcard, eliminating the need for a dedicated desk setup—perfect with headphones and, when the Gryphon accepts a digital source, ports on the back can even be used to feed an external amp or powered monitors. The tremendous 1000mW @ 32 ohms of power on offer over its balanced connection also means this DAC can drive even very demanding headphones. The single-ended connection is much more limited at 320mW but is still enough to drive the vast majority of cans available today. And if you’re a fan of sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs), don’t worry. The Gryphon also offers an iEMatch mode (assignable to either output) to prevent hiss from invading your favorite tracks, while maintaining dynamics.

Looking for something more pocketable but still powerful? The GO bar is a $329 32-bit/384kHz USB-C DAC/amp that offers 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs with 475mW max. into 32 ohms​/7.5V max. into 600 ohms, as well as support for selectable filters, iEMatch, XBass+, XSpace, DSD256, MQA, and more.

Got a pair of corded in-ear monitors and prefer to go wireless? The iFi GO pods pack much of the same codec support and compatibility as the xDSD Gryphon in two high-output rechargeable ear loops, turning any IEMs—thanks to exchangeable connectors—into “true wireless” earbuds.

Best no-app ANC headphones: DALI IO-12

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So you know someone (it can be you, we don’t judge) who wants to disconnect from the world and from wires … well, this person is in luck. Assuming the recipient of these Bluetooth headphones likes the color Dark Chocolate (not milk chocolate, not 70% cacao, the only finish is Dark Chocolate with matte gold accents), the IO-12 from Danish speaker manufacturer DALI is a sweet, sweet treat. At the heart of these $1,300 headphones are 50mm paper fibre woofers and a custom soft magnetic composite (SMC) voice coil system inherited from the EPICON loudspeakers, which can run over $10,000 each. The end result is a response that’s 10 – 48,000 Hz on paper and effortless, natural, impactful yet distortion-free in your ear (cradled in the generous, leather-clad earcups). Low mechanical loss means more high-level detail, and the IO-12 is imbued with ample agile definition throughout its reproduction. Want more dramatic bass? There’s a dedicated button solely for adding a bit more low-end presence (though I prefer the timbre without the thickening). There’s also a button for power/pairing, one for ANC/Transparency mode … and that’s the totality of the controls. Plus, there’s no app to distract you from what these headphones do best: sound fabulous. When some people speak of separation, they mean from their surroundings thanks to noise cancellation, which is present and effective for up to 35 hours on a full charge. But the even more striking separation in the IO-12 is found between the notes—the audible tangles and transitions of a superbly spacious closed-back headphone, whether connected via Bluetooth 5.2 (SBC, AAC, aptX Adaptive), USB-C (with a DAC supporting up to 24-bit/96 kHz sample rate), or passively to headphone jack via the included 3.5mm-to-3.5mm cable.

Best Bluetooth turntable: Cambridge Audio ALVA TT V2 Direct Drive Turntable

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If stability and versatility are the name of the game, Cambridge Audio is the name of the game-winner. The British audio engineers have delivered an attractive, well-appointed medium-torque direct drive turntable ready to integrate with nearly any system thanks to a built-in phono stage (which can be turned off if you prefer external components) and support for the SBC, AAC, and aptX HD Bluetooth codecs. And, no matter how the turntable is paired to speakers (or headphones), the inert plinth with its hefty lunar grey top plate and polyoxyethylene platter ensures no resonance introduces any distortion to the custom moving coil cartridge. That removable headshell, with its elliptical stylus and frequency response of 30Hz–20kHz, ±1dB, has a high output of 2mV@1kHz and digs up the top-end details of your albums without neglecting a grippy grounding in rhythmic precision. Whether spinning at 33 1/3 or 45, this $1,999 turntable is maximized minimalism and its noise-free tracking captures the dynamic flow of every full-bodied groove effortlessly. (Not sure if your recipient has enough albums? Consider a gift subscription to Vinyl Me Please.)

Looking for something more upper entry-level? Nothing wrong with that! Audiophiles don’t emerge like Athena, fully formed from another’s headspace and innately imbued with wisdom. No, they must be nurtured and taught the ins and outs of signal-chain foibles. And they’re not all going to have the space or inclination to start stacking components. A great entry point for the budding music-first audiophile is a turntable packed with connectivity options. The $399 Audio-Technica AT-LP120XBT-USB Manual Direct-Drive Turntable—featuring a high-torque DC servo direct-drive motor with selectable 33-1/3, 45, or 78 rpm speeds—is compatible with virtually any setup, thanks to its variety of outputs, both digital and analog. On the digital side, you can pair the turntable via aptX with Bluetooth speakers, headphones, or DAC/amps—like the Gryphon above of the KEF LS50 Wireless II below. Listeners can also use the USB port for copying your albums digitally to a computer. In the analog domain, the built-in preamp allows you to connect the turntable to line-level inputs on a preamp or receiver. You can also bypass the preamp to connect to an external unit. Thanks to its multiplicity of output types, the AT-LP120XBT-USB is a turntable you can hold onto as you amass a rig and bank account more in line with boutique turntables that cost in the multi-thousands.

Best streaming speakers: KEF LS50 Wireless II + KC62 Subwoofer

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If you want to give someone sonic depth without a deep footprint, package the KEF LS50 Wireless II standmount speakers with the KC62 subwoofer. The dual 6-inch woofers in the improbably small sealed subwoofer couple perfectly to one of our top powered speakers, an effortlessly integrated component capable of bringing a wide sweet spot to a small room. KEF’s striking, copper-hued Uni-Q driver—backed by Metamaterial Absorption Technology to reduce unwanted reflections and distortion—orients a 1-inch vented aluminum-dome tweeter in the acoustic center of a 5 ¼-inch magnesium-aluminum alloy woofer cone to create a wide listening sweet spot. A bass-reflex cabinet with elliptical rear ports is designed to maximize accurate, musical low end. And those bass notes can reach as low as 11Hz once handed off seamlessly via DSP to the KC62, opening the LS50’s headroom to soar. Plus, copious connectivity (Spotify to TIDAL to Apple Music; AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast, and Roon; Optical, Coaxial, and HDMI; plus Bluetooth 5.0 for one of the turntables above) means you’ll never want for showcase sounds. At a little under $3,500 for the pair, it’s not a cheap set-up, but its wow factor is priceless.

Prefer tower speakers to components? The KEF LS60 Wireless ($4,999/pair), released to celebrate the company’s 60th anniversary, takes all the advancements from the LS50 Wireless II + KC62 and refines them in a floor-standing footprint. Their body is slim, while their soundstage is anything but thanks to that Uni-Q array. And the positioning around the tweeter-midrange woofer combo of four low-frequency drivers per speaker ensures absolute coherence in that substantial sweet spot. These are vertical and versatile.

Suppose you’re looking just for bookshelf speakers that still offer plenty of lows and hi-fi pedigree. In that case, we recommend the JBL 4305P ($2,200/pair), which debuted at CES in January 2022 and is the first powered model in its consumer Studio Monitor series. This fully loaded speaker features a 45-25,000 Hz frequency response, built-in Class D amplification, 24-bit/192 kHz converters, and six audio inputs that can connect to a huge range of digital and analog sources to provide comprehensive, hi-res wired and wireless connectivity. Each speaker features a 2410H-2 1-inch compression driver mated to a High-Definition Imaging horn for crystal-clear highs and lifelike dynamics. A 5.25-inch cast-frame, fiber-composite cone woofer operates in a bass-reflex configuration with dual front-firing tuned ports. The end result is the lively dynamics expected from a horn-guided tweeter presented with punchy authority, especially in its beefy midrange; that’s not surprising for a company with heritage firmly entrenched in both recording studios and live sound reinforcement. When it comes to high-res streaming, the 4305P takes quality to the next level, thanks to an integrated streaming engine that provides wired and wireless network audio capabilities via Ethernet, Google Chromecast Built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, and Bluetooth 5.1, combo XLR and ¼-inch TRS phono connectors, asynchronous USB and optical digital inputs and a 3.5mm analog in.

Much like KEF, JBL also offers a more robust upgrade in its powered speaker family. The JBL 4329P speakers ($4,500/pair) are standmount studio monitors with 8-inch woofers paired to 1-inch horn-loaded tweeters, powered by plentiful amplification. They’re accurate, articulate, but also very authoritative, bringing the best of the control room and the concert hall to your listening station.

Best two-channel setup: Bowers & Wilkins 607 S3

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If your appetite for audio is vast, but your space is limited, these entry-level two-way speakers from venerable British hi-fi brand Bowers & Wilkins won’t make you sacrifice room or resolution. Offered in black, white, and oak, these compact but highly capable speakers (which go for $900/pair) are perfect for a two-channel system flanking a turntable (may we suggest the Alva TT V2 above) or even on a desktop. Combining a 5-inch silver “Continuum” bass/midrange woofer with a 1-inch Decoupled Double Dome titanium tweeter behind an acoustically transparent grille, the 607 S3 speakers incorporate trickle-down technology from the company’s 700 and 800 series. The upgraded tweeter assembly (formerly featuring aluminum) has an elongated tapered tube-loading system, reducing standing waves and accentuating dexterity. Crisp, nimble highs dart through the open imaging, while the Fixed Suspension Transducer (backed by a dimpled, low-distortion Flowport) flexes with conviction no matter the rhythmic workout. The sound emanating comes across as bigger than its source, a richer response than the enclosure belies—one perfect for wiry genres from metal to jazz. Really want to open up their textured, punchy prowess? Refine your signal chain, increase the amplification, but most of all, dial in a subwoofer, such as the KEF Kube 10b, to augment the 607 S3’s 52-28,000 Hz (±3 dB) response. The 607 S3 speakers have the kind of sweet house sound that sparks a desire to invest in increasingly higher-end B&W models, but even after being upgraded, they can remain the perfect second system or even act as rear channels in a surround sound system.

Rated at a sensitivity of 84dB/W/m with 8ohm nominal impedance and power handling of 30-100W, the 607 S3 has excellent synergy with another product designed across the Atlantic: the $2,999 Cambridge Audio EVO 150, a 150W-per-channel Class D amp and high-resolution network player with an ESS SABRE ES9018k2m DAC, Bluetooth apX HD, AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Roon, HDMI ARC, Toslink, coaxial, and a MM phono stage built in. You’d be hard-pressed to find a centerpiece with more convenient connectivity and convincing musicality for the price.

(If someone is looking to assemble a system piece by piece and streaming capabilities are less of an immediate priority, the newly launched ARCAM Radia Series is ready to facilitate spacious musicality, midrange accuracy, and smooth highs without losing articulate timing, especially the ARCAM A25 stereo integrated amplifier.)

Best compact smart speakers: Bluesound PULSE M

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So far, we’ve suggested lots of gear for an optimized listening station. But maybe you are shopping for someone interested in a crowded kitchen, a cozy bedroom, a cramped home office, or all of the above. A great place to start with a multiroom set-up is any place with the $449 Bluesound PULSE M, a compact cylinder of a speaker that runs off BluOS, letting it stream music from a myriad of sources over WiFi. Whether in the corner of a kitchen counter or on a bedside table, the PULSE M’s upward-firing woofer and dual tweeters (angled outward 45 degrees) disperse a surprisingly expressive soundstage, considering its more diminutive dimensions. Pair two in parallel and you can have a wider, true stereo setup, or put them throughout a home and organize them by zones to handoff audio just to the speaker where the listener is or broadcast the same track throughout all rooms.

You can integrate these with any streamer, amp, or speaker system running BluOS; for example, augment them with the Bluesound PULSE SUB+ or put them as rear channels with the Bluesound PULSE SOUNDBAR+. You can play favorite songs throughout the house by having them in a different room but on the same network with a BlueOS streamer/amp and your own passive speakers, such as the $999 Bluesound Powernode and the B&W 607 S3 speakers above. Or have them share WiFi and distribute the jams with the $1,499 PSB Alpha iQ stereo speakers, if you have a surface/stands to take advantage of the true separation and expansive sweet spot of a more powerful all-in-one system with a 24-bit/192kHz DAC, full MQA decoding, plus a built-in MM phono preamp and RCA jacks plus ground terminal if that Audio-Technica turntable above was enticing. If you want to stick with just the PULSE M, however, AirPlay 2 or aptX HD Bluetooth let you stream directly to it (from a smartphone or, say, a Bluetooth turntable like the ones we recommended above), plus the PULSE M has a USB-A port for connecting file-filled thumb drives and a 3.5mm dual analog/digital input for connecting a source with an aux cable.

(Buying for someone already invested in the Sonos whole-home audio ecosystem? All good; we have thoughts on the Dolby Atmos-ready Era 300 that debuted this year.)

Best spatial speakers: Syng Cell Alpha

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This is definitely the least traditional audiophile gift on this list, and very indulgent, but sometimes the right choice is something outside the box and definitely outside the boxy shape of standard speakers. While the $2,499 Syng Cell Alpha wireless loudspeaker may be mistaken for a mid-century lamp or an image collection apparatus on some sort of Street View vehicle, it’s actually equal parts a multidirectional speaker packed with modern connectivity and a retrofuturistic conversation piece—a perfect present because the only thing audiophiles like more than listening to music is having people ask them how they like to do it. And the Cell Alpha, conceived by a former Apple industrial designer, gives you lots to talk about with its “Triphonic Sound”—a circular array of three coaxial drivers pairing 19mm soft-dome tweeters to 76mm midrange drivers in horns projecting the mids/highs in user-definable direction(s). Using the Syng Space app, you can shift the focus on each floor-, table-, or ceiling-mounted Cell Alpha independently, though where these orbs really dazzle is arranged and optimized in a constellation. This isn’t surround sound in the discrete channel home theater sense, but it’s definitely a (sur)round sound with a wide, enveloping soundfield. The Cell Alphas free you from the tyranny of the convention L/R stereo and a set sweet spot (one of several innovations to send some audiophiles crying sacrilege, but we have plenty of picks for a fuddy-duddy above). And, with two force-balanced 165mm carbon-fiber woofers, even a single Cell Alpha is capable of low-end extension to 23Hz, making them one of the most immersive party speakers we can imagine (and also perfected poised to deliver all the rumble movies demand with an optional HDMI link cable). Made for the streaming era while also compatible with USB-C sources, the AirPlay 2-enabled Cell Alpha is throaty, textured … bassy, yes, but a singular active speaker and definitely not a passive listen.

The post Last-minute gifts for the audiophile in your orbit appeared first on Popular Science.

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Best overall		AirPods Pro 2		SEE IT	Apple’s earbuds always impress.
Best camera		GoPro HERO11 Black Mini		SEE IT	This pint-sized camera captures king-sized photos and video even underwater.
Best for DIY		Cricut Joy Xtra		SEE IT	Cricut’s latest machine is the ideal gift for the maker in your life.

We get it. Holiday gift-giving season is at its peak, and it’s moving quickly. Don’t worry, procrastinators. There’s still time to get something great for the people around you (or yourself; we won’t judge) and have it wrapped and ready without anyone being the wiser. To help get you started on finishing your shopping, we’ve collected gifts across every category and price point and labeled them to make finding just the right thing that much easier. Be warned: These gifts are great but will likely sell out (or see their delivery date slip), so act fast.

Best camera that can go anywhere: GoPro HERO11 Black Mini

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If your gift list includes someone who loves to travel, they should include the ultimate adventure camera. Weighing in at just 4.7 ounces, this miniaturized version of the rugged GoPro HERO11 Black camera still sports some truly high-end features. It can pull down 4K or even 5.3K footage, depending on how much resolution you want (and how much space you have on your memory card). GoPro’s robust mounting system and accessory selection allow the camera to go just about anywhere. It easily attaches to a bike helmet, a car door, a tripod, or even your dog. Built-in HyperSmooth 5.0 tech makes every video look like it was shot with a high-end stabilizer, even if you’re using an accessory like the new Extension Pole + Waterproof Shutter Remote accessory to capture some truly unique and otherwise impossible angles. Plug the camera in to charge, and it can automatically upload footage to the cloud while automatically creating a highlight video of the adventure; no editing skills necessary.

Best for movie nights: Popsmith Starter Bundle

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If popcorn is the preferred snack of the household, consider Popsmith the harbinger of puffy stuff that rivals movie theater fare. The Popsmith Starter Bundle gives you a luxe popcorn popper and 10 ready-to-make popcorn kits—five each of the Oh Sooo Buttery and Sweet n Salty Kettle Corn mixes—to make as much popcorn as you want. You’ll have to be a little careful when using the Kettle Corn mix so the sugar doesn’t burn, but making it is easy: Simply dump the pre-measured package (which includes coconut oil, seasoning, and kernels) into the popper over medium-high heat, spin the handle clockwise, and wait until the popping fades. You’ll have enough popcorn to split among four people. You can reorder your favorite popcorn mix when you’re done, or you can buy kernels in bulk to perfect your own at-home recipes. The popper is dishwasher-safe, making clean-up just as easy.

Best for music lovers: AirPods Pro (2nd gen.) with USB-C

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What can we say, if you’re shopping for a last-minute gift this holiday season, the AirPods Pro 2 should be at the top of your list. They’re our pick for the best wireless earbuds due to their audio fidelity, active noise cancellation support, battery life, and comfort. They work best when paired to Apple devices, but will still work well with Android phones and Windows computers. Better still, these earbuds have been discounted by $50 for a limited time during the holidays, so pick up a pair now before they jump pack up in price.

Best for tea drinkers: Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Tea Kettle

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Fellow’s electric kettle is a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves tea, coffee, or wants to expedite cooking tasks like rehydrating dried vegetables. This kettle has an immaculate, minimalist design, but its understated look belies its impressive technical features. You can set the kettle to a precise temperature, which is displayed on an LCD screen on the kettle’s base. Additional features include the ability to set a stopwatch to fully extract the flavor of your tea and coffee, which is helpful for those who use expensive leaves and beans, respectively. This countertop appliance has a place in almost any kitchen, and the person you gift it to will wonder how they did without one for so long. Know somebody who wants to take pour-over control to the pinnacle? Invest a bit more in the Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Studio Electric Gooseneck Kettle.

Best for pizza enthusiasts: Ooni Volt

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What’s better than a pizza oven that allows you to make pizzeria-quality pies at home? One that can be used whether it’s sunny, rainy, snowy, or anything in between. The Ooni Volt is the company’s first electric pizza oven, the ultimate gift for aspiring pizzaiolos. The oven can reach temperatures of up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit (most conventional ovens top out at either 500 or 550) and has heating elements above and below the pizza stone to ensure even cooking. Dials on the front of the Ooni Volt make it easy to adjust its temperature, bias heat to the top or bottom heating element, or set a cooking timer. When the Volt is at its maximum temperature, you can cook a twelve-inch Neopolitan pizza in under two minutes. Little design touches, like a clear pane on the front door that allows you to monitor your cook, ensure you’ll always get excellent results.

Best for leftover lovers: Anyday Everyday Set

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There’s “microwave-safe” cookware and then there’s the Everyday Set from Anyday. The frosted glass cookware is dishwasher safe, freezer safe, non-toxic, and comes in multiple sizes, which is why we’re inclined to jump in with both feet and gift the Everyday set. We’ve been pleased not only by how well this cookware performs—our from-scratch and reheated microwaved foods have never been cooked so consistently—but by how each size is perfect for different applications. The home cook with this set will be able to make everything from a full pot of rice to a small chicken completely in the microwave. The company’s website offers a bevy of new recipes for the microwave skeptic, too, in case you’re shopping for a skeptic.

Best for cast iron curious cooks: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Skillet

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The classic. The thing you want your grandmother to pass down to you. Get it today and, every time you use it, the seasoning will just get more set, making it increasingly nonstick. Unlike a normal pan, cast iron pans have superior heat retention and no weak spots that produce uneven heating. While cast irons are a kitchen essential, seasoning them can be a stressful process—so this Lodge option comes pre-seasoned so you can get cooking right away. Use it to sear, saute, bake, broil, braise, fry or grill. From Dutch pancakes to cast iron pizzas, the possibilities are endless.

Best for pasta makers: MARCATO Atlas 150

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If you’re shopping for someone interested in making homemade pasta, our only gift recommendation is the MARCATO Atlas 150. Made in Italy from steel and colored aluminum, the machine feels solid in the hand, and is designed to last a lifetime. The hand-crank pasta maker comes with a clamp to hold it steady, and a pair of blades to cut thick and thin noodles. The Atlas 150 can be used to make pasta sheets between .19 and .020 thick, which means it’s suitable for making any well-known pasta shape, including lasagna sheets. Using the Atlas 150 will require some elbow grease—unless you generously gift them a drive motor, too—but the results will be well worth it. Once they start making homemade pasta, it’ll be hard for them to go back to a box.

Best for cooks in small kitchens: Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Pot

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Kuhn Rikon’s 4th Burner Pot was specifically designed to be used on the smallest burner found on a stovetop. If you’re shopping for a home cook who cares about efficiency, this gift will please them immeasurably. The pot comes with a steam basket, which can also be used to boil smaller vegetables or thick pasta (think rigatoni) and easily lift them out of boiling water. Small touches, like the covering on the top and side handles that make both parts grippier are especially nice touches. We guarantee the chef in your life doesn’t have this tool in their arsenal, and they’ll immediately begin figuring out the most efficient ways to use it.

Best for fermenters: Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit

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A fermenting kit can add delicious elements to your kitchen. Whether it’s a crispy pickle with a sandwich, kimchi in a noodle bowl, or sauerkraut with German sausage, it’s surprisingly easy to make these aged eats from home. One of the beauties of pickling is that there’s not a ton of prep upfront, and then you check the lid for a few days, and voila: impressive homemade pickled delicacies. This is a perfect gift for the culinary-inclined and will last them for years. Check online for recipes, then mix it up once you’ve mastered the basics.

Best for new iPhone owners: CASETiFY Impact Ring Stand Case for iPhone 15 Pro

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If you know someone on your list who is getting Apple’s latest and greatest phone, you should gift them a protective case to go with it. CASETiFY’s Impact case is the full package: Its unique design will help their phone stand out, with reinforced corners, 6.6-foot drop protection, and compatibility with MagSafe. Its coolest feature is its integrated stand, which lets you prop your phone up by pulling out the rim around its camera, which folds out. This stand will make it easier for the person you gift it to watch videos, make and take video calls, or keep up with live events while their hands are full.

Best for audiophiles: Bang & Olufsen Beosound A5

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Audiophiles can be hard to shop for if you’re not into the hobby yourself, but this year our gift recommendation is simple. It’s hard to describe just how good Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A5 sounds without seeming hyperbolic. The portable speaker was excels from its industrial design—including a sustainable design that allows pieces to be swapped out if one breaks—to B&O’s latest amp and drivers. The Beosound A5 delivers room-filling sound that’s on-par with many premium at-home speakers we’ve tried, except that you can grab its wooden handle and take it anywhere. Smart features like support for Wi-Fi connectivity and AirPlay 2 are technical cherries on top of a great-sounding cake. In its category, Bang & Olufsen’s Beosound A5 is peerless.

Best for aspiring bakers: Falcon Enamelware Bake Set

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Falcon’s five-piece Enamelware Bake Set is a great gift for a baker who wants to up their brownie, mac & cheese, crumble, buckle, or crisp game. It’s comprised of: one 1 x 14½-inch bake pan, one 1 x 13⅜-inch bake pan, one 1 x 12¼-inch bake pan, and a pair of 2 x 7⅞-inch pie dishes. Each piece is made from dishwasher safe, freezer-friendly, ceramic-covered steel. This bakeware can be used safely in ovens set up to 530 degrees fahrenheit, but is not suitable for microwaves. One of our favorite aspects of this set is that each piece fits neatly within the others, which makes them easy to store and grab. Anyone who wants a fully equipped but clutter-free kitchen will love this gift. It’s even available in three colors: white with a blue rim, pillarbox red, and pigeon grey, so you can find one that matches their style.

Best for language lovers: Vasco V4 Language Translator Device

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Traveling to a new country can be intimidating if you don’t know the language, but Vasco’s V4 can solve that problem once and for all. The device, which looks like a smartphone, can translate between 108 languages by speaking into it. Translations will be displayed on its five-inch display. You can also get text and photo translations in 90 and 108 languages, respectively. The V4 works over WiFi but can connect to cellular satellites in roughly 200 countries. Cellular connectivity is free for the device’s lifetime, so there’s no monthly or one-time fee you have to pay while traveling. Vasco says the V4 is dust-proof, shock-proof, and water-resistant, so it should hold up in the face of minor accidents. The company says it can last for roughly five days per charge, but the amount you get will be dependent on how often you use it.

Best for meal preppers: Souper Cubes

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We all know at least one person who likes to think ahead and always have a meal ready in advance. Do them a favor and gift them a set of Souper Cubes. The silicon containers have four 250mL (roughly 1.1 cup) cavities, which can be used to store liquid or solid ingredients to be deployed at a moment’s notice. Your giftee could use two of the molds for soup, and leave the other two for flavorful toppings. Pre-shredded vegetables and cheese separated in their own sections could be defrosted and deployed during an at-home taco night. The Souper Cubes are an excellent gift for the efficient home chef, or someone who would like to like to cook at home more often but finds themselves running out of time.

Best for bread bakers: Emile Henry Modern Bread Cloche

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If the person you’re shopping for this holiday season isn’t interested in using an appliance to bake bread, we have the solution: Emile Henry’s Modern Bread Cloche. This two-piece ceramic baking dish creates the perfect baking environment for an artisan loaf by tightly surrounding it with radiating heat. Additionally, using this Cloche won’t require a baker to carefully lower their dough into a too-hot-to-touch preheated Dutch oven. When the loaf is done, the top piece can be easily removed to unveil the loaf, while the bottom piece of the Cloche features a textured pattern, which prevents bread from sticking to it. Whether they’re making dough by hand, stand mixer, or machine, Emile Henry’s Modern Bread Cloche will make sure each loaf they’ve proofed comes out perfectly.

Best for cookie makers: Silpat Half Size Nonstick Baking Mat

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Silpat’s nonstick baking mats are legendary for their durability and the ability to keep even the stickiest substances—looking at you molton hot sugar leaking cinnamon buns—from sticking or leaving a mark. This two pack of half-sized baking mats is designed to fit perfectly inside a pair of 13- x 18-inch baking sheets. These mats can withstand temperatures up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit, and only need to be lightly rinsed with water to clean. A baker who’s tired of tearing off sheets of parchment paper each time they bake, which can be especially tedious during long baking sessions, would be thrilled to receive these Silpat Baking Mats as a gift.

Best for breakfast lovers: Made In Carbon Steel Griddle

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Need a gift for someone who wakes up every morning ready to make bacon and eggs? MadeIn’s Carbon Steel Griddle, which is long enough to fit across two burners, has a large surface area for bacon, eggs, french toast, pancakes, and other breakfast delights. Its carbon steel construction is pre-seasoned and naturally nonstick, and its sides are tilted inward to catch grease and keep your kitchen clean. You can use this griddle on gas, induction, and electric cooktops. While we’re recommending this for folks who love breakfast, it’s just as useful for making smash burgers, sauteed vegetables, and plenty of other savory delights.

Best for ice cream wizards: Ninja Creami

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The Ninja Creami is the only gift you should consider for someone who loves ice cream. The set-it-and-forget it nature of the Creami allows you to make ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes, Italian ice, and other frozen treats with minimal intervention. After freezing the ice cream base in the included pint container overnight, you stick it into the Creami, hit one button, and the machine takes care of the rest. Blades will churn the ice cream to the correct consistency based on the frozen treat you’ve selected. You have the option to pause midway through to fold in mix-ins, but beyond that all you have to do is wait for the machine to do its job. This deluxe package comes with a pair of XL-sized prints, each of which holds 24 ounces of ice cream. Additional XL pints can be purchased separately if you want a constant supply of ice cream.

Best for fancy home cooks: Breville Joule Turbo

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Breville’s Joule Turbo is the latest model in the company’s successful sous vide line, and it succeeds in solving the biggest issue with this style of cooking: the time commitment. The Turbo modulates the temperature of the water bath rather than keeping it at a set temperature to dramatically reduce the cook time of certain dishes. You still get all the benefits of sous vide cooking, including getting consistently perfect results with little to no fuss, just more quickly. The amount of time you’ll save will vary based on what’s being cooked, but some cook 50 percent faster. The home chef who “already has everything” will undoubtedly love this kitchen upgrade.

Best for sleep lovers: FluffCo Down Feather Pillow

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If you know someone who can’t wait to get a full eight hours of sleep every night, upgrade their experience with FluffCo’s Down Feather Pillow. Filled with premium duck down wrapped in cotton, its balance of softness and firmness will appeal to side and back sleepers alike. This pillow comes with its own pillow protector, but the person you gift it to can even get the pillow dry-cleaned to keep it in like-new condition if they’d like to do without. This is the type of practical gift anyone on your list would appreciate.

Best for conscientious concertgoers: Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

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Buying surprise concert tickets for someone can get dicey—even if you know they love the artist, it’s hard to make sure their calendar is and will remain open before they get the gift. Or that they won’t just buy tix themselves. But something you can do is improve every concert experience with reusable earplugs. Low-profile, with a carrying case and multiple sizes of eartips (just like your favorite wireless earbuds), the Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs use an attenuating filter in the central sound tube to reduce harmful sound levels by 22dB without muffling what is heard. This improves everything from performances to weird conversations in the bathroom line. These earplugs may only cost $30 (stash an extra pair in the car for yourself or a forgetful friend), but someone preserving their hearing is a priceless gift that keeps on giving.

Best for handy people: Leatherman Super Tool 300

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If you’re searching for the best bang-for-your-buck gift for the person in your life who spends their time fixing things or tackling DIY projects, you can’t beat Leatherman’s Super Tool 300. Its name may seem hyperbolic, but the multitool has 19 functions, ranging from cutting and slicing to measuring and plying. It’s made from stainless steel, which is a durable material that won’t bend or crack in the middle of the job. Leatherman’s 25-year warranty doesn’t hurt either. Part of the fun of this gift will be hearing about all the ways your giftee uses it over time, which is especially exciting because the Super Tool 300 encourages creativity through its multi-functionality.

Best for the couch potato: The Comfy Wearable Blanket

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The Comfy looks ridiculous, but any semblance of pretension melts away whenever one puts it on. This is basically a blanket masquerading as a one-size-fits-all oversized hoodie. The Comfy is probably best recommended for at-home use, but it’s well worth a look if you’re shopping for someone who wants to binge-watch shows all winter without freezing. The Comfy’s sherpa inner lining and microfiber outer lining are soft to the touch, which makes it easy to wear for hours at a time, while the centered pouch gives one a place to put their hands. The Comfy is objectively ridiculous, but it’s also ridiculously warm.

Need something that can be worn or laid on the ground as a blanket? The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho features compressible eraLoft insulation that’s water resistant and lightweight without sacrificing warmth. When worn, it offers a barrier against wind and rain, while also offering a barrier against the cold hard ground when spread out.

Best for someone who needs a lighter layer: Jack Wolfskin Men’s Routeburn Pro

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Jack Wolfskin’s Routeburn Pro will keep the person you gift it to toasty all season long without adding the weight and bulk commonly associated with Winter jackets. That’s because it uses a material technology called Texashield, which offers excellent insulation, wind resistance and water resistance in a thin layer. It’s even breathable, so there’s little chance of your giftee accidentally overheating if they’re exerting themselves while shoveling. We’ve worn this jacket ourselves, and in our tests it did an excellent job protecting us from harsh winds without making sitting down in a New York City subway seat a major inconvenience.

Best for campers and commuters: Hydro Oasis 128 oz Insulated Cup

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Hydro Flask’s Insulated Cup is a double-insulated stainless steel mug made from proprietary materials that allow it to keep beverages hot for several hours without requiring any fancy technology. The cup is available in over a dozen colors and three sizes, but we’re partial to the 16-ounce option as it’s the equivalent of a medium-sized coffee or tea from popular cafes. The leakproof lid creates a tight enough seal that Hydro Flask’s Insulated Cup can be stored in a bag or purse without spilling all over the place. The icing on the cake is that this mug can be cleaned in a dishwasher. (Does your gift recipient need some summer hydration help as well? We have lots of insulated water bottles we recommend.)

Best for e-nthusiastic e-readers: Amazon Kindle

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We all know someone trying to read more, so what better gift to give them than a Kindle? The device has a 6-inch display that’s similar to that of a paperback, has enough storage to hold hundreds of books, and can last several weeks on a charge. The Kindle is a better device for reading than a smartphone or tablet because its e-ink screen will diffuse light rather than create a glare. This display is also easier on your eyes, which is helpful during late-night reading sessions.

Best for battery life worriers: Anker 20,000mAh Portable Charger

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Battery packs are a dime a dozen, but Anker’s latest one bests them all. The 20,000mAh power bank has an integrated USB-C cable, so you’ll never have to worry about leaving your cord at home. It also has a USB-C PD port and USB-A port, which allows it to charge three devices simultaneously. At 20,000mAh, the battery pack can fully charge a smartphone once, and is powerful enough to fast charge a tablet at 22.5W. The most clever part of this battery’s design is that its integrated cable can be used to plug it into a charger to recharge. This is a fantastic gift for travelers, or that one friend who’s phone battery always dies halfway through a night out.

Best for sustainable shoppers: Nook Theory Reusable Insulated Grocery Bag

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Sometimes the smallest gifts can make the biggest impact, and that’s certainly the case with Nook Theory’s Reusable Insulated Grocery Bags. Large enough to accomodate enough produce, cans, meat, and dairy for the a single person’s weekly shopping list, the bag also impresses with its insulation (which keeps cold foods cool and hot foods warm) and understated look. Side pockets can accommodate reusable water bottles, while the sturdy bottom prevents it from tipping over or collapsing in on itself as you begin to pack it. If you’re shopping for someone who’s resolved to make 2024 the year they go green, this is a great gift to help give them a nudge.

Best for your friend who doesn’t drink: Figlia Fiore

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Bring the lushness of an Italian garden to your friend’s home with the Figlia Fiore nonalcoholic aperitivo. It’s floral, aromatic, and bitter, and also contains all-natural ingredients, juices, and no artificial colors and sugars. It’s also one of our favorite nonalcoholic beverages. Drink it over ice with an orange peel or with seltzer.

Best for your California sober friend: PAX Plus vaporizer

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If your friend likes to “garden,” the PAX Plus Vaporizer is like a super-powered shovel that makes it easy to … tend to their greenery. It uses conduction heating to heat the THC off the bud, giving you a smokeless experience that’s easier on your lungs. It’s super intuitive to use, and it’s also super discreet. Should you use it immediately at the holiday gathering? You could if you wanted to. You can also get it personalized for an extra $20 to make this gift extra-special.

Best hair care set: Act+Acre Cold Processed Hair Care Set 

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If you have a long-haired lover in your life, this haircare bundle will make them feel like they walked out of the salon after every hairwashing day. It’s perfect for oily, dry, and damaged hair, and it’s sulfate-free. Basil leaf removes build-up and impurities, Moringa strengthens hair and prevents damage, and ylang-ylang smoothes frizz and adds shine. It’s like skincare for your scalp. Speaking off …

Best for dry hands and noses: selfmade Secure Attachment Comfort Serum and Corrective Experience Comfort Cream Comfort Zone bundle

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I (Amanda Reed, hi) absolutely love this bundle. The serum is perfect by itself as a primer or layered under or over lotion for a boost of hydration, and the Comfort Cream smells incredible. The Comfort Cream—which I use all over my body—doesn’t feel greasy when it dries down, making it perfect for when you want to throw on some skinny jeans after lotioning your legs. Both harness the power of hyaluronic acid, marine algae, and squalene to keep your skin barrier healthy.

Best for tired feet: Comrad Knee High Compression Socks

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Compression socks are great if your friend experiences foot swelling or overall leg pain. These from Comrad are comfortable and stylish and come in all kinds of heights, including ankle, crew, and no-show. They also come in wide-calf sizing, so your sporty friend who makes big leg gains can get in on the compression sock benefits.

Best for people with cold feet: Heat Holders Thermal Socks

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When you’re cold, it makes sense to heat yourself from the bottom up, which is why everyone should have a pair (or six) of thermal socks. Heat Holders socks are made out of yarn that’s been developed in-house and knitted to hold in warm air without cutting off your circulation. Yes, the socks will add some bulk to one’s feet, but that’s kind of the point. Nobody wants sweaty feet, but that shouldn’t be an issue since the yarn Heat Holders automatically wicks away moisture. The company says its socks are over seven times warmer than traditional cotton pairs, which is reason enough to stuff them in a stocking. Don’t have cold feet about getting these, and you won’t have cold feet getting outside. (And if you really want to take it to the next level, there are always battery-powered heated socks, insoles and slippers.)

Best for the far-away friend: Homesick Candles

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Made of scented soy wax, these hefty and highly specific candles burn for 60 hours, leaving your room with an aroma of home. Visit the Amazon store to browse their entire collection, which includes city, state, and specialty candles. Washington, my home state, is “the scent of soft downpours, steeped Earl Grey tea, and mild hints of cedar and patchouli,” while my current city, New York, promises “spring days in Central Park, fine department stores, and concrete capture the energy of the greatest city on Earth.” Ha.

Best for frequent flyers: MLVOC 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow

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Sleeping in coach can be super uncomfortable, and those tiny pillows most airlines provide don’t help. A frequent traveler can always use a pillow to rest on, particularly when stuck waiting forever at the departure gate. If they don’t want to lug one of the memory-foam headrests on their bed at home through airports, a neck pillow will be a good substitute in a pinch. This travel pillow is curved to fit your neck and stop your head from falling forward while you’re drifting off into dreamland. It comes with a sleep mask and earbuds to ensure a comfortable slumber.

Best for gadget-carrying globetrotters: Safest Travel Adapter Kit

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There are few inconveniences of international travel more frustrating than arriving in a new country and not being able to use your electronics in your hotel or Airbnb because the plugs won’t fit into the wall outlets. This travel adaptor kit has six different adaptors that cover pretty much the entire globe, as well as a main unit that can accommodate two USB and two plug items so you can use one kit to power four different devices. The adapters fit into an opening in the main unit. Surge protection and a voltage indicator protect your electronics from unexpected acts of electricity, and it’s usable with most kinds of electronics, as long as the devices are dual voltage. A travel pouch keeps everything in one place, and the set is lightweight, so it won’t add much bulk to carry-on luggage.

Best for luggage locators: Apple AirTag

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Apple developed AirTags to help you track down lost items in your couch, house, and beyond, and this is particularly handy for travelers whose luggage has gone missing. The small tracker can fit into any small pocket and will allow you to track your luggage as it moves from one place to another (or doesn’t). Apple hardware is often locked down to their platform, but not in this case: The AirTag can be set up and managed with Apple or Android devices.

Best for tent campers: Kelty Late Start 2P

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For those wanting a tent that will protect them no matter the conditions, Kelty’s Late Start 2P is our top choice. This two-person tent—single and four-person models are also available—is made from lightweight but durable polyester fabrics that provide ample coverage from the rain without inhibiting constant airflow. The tent’s pair of pre-bent stakes make it easy to set up and break down the tent, and every piece folds down enough that it fits in an easy-to-carry pouch that resembles a rolled-up sleeping bag. If you’re shopping for a camper but don’t know where to start, a brand-new tent is the right place to start.

Best for comfortable campers: Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree 550 Down Fill Sleeping Bag

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If you’re shopping for someone looking to extend the camping season as far as possible, they’ll be thrilled with this sleeping bag from Kelty, which is designed to keep folks toasty in temperatures as low as 20 degrees. The duck-down-insulated sleeping bag has a trapezoidal shape that tapers down at the bottom and insulates heat far more effectively than the more familiar rectangular sleeping bag. Kelty offers the Cosmic 20 in three sizes: small, regular, and long, which can accommodate campers up to 5.6 feet, 6 feet, and 6.6 feet, respectively. Each sleeping bag has the same features, but make sure to get the one that’s best suited for the camper in your life.

Best for beach beverage drinkers: YETI Tundra 35 Cooler

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YETI’s coolers are some of our favorites and have earned a stellar reputation due to their extreme “bear-proof” durability and ability to keep food cold for several hours (if not days) thanks to their insulation and heavy-duty rubber locks. We recommend the YETI for keeping your drinks cold during a multi-day camping trip or for preserving perishables during the initial period of a camping trip. YETI says this cooler’s 35L capacity can hold 20 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-beverage ratio. The box-like shape of YETI’s cooler makes it easy to transport, and its side handles make it surprisingly comfortable to carry.

Best for backyard upgraders: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

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If you’re shopping for someone who’s into glamping and/or extremely concerned about the very real issue of wildfires, or who just likes to host backyard hangs year-round, Solo Stove’s Bonfire 2.0 is the fire pit we recommend. It was designed to be “smokeless,” meaning a continuous flow of air, and an intelligently placed ash pan, prevent tons of smoke from billowing out of it constantly. There’ll still be some smoke, but not enough to make your eyes water, which means campers can sit closer to it (but not too close) to enjoy its warmth. Solo Stove addressed our one complaint with the original Bonfire by making this model’s ashtray easily removable, which makes cleanup a breeze.

Best for efficient travelers: TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe

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Every traveler needs a good backpack regardless of whether they’re adventuring through land, air, or sea, and we highly recommend the Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe from Timbuk2. Its shoulder straps are well padded, which makes it easy to carry for extended periods of time, and there are plenty of pockets for a laptop, tablet, chargers, accessories, snacks, and anything else you might need to bring with you. We’re also pleased that backpack is largely made from recycled materials without sacrificing durability.

Best for techies who drink coffee and tea: Ember Travel Mug

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Ember’s 12-ounce Travel Mug can keep beverages between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit for up to three hours thanks to a seven-sensor heating system and built-in battery pack. One can set the mug’s temperature through an app or by using its touch-sensitive display. Ember bundles its Travel Mug with a coaster, which doubles as a wireless charging pad. The mug will keep beverages warm continuously when it’s on the coaster, which is great for anyone who works at a desk. And it will warm your heart to know there are also options if you’re looking for a more “traditional” 14-ounce or 10-ounce coffee mug (also available in metallic finishes) or 6-ounce espresso cup.

Best for cold morning haters: Bedsure Heated Blanket

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Bedsure’s Heated Blanket is an essential gift for anyone who wants to make it through the winter without being tempted to reach for the thermostat. The flannel blanket’s heating coils are arranged to provide even heating, and a large controller lets you adjust their intensity between 104 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. If one falls asleep with the blanket on, the heating coils will automatically shut off after three hours to prevent overheating. Surprisingly, Bedsure’s Heated Blanket is machine washable, so it can be kept clean without a big hassle. The only difficult decision will be whether to get this blanket in a single-person throw size or one that covers the entire bed.

Best for winter sports lovers: Stio Men’s Figment Jacket

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Wearing heavy clothing while skiing or snowboarding is inadvisable as it can make it more difficult to move, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your favorite outdoor sportsperson in the lurch this holiday season. Instead, go the extra mile and gift them a Figment Jacket from Stio. The thin jacket is impossibly warm thanks to the company’s use of durable, sustainable materials, including recycled polyester and custom-made PeakProof™ fabric, which keeps moisture from getting through. Well-positioned pockets make it easy to store and grab gear while you’re in the middle of a long run, while durable zippers make sure those pockets stay closed unless you want them opened. Available in both Men’s and Women’s styles, the Figment Jacket is the type of gift someone will appreciate each time they hit the slopes. If you’re shopping for someone who also needs an everyday jacket, we can also recommend Stio’s Saratoga Shearling Jacket.

Best for cold sleepers: Double Stitch Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set

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It can be hard to fall asleep in a room that’s too cold, especially if you’ve got poor circulation, but that’s exactly what Double Stitch’s Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set prevents. The items in this set are made from 100% BCI-certified cotton that’s both soft smooth and 60% recycled materials. It’s even naturally vegan and allergen free. We were able to try this set out for ourselves, and can attest to both its comfort and ability to keep cool sleepers toasty all night long. The only downside to this set is that they may make it more difficult to get out of bed in the morning.

Best for perpetually cold commuters: Kühl Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket

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Kühl’s name is ironic because the company’s Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket will keep the person you gift it to toasty until spring. The jacket is made from polyester but has spandex in the lining, which offers a little bit of give. Its five pockets give you places for your hands and belongings, and we’re especially fond of its internal security pocket, which is a must-have if you don’t want to keep your wallet or phone in your pants pocket. If you get caught in inclement weather unexpectedly, you’ll immediately appreciate this jacket’s hood, which actually stays on your head while it’s engaged instead of immediately slipping off. If you want to match this gift with a couple of other hot pieces of apparel, Kühl’s Hot Ryder pants and a Kühl Flannel shirt are also safe bets.

Best for people who needs more heat: Ostrichpillow Heatbag

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If your friend constantly talks about getting a dog that will double as a warm cushion in the winter months, but their landlord doesn’t allow pets, gift them the next best thing. Ostrichpillow’s Heatbag is literally a squishy, energy-radiating pillow your friend can put their arms around. It won’t bark or wag its tail when they come home, but its clay interior can be reheated an unlimited number of times. Plus, it’s soft to the touch, and its memory foam shell will help conform to every weird sleeping position they adopt. The bag can also be used for physical therapy—heat it in the microwave and place it on sore muscles or strained joints for slow relief.

Best for the person who is still complaining they’re cold after all those cold gift suggestions: ORORO Heated Down Scarf

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If your friend is still talking about how they’re cold, this heated down scarf from ORORO combines the temperature regulation of down feathers with the immediate comfort of heated elements. It’s sleek, discreet, and stylish. You can wear it with a heated jacket or without. Judging by how cold your friend is, we will go with the heated jacket-heated scarf combo.

Best for on-the-go audiophiles: iFi xDSD Gryphon

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Those new ‘cans can’t showcase their best without proper power, which can be difficult to get on the go … difficult, that is, if someone doesn’t have the iFi xDSD Gryphon. The magic of the Gryphon lies in its versatility, which more than justifies its $599 price. You can cut the cord and use it, when fully charged, for up to 8 hours on the go with Bluetooth streaming over SBC, AAC for iOS, and up to 96kHz using LDAC, LHDC/HWA, or aptX HD/Adaptive on Android devices. Or you plug it in via USB, Coax, or Optical and ensure that no audio bit gets adulterated by wireless compression. Once you’re listening, you can enhance bass and/or upper midrange presence, as well as soundstage with iFi’s innovative XBass II and XSpace analog enhancements. Connected to your PC over USB-C, it will act as an external soundcard, eliminating the need for a dedicated desk setup—perfect with headphones and, when the Gryphon accepts a digital source, ports on the back can even be used to feed an external amp or powered monitors. The tremendous 1000mW @ 32 ohms of power on offer over its balanced connection also means this DAC can drive even very demanding headphones. The single-ended connection is much more limited at 320mW but is still enough to drive the vast majority of cans available today. And if you’re a fan of sensitive in-ear monitors (IEMs), don’t worry. The Gryphon also offers an iEMatch mode (assignable to either output) to prevent hiss from invading your favorite tracks, while maintaining dynamics.

Looking for something more pocketable but still powerful? The GO bar is a $329 32-bit/384kHz USB-C DAC/amp that offers 3.5mm and balanced 4.4mm outputs with 475mW max. into 32 ohms​/7.5V max. into 600 ohms, as well as support for selectable filters, iEMatch, XBass+, XSpace, DSD256, MQA, and more.

Got a pair of corded in-ear monitors and prefer to go wireless? The iFi GO Pods pack much of the same codec support and compatibility as the xDSD Gryphon in two high-output rechargeable ear loops, turning any IEMs—thanks to exchangeable connectors—into “true wireless” earbuds.

Best for console gamers: Nintendo Switch

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If you’re in the position to give someone (or yourself) their very first console this holiday, don’t chase after the flashy new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. The Nintendo Switch is a better starter piece because it has something for everyone, whether that’s classic Mario or Zelda games, online team shooters like Overwatch, or even a game where you walk around as a goose, honking and messing with people. Nintendo also offers the Switch Lite for $100 less, but you can only play it handheld-style instead of connecting it to your TV. I’d suggest opting for the original version if you can swing it—the option to switch from TV to handheld is a delight. If you want to go a little more luxe, you can spend an extra $100 on the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, which has a larger, more vivid screen and plays all the same games, making it our favorite choice for whole-family fun.

Best For Nintendo Switch owners: PNY XLR8 512GB Gaming Class MicroSD Card

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The Nintendo Switch is still our go-to game console recommendation due to its hybrid design and deep library of first- and third-party games. Our only real complaint is that the system only ships with 32GB of onboard storage for digital games. You can solve that issue with PNY’s XLR8, a 512GB MicroSD card designed with gaming in mind. With read and write speeds of 100 and 90MBps, respectively, you should see no difference in performance when digital games are downloaded onto this card. Better yet, you’ll still have access to the Nintendo Switch’s onboard storage and can pop in this MicroSD card with no tools. If you are holiday shopping for someone constantly deleting and re-downloading digital games, this can solve the issue once and for all.

Best for PlayStation 5 owners: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (4TB)

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Know a PlayStation 5 gamer who loves digital games but is always out of storage? A 4TB Samsung 990 PRO SSD should solve that problem for a good long time. They’ll be able to quadruple their console’s internal storage capacity in about fifteen minutes with the help of a Phillips head screwdriver. Samsung’s SSD is fast, reliable, and has worked flawlessly in our tests. The latest premium PlayStation 5 games like Spider-Man 2 never hitch up or take longer than usual to load. We’d go so far as to say this high-capacity SSD is the best PlayStation 5 accessory you can get.

Best for comfortable couch gamers: 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

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8Bitdo’s Ultimate Bluetooth controller lives up to its name. The gamepad, which works with both the Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs, feels great in the hand, has a familiar button layout, and can switch between Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wireless connection. Additionally, buttons on the back can be programmed on the back to trigger custom commands in compatible games. Perhaps the coolest thing about this controller is the included charging dock, which makes topping up its battery a lot easier. If you keep the controller docked when you’re not playing, it’ll never run out of juice. Xbox and PlayStation players shouldn’t feel left out, as the official first-party controllers for the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 are available. If you’d like a wired option, PowerA has you covered.

Best for portable PC players: ASUS ROG Ally

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The ROG Ally is one of the most innovative gadgets we’ve reviewed in 2023, and it’s a fierce competitor to Valve’s venerable Steam Deck. The Ally runs a full version of Windows, which means you can play games from multiple digital game stores, from Steam to Xbox Game Pass. ASUS packed the ROG Ally with a 7-inch 1080P display, custom processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, so it’s stacked enough to play the AAA games from 2023 at high settings. If you’re catching up with games released years ago, you should be able to push them to ultra settings while maintaining a steady framerate. Like the Nintendo Switch, you can connect this handheld to your TV to play games at higher-than-HD resolutions, too. As handheld gaming PCs go, the ASUS ROG Ally is the top of the heap, and any Windows gamer will sink hundreds of hours of games over the holiday season and beyond.

Best for console gamers and cinephiles: Samsung S95C OLED

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If the gamer in your life demands the absolute best fidelity from their games, Samsung’s S95C OLED is the ultimate screen. Samsung decked its high-end display with four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing console and PC gamers to play the latest titles in 4K at up to 120 frames per second. Our reviewer played Returnal on a PlayStation 5 during his testing time and was extremely impressed with the results, even in a brightly lit room. The advantage OLED TVs have over their LCD counterparts is far better contrast and color reproduction. These are key specs for gamers since they’ll want the most immersive and lifelike experience possible. The good thing about this gift is that it can be enjoyed by non-gamers who want to watch TV shows and movies that look their best. v

Best for nostalgic typists: 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

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Gaming keyboards are nothing new, but 8BitDo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard is more than just a nostalgia trip. The mechanical keyboard’s color scheme is themed after the original Nintendo Entertainment System, complete with red “B” and “A” buttons. But Windows users can use 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software 2 to customize its function row and other buttons to your liking. If you’re playing games, changing these macros can help give you a leg up—or stay competitive in popular titles. MacOS users won’t be able to use Ultimate Software 2, but that platform isn’t known for gaming. That said, the keyboard’s stock functions are completely compatible with the Mac. This keyboard can be connected to your computer in three ways: with a USB cable, over Bluetooth, or using the included 2.4GHz USB dongle. If you’d like the best-looking mechanical gaming keyboard around, this is it. If you’d like a keyboard with a slightly more modern design, SteelSeries’ Apex 3 has most of the same other features as its higher-end models for under $50. We’ve got other picks if you’d like even more options.

Best for online gamers: Logitech G PRO X

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Hearing and speaking to teammates is essential when playing competitive multiplayer games online, which is why Logitech’s G Pro X is such a great gift. The headset can create a virtual 7.1 surround sound environment, so players will be able to hear opponents approaching from any direction. This makes a huge difference when playing games where every second counts. The G Pro X’s large, 50mm drivers will deliver clear sound regardless of which game they’re playing. The headset’s microphone is flexible, so gamers can move it around to find the perfect place for them. Communication is key during online matches, so having a microphone that’s always near and ready is a huge plus. This headset is compatible with PCs, the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Or, if you’re feeling extra giving, there’s Audeze’s $299 Penrose wireless headset.

Best for smartphone gamers: Backbone One

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The Backbone One effectively turns your iPhone 15 or Android smartphone into a Nintendo Switch. This controller shell connects directly to the smartphone’s USB-C port and grips itself to both sides of the device. Once connected, gamers can play iOS titles that support external controllers with traditional buttons, triggers, and control sticks. The Backbone One can also be used by iPhone gamers who want to stream cloud games using services provided by Microsoft, Sony, and NVidia. This accessory brings out the full gaming potential of the iPhone or Android device. If you have an iPhone 14 or earlier, you’ll need to get the version of this controller with a Lightning jack instead.

Best for gamers with limited space: GEEKOM Mini PC

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One of the biggest barriers to entry for would-be computer gamers, beyond cost, is finding enough space for a desktop, but GEEKOM’s latest Mini PC is an interesting solution. This compact gaming PC can run many newer titles at 1080P with medium to high settings enabled, and you may be able to eke out even more performance on a game-by-game basis. That’s largely due to the machine’s 13th-generation, 14-core Intel i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of NVMe SSD. There are less expensive mini PCs out there, but GEEKOM’s is one of the few that can offer excellent performance without a dedicated graphics card, and in a form factor this small. If you’re shopping for a lapsed PC gamer or someone who wants to try gaming on Windows, this is the gift.

Best gaming laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G16

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Gaming laptops used to be incredibly compromised, but ASUS’ ROG Strix G16 proves how far technology has come. The Windows laptop has an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, 16GB of RAM (memory), 1TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory under the hood. Its 16-inch HD display has a refresh rate of 165Hz, which is better than most gaming monitors. A higher refresh rate allows the screen to keep up with fast-paced games without lagging. This laptop’s specs are overkill for casual gamers who mostly stick to indie titles, but it’s the right machine for gamers who like to live on the cutting edge, but travel too often to justify getting a high-end desktop. The laptop is also chock full of ports, so connecting accessories won’t require an adapter; it even has an HDMI port, so plugging it into a monitor or TV is a single cable affair.

Best for streamers: Elgato HD60 X

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Elgato’s HD60 X simplifies the complicated process of getting console game footage onto your PC for editing or live streaming. The unassuming puck has HDMI ports and a USB port, which is all you’ll need to connect your console to a computer. The HD60 X can capture 1080p60 HDR10 or 4K30. It’s compatible with all current-generation game consoles and Windows PCs. If ever there was a great gaming stocking stuffer, this is it.

Best for podcasters: SteelSeries Alias

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It’s almost impossible to build an online audience for game streams without talking to them while you play, which is why SteelSeries’ Alias microphone is such an excellent gift for gamers. The microphone connects to a computer over USB, and LEDs on the mic itself will let you know whether your levels are peaking if you’re not monitoring your sound, and a knob on its front side allows you to quickly adjust your gain. This microphone is designed to work with SteelSeries’ Sonar software, which lets you adjust innumerable audio settings to get your voice sounding just right. A more budget-friendly USB alternative is Sennheiser’s Profile USB Microphone, which doesn’t match up to the Alias feature-for-feature but will make streamers sound better than their laptop mic would. Feeling spendy enough to assemble a broadcast-quality rig complete with external interface but unsure where to start? You could pick up one of our top breakout boxes and a microphone for vocals or bump up to the SteelSeries Alias Pro, which comes with its own.

Best for DIY enthusiasts: Cricut Joy Xtra

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Cricut’s machines have become a phenomenon due to their power and ease of use, allowing anyone into DIY to customize cups, create stickers, personalize clothes, and much more. The Joy Xtra packs the power of Cricut’s larger units into a far more apartment-friendly size, which will make it much more accessible to even more makers. Once you create your design using Cricut’s easy-to-use digital tools, you can print it on over 50 materials. This includes cardstock for DIY holiday cards, poster board for projects, Iron-On for custom shirts, and even photo paper. The magic of the Cricut Joy Xtra is that it does most of the precise work for you, which makes it an incredible gift for the creative person in your life who’s ready to get more into making in the new year.

To recap …

• Best for movie nights: Popsmith Starter Bundle
• Best for music lovers: AirPods Pro 2
• Best for tea drinkers: Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Tea Kettle
• Best for pizza enthusiasts: Ooni Volt
• Best for leftover lovers: Anyday Everyday Set
• Best for cast iron curious cooks: Lodge Pre-Seasoned Skillet
• Best for pasta makers: MARCATO Atlas 150
• Best for cooks in small kitchens: Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Pot
• Best for fermenters: Masontops Complete Mason Jar Fermentation Kit
• Best for new iPhone owners: CASETiFY Impact Ring Stand Case for iPhone 15 Pro
• Best for aspiring bakers: Falcon Enamelware Bake Set
• Best for meal preppers: Souper Cubes
• For language lovers: Vasco V4 Language Translator Device
• Best for bread bakers: Emile Henry Modern Bread Cloche
• Best for cookie makers: Silpat Half Size Nonstick Baking Mat
• Best for breakfast lovers: Made In Carbon Steel Griddle
• Best for ice cream wizards: Ninja Creami
• Best for fancy home cooks: Breville Joule Turbo
• Best for sleep lovers: FluffCo Down Feather Pillow
• Best for concertgoers: Vibes High-Fidelity Earplugs
• Best for handy people: Leatherman Super Tool 300
• Best for couch potatoes: The Comfy Wearable Blanket
• Best for campers and commuters: Hydro Oasis 128 oz Insulated Cup
• Best for e-nthusiastic e-readers: Amazon Kindle
• Best for battery life worriers: Anker 20,000mAh Portable Charger
• Best for sustainable shoppers Nook Theory Reusable Insulated Grocery Bag
• Best for your friend who doesn’t drink: Figlia Fiore
• Best for your California sober friend: PAX Plus vaporizer
• Best hair care set: Act+Acre Cold Processed Hair Care Set 
• Best for dry hands and noses: selfmade Secure Attachment Comfort Serum and Corrective Experience Comfort Cream Comfort Zone bundle
• Best for tired feet: Comrad Knee High Compression Socks
• Best for people with cold feet: Heat Holders Thermal Socks
• Best for the far-away friend: Homesick Candles
• Best for frequent flyers: MLVOC 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow
• Best for gadget-carrying globetrotters: Safest Travel Adapter Kit
• Best for luggage location: Apple AirTag
• Best for tent campers: Kelty Late Start 2P
• Best for comfortable campers: Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree 550 Down Fill Sleeping Bag
• Best for beach beverage drinkers: YETI Tundra 35 Cooler
• Best for backyard upgraders: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
• Best for efficient travelers: TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe
• Best for techie coffee and tea drinkers: Ember Travel Mug
• Best for cold morning haters: Bedsure Heated Blanket
• Best for winter sports lovers: Stio Men’s Figment Jacket
• Best for cold sleepers: Double Stitch Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set
• Best for perpetually cold commuters: Kühl Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket
• Best for the person who needs more heat: Ostrichpillow Heatbag
• Best for the person who is still complaining they’re cold after three cold gift suggestions: ORORO Heated Down Scarf
• Best for on-the-go audiophiles: iFi xDSD Gryphon
• Best for family fun: Nintendo Switch
• Best for Nintendo Switch owners: PNY XLR8 512GB Gaming Class MicroSD Card
• Best for PlayStation 5 owners: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (4TB)
• Best for comfortable couch gamers: 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
• Best for portable PC players: ASUS ROG Ally
• Best for console gamers and cinephiles: Samsung S95C OLED
• Best for nostalgic typists: 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
• Best for online gamers: Logitech G PRO X
• Best for smartphone gamers: Backbone One
• Best for gamers with limited space: GEEKOM Mini PC
• Best for productive gamers: ASUS ROG Strix G16
• Best for streamers: Elgato HD60 X
• Best for podcasters: SteelSeries Alias
• Best for DIY enthusiasts: Cricut Joy Xtra

The post 50+ last-minute gifts to get everyone on your list ready for 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best papers		Blazy Susan High Roller Kit		SEE IT	This 8-meter roll lets you customize the size of your rolling papers.
Best splurge		Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid		SEE IT	Gift the Rolls-Royce of cannabis accessories this year.
Best water pipe		Marley Natural Water Pipe		SEE IT	Borosilicate glass and black walnut wood combine for a classic and durable piece.

Not everyone who enjoys taking the edge off holiday hysteria likes—or wants—booze as a present. More than 55 million adults consume cannabis—so this guide is for when that person you’re gifting for happens to be one of them. Not only will giving something from this selection of the best cannabis accessories make others green with envy, but they might also invite you on the cousins walk to test it out. 

• Best papers: Blazy Susan High Roller Kit
• Best infused drink: Flyers THC Pack
• Best grinder: Santa Cruz Shredder 3-Piece Herb Grinder
• Best vaporizer: Pax Plus
• Best rolling tray: Blazy Susan Hemp Plastic Rolling Tray
• Best splurge: Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid
• Best handheld for controlled dosing: Omura Series X Complete Bundle
• Best preroll holder: Sackville & Co. Keychain Holder
• Best for on-the-go: The Clinger
• Best air purifier: LEVOIT Core 300 Air Purifier
• Best set: RAW Rolling Tray Combo
• Best pipe: Sackville & Co. Crystal Ball Pipe
• Best water pipe: Marley Natural Water Pipe
• Best lighter: BIC Classic Lighter 10-Pack

Best papers: Blazy Susan High Roller Kit

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This isn’t your usual pack of papers and filter tips. This convenient package from Blazy Susan lets you choose the size of your papers every time you roll: simply pull your preferred length from the 8-meter roll to make a personal joint or one meant to be shared among friends. The kit also comes with a full set of perforated filter tips since no one wants to hit a slobbery, damp joint. Blazy Susan also makes our favorite cones that hardly canoe. The shorty size is perfect for a solo sesh, and the 98-millimeter size is great for groups.

Best infused drink: Flyers THC Pack

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Get the sophistication of a craft cocktail minus the next-day hangover with this trio pack that includes three sophisticated sippers: Sparkling Ol’ Fashioned, equal parts smokey and sweet; Sparkling Margarita, a fresh citrus drink with a little kick; and Sparkling Spritz, bitter in the best way with a lovely touch of mandarin orange. Each can contains 5 milligrams of hemp-derived THC, which is just enough to make you giggle without wanting to fall asleep.

Best grinder: Santa Cruz Shredder 3-Piece Herb Grinder

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Switching to another grinder is hard once you’ve used the Santa Cruz Shredder. It’s made of aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized, scratch-resistant finish for a longtime grind. Its 45 sharp teeth give you an even, fluffy grind. There’s even an included scraper. Although we love this basic 3-piece design, it also comes in a biodegradable hemp material and a two-piece design. This Leune credit card grinder is another great portable option, under $10, and stylish.

Best vaporizer: Pax Plus

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Vaporizing cannabis can be less harsh on your lungs—and less smelly—than inhaling smoke from a joint or water pipe. The Pax Plus uses conduction heating to give a hearty hit in a small, discreet package. The Pax Plus has a .5-gram capacity and an included concentrate insert, expanding your options when it comes to strain sampling. If you’re gifting to someone who mostly consumes flower, the Pax Mini might be a better option. It has the same battery life and heat time with a slightly smaller capacity and price tag. 

Best rolling tray: Blazy Susan Hemp Plastic Rolling Tray

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This 100% biodegradable rolling tray has spots for a grinder, lighter, and a pack of papers. A valley in the tray keeps all your material in a central spot, and a funnel-like open corner helps make clean-up less messy (we’ve all struggled to get extra herb back into the grinder after rolling). It’s a major step up from basic metal rolling trays. But if you go with a metal tray, you should still stick to Blazy. 

Best splurge: Storz & Bickel Volcano Hybrid

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The Storz & Bickel Volcano is the Rolls-Royce of tabletop vaporizers. At $699, this may be out of the price range to work as a White Elephant gift, unlike many of our choices, but it is perfect for the high-end cannabis consumer in your life. You can inhale through the classic valve balloon or through the new hookah-like tube kit. It heats up in two minutes, and the controls are easy to use and see. It’s even Bluetooth-equipped to control it via the S&B App for Android (sorry iOS users). If you know someone collecting the best-of-the-best cannabis accessories, this can be their centerpiece.  

Best handheld for controlled dosing: Omura Series X Complete Bundle

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For the eco-conscious, paper straws are figuratively hot. For the toke-conscious, paper straws are also literally hot, thanks to the Omura Series X vaporizer. It’s a discreet, combustion-free handheld that heats “Flowersticks” you pack with dry herb (fill system included in the bundle) for a personal smoke(less) session. Each Flowerstick is FSC-certified rainforest-friendly paper and 100 percent compostable—stats that can make you feel good while all the cannabinoids and terpenes freed during a three-minute roast make you feel good. Not only are the Flowersticks better for the environment and your mood, but they also allow you to control your intake; if one ain’t enough fun, two could do. And, because your mouth never touches the vaporizer itself, it’s perfect for the lonely stoner who seems to free his mind at night and a more hygienic system to share with friends (and/or family).

Best preroll holder: Sackville & Co. Keychain Holder

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Stop joints from getting crushed on the go with this aluminum joint holder from Sackville & Co., which is discreet, stylish, and minimalist. Simply slip your preroll into the case, close the cap, and attach it to your keys. It has room for one regular-sized joint and two minis. No one will be able to sniff out the green on you.

Best for on-the-go: The Clinger

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Is your gift receiver always asking for a lighter or rooting around their bag, pockets, or glove compartment for one? This smell-proof, crush-proof holder can hold one joint and hugs your lighter so it will never feel alone or lost.

Best air purifier: LEVOIT Core 300 Air Purifier

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Smoking indoors can leave a lingering smell on your couch cushions and make your apartment a hazy, musty mess. Stop smells before they even happen by running this air purifier before, during, and after sesh time. Its touchscreen is responsive, and we love the quiet night feature, so you don’t even hear it purifying the air. If you really want to play it safe, spray some odor-eliminator spray when you’re done.

Best set: RAW Rolling Tray Combo

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This set comes with a rolling tray, two packs of 1 1/4-inch rolling papers, two packs of RAW Original tips, a RAW rolling machine, and a joint travel tube. You also have a choice of small or large tray to gift adequately. This is a great gift for cannabis consumers of all levels, because no one ever complained about having too many papers.  

Best pipe: Sackville & Co. Crystal Ball Pipe

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Move past the bowl pipes with this spherical stunner from Sackville & Co. It’s made of colorful borosilicate glass, making it beautiful and functional. It’s meant to be displayed proudly on a coffee table or bookshelf, thanks to its matching glass cradle.

Best water pipe: Marley Natural Water Pipe

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For those with a water pipe on their wishlist, gift them a stylish one from Marley Natural. Borosilicate glass gives it strength, and sustainably sourced black walnut gives it beauty. It has removable sections for easy cleaning, and an ice catcher lets you pull cooler vapor. Regardless, your hits will be smooth thanks to its 5-hole downstem. 

Best lighter: BIC Classic Lighter 10-Pack

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Make it up to your friend for all the lighters you’ve pilfered off them with this colorful 10-pack from BIC. If you’re really trying to call it even, snag them this classy silver Clipper refillable and reflintable lighter.

The post The best cannabis accessories to celebrate the holiblaze appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best travel camera		GoPro HERO12 Black		SEE IT	Capture up to 5.3K video or 27-megapixel still images to document your travels.
Best ANC earbuds		Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds		SEE IT	The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer incredibly effective noise cancellation.
Best battery pack		Anker 733 Power Bank		SEE IT	Anker’s 733 is a high-capacity power bank and multi-port wall charger.

We all have those friends or family members who just can’t sit still. They’re always off jaunting around the country or even the world. And while traveling is fun and rewarding, it can also be a grind, especially if that travel schedule includes ample work trips. The best travel gifts provide endless utility without taking up a ton of space in a bag. They’re durable goods built to endure the rigors of the road. And most importantly, they enhance the travel experience. So, whether it’s a camera to capture unforgettable moments or noise-canceling headphones to block out the screaming baby in seat 17G, these are the best gifts for frequent travelers.

Best camera for capturing adventures: GoPro HERO12 Black

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Travel photos and videos have come a long way from the days of clunky camcorders and finicky film cameras. GoPro’s flagship action camera can capture 4K and even 5.3K video to preserve every last detail of a journey. The built-in HyperSmooth 6.0 video stabilization provides an almost unbelievably steady frame, even if you want to shoot while walking or running (with or without bulls chasing you through the streets of Spain). High-res screens on the front and back of the camera make navigating menus, frame shots, and review footage easy. The HERO12 Black is waterproof to a depth of 33 feet without an external case, so it can go tons of places that your smartphone camera can’t. We recommend pairing it with GoPro’s new Extension Pole + Waterproof Shutter Remote, which extends from 10 inches all the way out to 48 inches to offer some truly unique angles. You’ll come home from your trip with a clutch of HDR videos and photos you’ll want to revisit instead of letting them rot in your cloud storage forever.

Best noise-canceling headphones: Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e

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Whether for keeping your sanity or keeping in touch, a good pair of noise-cancelling headphones is essential for travelers who want to drown out the sounds of babies crying, engines whirring, or chatty passengers exchanging life stories. Bowers & Wilkins’ Px7 S2e Bluetooth headphones are those headphones. The Px7 S2e headphones sound phenomenal, offering a surprising amount of sonic depth whether you’re listening to the latest singles, throwback jams, or spoken word content like audiobooks or podcasts. Similarly, their active noise cancellation performance is excellent, blocking out unwanted sound without impacting your audio quality very much. And, with their integrated microphones and sleek profile (available in Anthracite Black, Cloud Grey, Ocean Blue, and the all-new Forest Green, shown here), you can join in a video conference with friends, family, or coworkers from anywhere and look and sound great doing so. All of this is thanks to newly evolved 24-bit DSP and a refined acoustic tuning of the custom-designed, optimally angled 40mm drive units trickled down from the impossibly luxe, leather-bound B&W Px8 flagship ANC wireless headphones (featuring exclusive ultra-high-resolution carbon drive units that extract that extra last ounce of sonic extension and engagement). The Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S2e headphones sound so good you’ll wonder how you ever traveled without them.

Best noise-cancelling earbuds: Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds

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Not everybody likes over-ear headphones, so if you’re shopping for a traveler who loves earbuds, you’re in luck. Bose’s 2023 flagship QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have noise-cancelling performance similar, or in some ways superior to an over-ear pair (and Bose makes an incredibly comfortable, effective pair of those, too). Bose’s tuning blocks out so much noise across the entire spectrum, not just those standard whirs and rumbles, that you may not need to listen to audio at all if you’re trying to block out a consistent sound, like an airplane engine. But an energetic tuning and features like the new Immersive Audio, which applies spatial processing to expand the soundstage of any source regardless of format, ensure that these are no mere earplugs. They may not be able to match the audio quality of Bowers & Wilkins’ headphones, but they sound excellent for a pair of earbuds and should please even a traveling audiophile temporarily away from their home system.

Best wall charger: UGREEN 45W Dual USB C Wall Charger

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This charger may be lightweight at 3.35 ounces, but it’s got plenty of power and works with a wide range of devices, making it a perfect travel companion. This 45-watt charger can top off your devices to at least 72 percent capacity within an hour. Its two USB-C ports work with everything from the iPhone 14 Pro Max to the MacBook Air M2 to the Samsung S22 Ultra (though you’ll also need a 5A USB-C to C cable for the latter). And its safety features that protect against over-voltage and overheating are ideal for international travel.

Best gift for frequent travelers: MLVOC 100% Pure Memory Foam Neck Pillow

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Sleeping in coach can be super uncomfortable, and those tiny pillows most airlines provide don’t help. A frequent traveler can always use a pillow to rest on, particularly when stuck waiting forever at the departure gate. If they don’t want to lug one of the memory-foam headrests on their bed at home through airports, a neck pillow will serve as a good substitute in a pinch. This travel pillow is curved to fit your neck and stop your head from falling forward while you’re drifting off into dreamland. It comes with a sleep mask and earbuds to ensure a comfortable slumber.

Best gift for world travelers: Safest Travel Adapter Kit

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There are few inconveniences of international travel more frustrating than arriving in a new country and not being able to use your electronics in your hotel or Airbnb because the plugs won’t fit into the wall outlets. This travel adaptor kit has six different adaptors that cover pretty much the entire globe, as well as a main unit that can accommodate two USB and two plug items so you can use one kit to power four different devices. The adapters fit into an opening in the main unit. Surge protection and a voltage indicator protect your electronics from unexpected acts of electricity, and it’s usable with most kinds of electronics, as long as the devices are dual voltage. A travel pouch keeps everything in one place, and the set is lightweight, so it won’t add much bulk to carry-on luggage.

Best gift for business travelers: Wooden Pens Set with Pen Gift Case

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Even those who are not letter-writing types and aren’t inclined to buy postcards, much less write messages on them and mail them, will find themselves in situations where they need a pen. They especially come in handy when it’s time to fill out the landing card upon arrival in a new country. This three-piece set includes a ballpoint, gel, and fountain pen, as well as refills. They all come in a stylish wooden box designed to make business travelers look extra classy and professional.

Best translator: Vasco V4 Language Translator Device

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Traveling to a new country can be intimidating if you don’t know the language, but Vasco’s V4 can solve that problem once and for all. The device, which looks like a smartphone, can translate between 108 languages by speaking into it. Translations will be displayed on its five inch display. You can also get text and photo translations in 90 and 108 languages respectively. The V4 works over Wi-Fi, but can connect to cellular satellites in roughly 200 countries. Cellular connectivity is free for the lifetime of the device, so there’s no monthly or one-time fee you have to pay while traveling. Vasco says the V4 is dust-proof, shock-proof, and water-resistant, so it should hold up in the face of minor accidents. The company says it can last for roughly five days per charge, but the amount you get will be dependant on how often you use it.

Best gift for tired travelers: Loftie Sleep Mask

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If you can only sleep with ambient noise in the background, you most likely love taking a quick snooze on the plane. And, it’s hard not to when you have that gentle whirring happening for six hours total. An eyemask is great for daytime flights or at night when someone has their reading light on. This one from Loftie—the same company behind our favorite sunrise alarm clock that doubles as a lamp—is made out of orange silk and includes interior eye pockets to relieve eye pressure and protect eyelashes. The head strap is comfortable, very stretchy, and won’t fall off while you’re sleeping. Getting some shut-eye on your red-eye never looked so good. You don’t need real-world travel anxiety to enjoy an eyemask, however; this makes a great stress-relief gift for anyone that needs to pull into the relaxation station.

Best checked luggage: Travelpro Platinum Elite

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Hardside luggage may add more weight to check-in allowances than a fabric suitcase (12.3 pounds in the case of this suitcase), but it’s more durable and less likely to be ruined by airport personnel who load and unload luggage. In addition to the durability benefit, the Travelpro Platinum Elite also looks incredible. It features self-aligning magnetic wheels to ensure easy mobility and a TSA-compatible lock. You’ll pay more for little details like its genuine leather trim and overall build quality, but using this checked bag will give you the person you gift it to a taste of first-class travel even if they’ve got an economy ticket.

Best carry-on luggage for travelers: Monos Hybrid Carry-On Traveler

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If all goes well, a carry-on bag will be with you from the moment you depart to the moment you arrive, which is why it’s critical to use the right one. Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On Traveler can spin in 360-degrees, and we’ve had no problem zigging and zagging around while testing it out. The bag’s reinforced corners will come in handy if you’re carrying something fragile and need to gate-check your bag. Even little details, like how easy it is to extend and collapse the bag’s handle, feel great. We’re also pleased with the Hybrid Carry-On’s locking mechanism, which is easy to open when you have the code and secure if you don’t. Simply put, Monos’ Hybrid Carry-On Plus offers the perfect balance of elegance and engineering, which makes it a fantastic gift.

Best luggage tracker: Apple AirTag

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Apple developed AirTags to help you track down lost items, and this is particularly handy for travelers whose luggage has gone missing. The small tracker can fit into any small pocket and will allow you to track your luggage as it moves from one place to another (or doesn’t). Apple hardware is often locked down to their platform but not in this case: The AirTag can be set up and managed with Apple or Android devices.

Best weekender bag: Travelpro Maxlite 5 Softside Carry-on Weekender

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The perfect bag for short-term trips can be an elusive find indeed. How large is too large and how small is too small? Only the travel gods know for sure, but Travelpro’s 19-inch weekender bag can hold enough gear to get you through three to four days on the road. It has a water-resistant outer coating, ergonomic zipper pulls, and recycled inner lining for easy cleanup in case of spills. This weekender has multiple compartments, so you can segment your gear for easy access, and a cutout strap around the back, which allows you to easily secure the bag to a piece of luggage. If you’re shopping for someone who’s into taking weekend trips, this is the ultimate gift.

Best backpack: TIMBUK2 Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe

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Every traveler needs a good backpack regardless of whether they’re adventuring through land, air, or sea, and we highly recommend the Authority Laptop Backpack Deluxe from Timbuk2. Its shoulder straps are well padded, which makes it easy to carry for extended periods of time, and there are plenty of pockets for a laptop, tablet, chargers, accessories, snacks, and anything else you might need to bring with you. We’re also pleased that backpack is largely made from recycled materials without sacrificing durability.

Best travel toiletry kit: Convenience Kits International Assembled Necessities Travel Kit

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Packing can be a drag, especially when you have to shove oversized toiletries into a miniature bag. A 21-item kit that comes with a selection of sampler-size toiletries packed and ready to go can take that particularly annoying ritual out of the travel prep process. This fabulously unisex, toiletry travel kit, which makes an excellent travel gift for men as well as women, includes everything a person might need to remain well-groomed while away for a few days. It’s all TSA-compliant, too, so if they stuff this into their overhead luggage, they won’t have to worry about size restrictions. Of course, they’ll have to replace the items when they run out, but this kit, which comes with a stylish travel bag, will give frequent jet setters a good start.

Best “travel alarm clock”: Echo Dot w/ Clock (5th Gen)

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High-impact sound can be hard to come by on the road, and the Echo Dot can give music lovers great tunes and excellent audio with just a simple “Hey, Alexa” command. As an added bonus, it includes an alarm clock so travelers with early departure times won’t have to depend on wake-up calls or the natural body clock. It’s way better than your tinny phone alarm(s). And, back home, this device also can be used to control compatible smart devices. While rocking out to a favorite playlist and getting dressed for dinner, just issue a command to Alexa to turn on a light so your house doesn’t appear to be vacant all night.

Best battery pack: Anker 733 Power Bank

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Nobody wants to realize their phone, tablet, or game console is about to run out of juice in the middle of a trip, which is why the traveler in your life needs Anker’s 773 Power Bank. The 10,000mAh battery pack can fully recharge a smartphone once, and extend the life of a tablet or computer for a couple of hours. Power banks are ubiquitous at this point, but the 733 stands out because it’s also a multi-port charger that can be used to top up to three devices when it’s plugged into an outlet. These two functions are what make Anker’s 733 a great gift for travelers when they’re at home and on the go.

The post The best gifts for travelers appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best game console		Nintendo Switch		SEE IT	The Nintendo Switch’s hybrid-console approach makes it the best pick for new and lapsed gamers.
Best TV		Samsung S95C OLED		SEE IT	The S95C OLED will make both modern PC and console games look incredibly sharp and vibrant.
Best gaming laptop		ASUS ROG Strix G16		SEE IT	The ROG Strix G16 will allow you to play the highest-end games anywhere in the world.

If you’re into video games like I am, you know the struggle—there are always those friends that look at you funny when you bring up a difficult Bloodborne boss or try explaining the Legend of Zelda timeline. We know they’re missing out on masterful storytelling, adrenaline rushes, breathtaking fantasy worlds, and triumphant feelings, but even getting them to try a Pokémon game is hard. Still, I have hope that these misled non-gamers can be turned into full-fledged gaming connoisseurs. And the holiday season is the perfect time to get them to take the plunge. Gaming is more popular than ever thanks to the rise of streaming services, smartphones, and cutting-edge game consoles. Still, most people who want to game are in it for the experience of kicking back on a couch and spending a few hours running, jumping, slashing, shooting, or using magic. Whether you’re shopping for a hardcore or lapsed gamer, these gaming gifts include some core components they’d appreciate.

• Best game console: Nintendo Switch
• Best retromodern speedrunners: Sonic Origins Plus and Sonic Superstars
• Best controller: 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller
• Best handheld PC: ASUS ROG Ally
• Best handheld PC Dock: Syntech Mini Dock
• Best TV: Samsung S95C OLED
• Best monitor: Samsung Odyssey G30A
• Best mouse: Razer Viper V2 Pro
• Best keyboard: 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
• Best headset: Logitech G PRO X
• Best gaming chair: Mavix M5
• Best PlayStation 5 upgrade: SAMSUNG 990 PRO SSD (4TB)
• Best Nintendo Switch upgrade: PNY XLR8 512GB Gaming Class MicroSD Card
• Best mobile gaming controller: Backbone One
• Best compact gaming computer: GEEKOM Mini PC
• Best gaming laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G16
• Best for streaming: Elgato HD60 X
• Best WiFi routers: Eero 6+
• Best webcam: OBSBOT Tiny 2
• Best microphone: SteelSeries Alias

Best game console: Nintendo Switch

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If you’re in the position to give someone (or yourself) their very first console this holiday, don’t chase after the flashy new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X. The Nintendo Switch is a better starter piece because it has something for everyone, whether that’s classic Mario or Zelda games, online team shooters like Overwatch, or even a game where you walk around as a goose, honking and messing with people. Nintendo also offers the Switch Lite for $100 less, but you can only play it handheld-style instead of connecting it to your TV. I’d suggest opting for the original version if you can swing it—the option to switch from TV to handheld is a delight. If you want to go a little more luxe, you can spend an extra $100 on the Nintendo Switch OLED Model, which has a larger, more vivid screen and plays all the same games, making it our favorite choice for whole-family fun.

Best retromodern speedrunners: Sonic Origins Plus and Sonic Superstars

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So you (or someone you know) got a new Switch … but what to play once it’s switched on. If you or your gift recipient are nostalgic for a simpler but no less exhilarating 8- and 16-bit era, I feel there’s never been a better time to not be into gaming because there’s never been more support for when I was into gaming. No longer must you visit the dark corners of the Internet for pirated ROMz and unstable emulators. There are now so many ports that are uncut catnip for a 47-year-old who hasn’t actively gamed since the GameCube/Dreamcast/PlayStation 2 era. And one of 2023’s most fun ones is Sonic Origins Plus, a collection of Mega Drive/Genesis/Game Gear games featuring everyone’s favorite Mario rival, Sonic the Hedgehog. (When my kid Jack was little, we asked him if he liked his name and if not, what name would he want. He said he wanted to be called “Shadow Danger Hedgehog.” Icon. I felt like I did parenting right.) Want a shot of modernized 2D adrenaline? Sonic Superstars feels charmingly familiar and wholly fresh, offering a classic Genesis-style Sonic game that takes full advantage of a current-gen. console.

Best controller: 8Bitdo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller

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8Bitdo’s Ultimate Bluetooth controller lives up to its name. The gamepad, which works with both the Nintendo Switch and Windows PCs, feels great in the hand, has a familiar button layout, and can switch between Bluetooth and a 2.4GHz wireless connection. Additionally, buttons on the back can be programmed on the back to trigger custom commands in compatible games. Perhaps the coolest thing about this controller is the included charging dock, which makes topping up its battery a lot easier. If you keep the controller docked when you’re not playing, it’ll never run out of juice. Xbox and PlayStation players shouldn’t feel left out, as the official first-party controllers for the Xbox Series S/X and PlayStation 5 are available. If you’d like a wired option, PowerA has you covered.

Best handheld: ASUS ROG Ally

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The ROG Ally is one of the most innovative gadgets we’ve reviewed in 2023, and it’s a fierce competitor to Valve’s venerable Steam Deck. The Ally runs a full version of Windows, which means you can play games from multiple digital game stores, from Steam to Xbox Game Pass. ASUS packed the ROG Ally with a 7-inch 1080P display, custom processor, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage, so it’s stacked enough to play the AAA games from 2023 at high settings. If you’re catching up with games released years ago, you should be able to push them to ultra settings while maintaining a steady framerate. Like the Nintendo Switch, you can connect this handheld to your TV to play games at higher-than-HD resolutions, too. As handheld gaming PCs go, the ASUS ROG Ally is the top of the heap, and any Windows gamer will sink hundreds of hours of games over the holiday season and beyond.

Best handheld PC Dock: Syntech Mini Dock

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If you’re going to connect your gaming handheld to a TV, you’ll need to get a dock. The best one we’ve tested is this six-port model from Syntech, which doubles as a stand. An integrated USB-C cable connects the dock to your portable computer and allows you to plug in accessories (via USB-A), a wired internet connection (via Ethernet), and a TV or monitor (via HDMI). The dock required no software to run and was instantly recognized by the ROG Ally as a compatible accessory. There’s even a USB-C port on the dock, which you can plug into an outlet using a USB-C cable and power adapter to keep the handheld charged. If you’re going to get someone a handheld gaming PC—or know someone who already has one—this is the accessory we recommend gifting them.

Best TV: Samsung S95C OLED

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If the gamer in your life demands the absolute best fidelity from their games, Samsung’s S95C OLED is the ultimate screen. Samsung decked its high-end display with four HDMI 2.1 ports, allowing console and PC gamers to play the latest titles in 4K at up to 120 frames per second. Our reviewer played Returnal on a PlayStation 5 during his testing time and was extremely impressed with the results, even in a brightly lit room. The advantage OLED TVs have over their LCD counterparts is far better contrast and color reproduction. These are key specs for gamers since they’ll want the most immersive and lifelike experience possible (and why the SAMSUNG 34″ Odyssey G85SB Series QD-OLED Ultra WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor is stellar for a desk-based battle station). If your gift recipient games in an unavoidably sunlit room, however, and you’re feeling particularly giving, the brightness and rich color of the Samsung QN900C 8K Neo QLED are astonishing. The good thing about this gift is that it can be enjoyed by non-gamers who want to watch TV shows and movies that look their best.

Best monitor: Samsung Odyssey G30A

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Speaking of monitors, PC and console gamers will all appreciate Samsung’s Odyssey G30A. Its 144Hz refresh rate will make games look super smooth, and support for AMD’s FreeSync technology will prevent abnormalities like screen tearing (distortion) from getting in the way of online matches or intense sequences with a lot of movement. Additionally, its large size means gamers will feel immersed while playing titles at their desk. We also like that the G30A has multiple HDMI ports so that multiple consoles can be plugged into it simultaneously. We understand not everybody has enough room for a 27-inch display, which is why we feel like the 24-inch LG’s 24GN600-B is another good option. If the person you’re getting this gift for has expressed interest in curved monitors, Samsung’s 34-inch Odyssey G8 QD-OLED Ultra WQHD Curved Gaming Monitor is an enviable, indulgent window into full immersion.

Best mouse: Razer Viper V2 Pro

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Regular mice are too slow to keep up with the split-second movements necessary to play PC games competitively, which is why we recommend getting serious gamers Razer’s Viper V2 Pro. The wireless optical mouse provides peak performance on any surface and can survive up to 90 million clicks without faltering. Razer even allows you to change the mouse’s sensitivity by pushing a button instead of managing it through software. The most impressive feature of this mouse is that it’s wireless, which is atypical for gaming mice as it can lead to latency (lag) between your input (movement or a click) and how long it takes the PC to respond. Razer feels like it’s cracked the code on how to offer premium performance without a cumbersome cable. If wires aren’t an issue, Razer’s Basilisk V3 is another good pick; its optical sensor is almost as good, and it’s equipped with RGB lights and even more programmable buttons. Not sure? Check out additional cheap gaming mice we recommend.

Best keyboard: 8Bitdo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

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Gaming keyboards are nothing new, but 8BitDo’s Retro Mechanical Keyboard is more than just a nostalgia trip. The mechanical keyboard’s color scheme is themed after the original Nintendo Entertainment System, complete with red “B” and “A” buttons. But Windows users can use 8BitDo’s Ultimate Software 2 to customize its function row and other buttons to your liking. If you’re playing games, changing these macros can help give you a leg up—or stay competitive in popular titles. MacOS users won’t be able to use Ultimate Software 2, but that platform isn’t known for gaming. That said, the keyboard’s stock functions are completely compatible with the Mac. This keyboard can be connected to your computer in three ways: with a USB cable, over Bluetooth, or using the included 2.4GHz USB dongle. If you’d like the best-looking mechanical gaming keyboard around, this is it. If you’d like a keyboard with a slightly more modern design, SteelSeries’ Apex 3 has most of the same other features as its higher-end models for under $50. We’ve got other picks if you’d like even more options.

Best headset: Logitech G PRO X

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Hearing and speaking to teammates is essential when playing competitive multiplayer games online, which is why Logitech’s G Pro X is such a great gift. The headset can create a virtual 7.1 surround sound environment, so players will be able to hear opponents approaching from any direction. This makes a huge difference when playing games where every second counts. The G Pro X’s large, 50mm drivers will deliver clear sound regardless of which game they’re playing. The headset’s microphone is flexible, so gamers can move it around to find the perfect place for them. Communication is key during online matches, so having a microphone that’s always near and ready is a huge plus. This headset is compatible with PCs, the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Or, if you’re feeling extra giving, there’s Audeze’s $299 Penrose wireless headset.

Best gaming chair: Mavix M5

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A gaming chair is an essential accessory for PC gamers—or anyone who works from home for that matter—and makes for a great, generous gifts. The Mavix M5 has all the features a gamer would need, from height, seat, and armrest adjustability to an optional built-in massager. The M5 has been constructed to provide ample support for the entire back and neck, with ample padding in the seat to prevent discomfort during long gaming sessions. We were particularly impressed with the comfort of the M5’s headrest, which is height- and tilt-adjustable. If you know a gamer who complains about back aches after playing games all night, Mavix’s M5 is the ultimate gift.

Best PlayStation 5 upgrade: Samsung 990 PRO SSD (4TB)

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Know a PlayStation 5 gamer who loves digital games but is always out of storage? A 4TB Samsung 990 PRO SSD should solve that problem for a good long time. They’ll be able to quadruple their console’s internal storage capacity in about fifteen minutes with the help of a phillips head screwdriver. Samsung’s SSD is fast, reliable, and has worked flawlessly in our tests. The latest premium PlayStation 5 games like Spider-Man 2 never hitch up or take longer than usual to load. We’d go so far as to say this high-capacity SSD is the best PlayStation 5 accessory you can get.

Best Nintendo Switch upgrade: PNY XLR8 512GB Gaming Class MicroSD Card

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The Nintendo Switch is still our go-to game console recommendation due to its hybrid design and deep library of first and third-party games. Our only real complaint is that the system only ships with 32GB of on-board storage for digital games. You can solve that issue with PNY’s XLR8, a 512GB MicroSD card designed with gaming in mind. With read and write speeds of 100 and 90MBps respectively you should see no difference in performance when digital games are downloaded onto this card. Better yet, you’ll still have access to the Nintendo Switch’s on-board storage, and can pop in this MicroSD card with no tools. If you holiday shopping for someone who’s constantly deleting and re-downloading digital games, this can solve the issue once and for all.

Best mobile gaming controller: Backbone One

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The Backbone One effectively turns your iPhone 15 or Android smartphone into a Nintendo Switch. This controller shell connects directly to the smartphone’s USB-C port and grips itself to both sides of the device. Once connected, gamers can play iOS titles that support external controllers with traditional buttons, triggers, and control sticks. The Backbone One can also be used by iPhone gamers who want to stream cloud games using services provided by Microsoft, Sony, and NVidia. This accessory brings out the full gaming potential of the iPhone or Android device. If you have an iPhone 14 or earlier, you’ll need to get the version of this controller with a Lightning jack instead.

Best compact gaming computer: GEEKOM Mini PC

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One of the biggest barriers to entry for would-be computer gamers, beyond cost, is finding enough space for a desktop, but GEEKOM’s latest Mini PC is an interesting solution. This compact gaming PC can run many newer titles at 1080P with medium to high settings enabled, and you may be able to eke out even more performance on a game-by-game basis. That’s largely due to the machine’s 13th-generation, 14-core Intel i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of NVMe SSD. There are less expensive mini PCs out there, but GEEKOM’s is one of the few that can offer excellent performance without a dedicated graphics card, and in a form factor this small. If you’re shopping for a lapsed PC gamer or someone who wants to try gaming on Windows, this is the gift.

Best gaming laptop: ASUS ROG Strix G16

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Gaming laptops used to be incredibly compromised, but ASUS’ ROG Strix G16 proves how far technology has come. The Windows laptop has an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, 16GB of RAM (memory), 1TB SSD, and a GeForce RTX 4070 graphics card with 8GB of dedicated video memory under the hood. Its 16-inch HD display has a refresh rate of 165Hz, which is better than most gaming monitors. A higher refresh rate allows the screen to keep up with fast-paced games without lagging. This laptop’s specs are overkill for casual gamers who mostly stick to indie titles, but it’s the right machine for gamers who like to live on the cutting edge, but travel too often to justify getting a high-end desktop. The laptop is also chock full of ports, so connecting accessories won’t require an adapter; it even has an HDMI port, so plugging it into a monitor or TV is a single cable affair.

Best for streaming: Elgato HD60 X

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Elgato’s HD60 X simplifies the complicated process of getting console game footage onto your PC for editing or live streaming. The unassuming puck has HDMI ports and a USB port, which is all you’ll need to connect your console to a computer. The HD60 X can capture 1080p60 HDR10 or 4K30. It’s compatible with all current-generation game consoles and Windows PCs. If ever there was a great gaming stocking stuffer, this is it.

Best WiFi routers: Eero 6+

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You might not think WiFi routers are a great gaming gift until you realize it’s impossible to stream or download games without a solid connection. This set of three Eero 6+ routers can blanket an area of up to 4,500 square feet with a wireless WiFi 6 network that supports speeds up to 1,000 megabits per second. In all likelihood, that means you’ll get the top internet speed you’re paying for without having to plug your console or PC into your cable modem. If the gamer you’re shopping for complains about getting dropped from matches constantly, this gift will solve the issue once and for all. We prefer mesh WiFi routers because they can cover more ground, but Netgear’s Nighthawk tri-band WiFi 7 RS700S is the best single-point futureproofed option if you’ve already got (or plan to get) a separate modem compatible with your ISP, thanks to its ultra-fast (up to 19Gbps) top speed.

Best webcam: OBSBOT Tiny 2

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A webcam is another essential accessory for game streamers, and we can’t recommend Obsbot’s Tiny 2 highly enough. The 4K webcam sits on a rotating stand and uses AI to follow a subject as they move. During active streams, the streamer will always stay in frame, which is especially important during games like Dance Dance Revolution or any title with motion controls. If you’re shopping for a streamer who records VR games, they need a webcam that can keep up with them since they can’t manage their video stream while playing. It doesn’t hurt that the Obsbot’s video looks crystal clear, and that its microphone is surprisingly good, too. Static streamers may enjoy Logitech’s C922x, which has similar specs but won’t move around.

Best microphone: SteelSeries Alias

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It’s almost impossible to build an online audience for game streams without talking to them while you play, which is why SteelSeries’ Alias microphone is such an excellent gift for gamers. The microphone connects to a computer over USB, and LEDs on the mic itself will let you know whether your levels are peaking if you’re not monitoring your sound, and a knob on its front side allows you to quickly adjust your gain. This microphone is designed to work with SteelSeries’ Sonar software, which lets you adjust innumerable audio settings to get your voice sounding just right. A more budget-friendly USB alternative is Sennheiser’s Profile USB Microphone, which doesn’t match up to the Alias feature-for-feature but will make streamers sound better than their laptop mic would. Feeling spendy enough to assemble a broadcast-quality rig complete with external interface but unsure where to start? You could pick up one of our top breakout boxes and a microphone for vocals or bump up to the SteelSeries Alias Pro, which comes with its own.

The post The best gifts to get your friends into gaming appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best for walks		Volt Lava Boots		SEE IT	If you need to hotfoot it somewhere but it’s cold outside, you’ll be fired up to get where you need to go once you get your feet in these heated boots.
Best for beverages		Ember Travel Mug		SEE IT	Keep your coffee or tea steamy for up to three hours on the go—or indefinitely while on the included charging coaster—thanks to a seven-sensor heating system and built-in battery pack.
Best for bedtime		Double Stitch Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set		SEE IT	Achieve maximum coziness with this quilt set, but they come with a warning: May make you not want to get out of bed.

For some people, the holidays are far from the most wonderful time of the year, temperature-wise. While others are going on strolls to enjoy the crisp fall air or playing in the snow of a winter wonderland, these folks just don’t seem to be built to withstand the dipping temperatures. Just like bears, they seem to spend the last months of the year hibernating in the warmth of their homes, dreading the very thought of setting a single foot outside. You can convince them to leave their home, though, by giving them the proper gear to keep them warm and cozy. That’s why we’ve collected some of our hottest picks for the best gifts for the perpetually cold.

• Best for people with cold feet: Heat Holders Thermal Socks
• Best for techies who drink coffee and tea: Ember Travel Mug
• Best shoes for winter walks: Volt Lava Boots
• Best hoodie: Chrome Merino Cobra Hoodie
• Best flannel: Jetty Horizon Flannel
• Best pants: Duluth Trading Company Men’s Ballroom Double Flex Relaxed Fit Lined Jeans
• Best slippers: Glerups Wool Slip-On
• Best for the couch potato: The Comfy Wearable Blanket
• Best for winter sports lovers: Stio Men’s Figment Jacket
• Best heated blanket: Bedsure Heated Blanket
• Best space heater: De’Longhi Ceramic Tower Heater
• Best for cold sleepers: Double Stitch Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set
• Best jacket: Kühl Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket
• Best for campers and commuters: Hydro Flask 16oz Insulated Cup
• Best for the cook: Fuego Box Spicy Box of Awesome
• Best fire pit: Solo Stove Bonfire
• Best for cold hands: Öjbro Karg Glove
• Best for dry hands and chapped lips: Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment
• Best blanket: Pretty Rugged Pretty Rugged Black TS Luxe Faux
• Best personal heater: Ostrichpillow Heatbag

Best for people with cold feet: Heat Holders Thermal Socks

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When you’re cold, it makes sense to heat yourself from the bottom up, which is why everyone should have a pair (or six) of thermal socks. Heat Holders socks are made out of yarn that’s been developed in-house and knitted to hold in warm air without cutting off your circulation. Yes, the socks will add some bulk to one’s feet, but that’s kind of the point. Nobody wants sweaty feet, but that shouldn’t be an issue since the yarn Heat Holders automatically wicks away moisture. The company says its socks are over seven times warmer than traditional cotton pairs, which is reason enough to stuff them in a stocking. Don’t have cold feet about getting these, and you won’t have cold feet getting outside. (And if you really want to take it to the next level, there are always battery-powered heated socks, insoles, as well as the Volt boots we’ve featured below.) — Brandt Ranj

Best for techies who drink coffee and tea: Ember Travel Mug

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Ember’s 12-ounce Travel Mug can keep beverages between 120 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit for up to three hours thanks to a seven-sensor heating system and built-in battery pack. One can set the mug’s temperature through an app or by using its touch-sensitive display. Ember bundles its Travel Mug with a coaster, which doubles as a wireless charging pad. The mug will keep beverages warm continuously when it’s on the coaster, which is great for anyone who works at a desk. And it will warm your heart to know there are also options if you’re looking for a more “traditional” 14-ounce or 10-ounce coffee mug (also available in metallic finishes) or 6-ounce espresso cup. — Brandt Ranj

Best shoes for winter walks: Volt Lava Boots

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Volt’s Lava Boots take the concept of the Ember Mug (above) and extend it to your feet. The boots feature a rechargeable 8V battery that can power their integrated heating elements for up to 14 hours, depending on whether they’re set to low, medium, or high. One can change between these settings by using the Volt app or through a controller on the shoes themselves. The best part about the Lava Boots is that they don’t scream “gadget.” Other people walking around won’t notice your high-tech shoes—in fact, the Lava Boots are actually pretty fashionable, depending on your style. Looking for something more low-profile but still extremely comfy? Check out the 3V Camp Heated Slippers, which keep your toes toasty whether you’re on your deck or at your desk. (And if your other appendages are jealous, we have suggestions to help you complete an entire ensemble of heated clothing.) — Brandt Ranj

Best flannel: Jetty Horizon Flannel

The ’90s are back, and they got a glow-up. A super heavy-weight flannel, the Jetty Horizon (shown here in Charcoal) is foundational cold-weather everyday wear with dusky gradients of flattering horizontal stripes. It’s a crisp, comfy outer layer that says, I might buy some Nirvana albums reissued on vinyl, but I’ll keep the grunge out of my tasty twill, thanks. Complete the look with the Mariner stretch canvas pants with flannel liner made of 60 percent cotton and 40 percent Oystex, a fabric blending pulverized oyster shells with recycled polyester (RPET). That makes it cozy and conscientious—a wicked ’90s-style combo way better than the plats and wack slacks worn by lamestains the first go round.

Best pants: Duluth Trading Company Men’s Ballroom Double Flex Relaxed Fit Lined Jeans

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Durable. Comfortable. Oh so warm. These are the ways we’d describe the Duluth Trading Company Men’s Ballroom Double Flex Relaxed Fit Lined Jeans, which may be the perfect winter pants. The flannel lining is thick enough to provide a surprising amount of insulation to retain heat without making you feel weighed down. There’s enough give in the waistband and gusset in the undercarriage that we never felt pressure when bending over to pick something up or running to catch a closing New York City subway car. After trying them for ourselves, we couldn’t imagine wearing anything else to dates, the office, or errands once the weather gets chilly. If you’d like to complete this ensemble, pair this gift with one of Duluth Trading Company’s flannel shirts.

Best hoodie: Chrome Merino Cobra Hoodie

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Hoodies and sweaters may be one of the first things that come to mind when you think of warmth and comfort. A hoodie made out of wool is better. And a hoodie made of Merino wool is the best. The prized material is breathable, odor-resistant, totally biodegradable, and oh, so soft. Chrome’s Merino Cobra Hoodie features this natural fiber’s properties in an all-black, classic design that will match any outfit. Your ever-frozen friend can wear it as a cozy garment indoors or as an extra layer to insulate from the biting frost outside.

Best slippers: Glerups Wool Slip-On

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Let’s admit it: Satisfying feet is no mean feat. Sometimes, they’re too cold, but if you overcompensate, they’re swampy. The solution? Enter the self-regulating wonders of wool. The Glerups felt slip-on (with 100 percent pure natural wool) naturally absorbs moisture while keeping your extremities warm. At the same time, they’re breathable—so just as comfy in the summer—and protect against odor. Available in multiple colors with either leather or rubber soles (the latter being better if you use them, like I do, to walk the dog and do other lite outdoor activities), they’re also available as a shoe and a boot, if a slipper isn’t your thing. — Tony Ware

Best for the couch potato: The Comfy Wearable Blanket

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The Comfy looks ridiculous, but any semblance of pretension melts away whenever one puts it on. This is basically a blanket masquerading as a one-size-fits-all oversized hoodie. The Comfy is probably best recommended for at-home use, but it’s well worth a look if you’re shopping for someone who just wants to binge-watch shows all winter without freezing. The Comfy’s sherpa inner lining and microfiber outer lining are soft to the touch, which makes it easy to wear for hours at a time, while the centered pouch gives one a place to put their hands. The Comfy is objectively ridiculous, but it’s also ridiculously warm. — Brandt Ranj

Best heated blanket: Bedsure Heated Blanket

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Bedsure’s Heated Blanket is an essential gift for anyone who wants to make it through the winter without being tempted to reach for the thermostat. The flannel blanket’s heating coils are arranged to provide even heating, and a large controller lets you adjust their intensity between 104 and 113 degrees Fahrenheit. If one falls asleep with the blanket on, the heating coils will automatically shut off after three hours to prevent overheating. Surprisingly, Bedsure’s Heated Blanket is machine washable and can be kept clean without a big hassle. The only difficult decision will be whether to get an electric blanket in a single-person throw size or one that covers the entire bed. — Brandt Ranj

Best for winter sports lovers: Stio Men’s Figment Jacket

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Wearing heavy clothing while skiing or snowboarding is inadvisable as it can make it more difficult to move, but that doesn’t mean you should leave your favorite outdoor sportsperson in the lurch this holiday season. Instead, go the extra mile and gift them a Figment Jacket from Stio. The thin jacket is impossibly warm thanks to the company’s use of durable, sustainable materials, including recycled polyester and custom-made PeakProof™ fabric, which keeps moisture from getting through. Well-positioned pockets make it easy to store and grab gear while you’re in the middle of a long run, while durable zippers make sure those pockets stay closed unless you want them opened. Available in both Men’s and Women’s styles, the Figment Jacket is the type of gift someone will appreciate each time they hit the slopes. If you’re shopping for someone who also needs an everyday jacket, we can also recommend Stio’s Saratoga Shearling Jacket.

Best space heater: De’Longhi Ceramic Tower Heater

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A cold room can put anyone in a bad mood, which is why De’Longhi’s Tower Heater is such a thoughtful gift. The 1500W oscillating heater was very effective in our tests, appreciably raising the temperature of our bedroom within minutes. One can adjust the heater’s settings by pressing buttons on its face or using its remote. The Ceramic Tower Heater’s safety features, which include an override that shuts it off if it gets too hot, a switch that disables it if it tips, and a timer, provide ample peace of mind. If anything, the space heater worked too quickly and effectively. We were also surprised at how quiet the heater was unless it was cranked to an ultra-high setting, which means it can be used in a living room without disturbing anybody. We love space heaters, and we think you, or whoever you gift this to, will as well. — Brandt Ranj

Best for cold sleepers: Double Stitch Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set

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It can be hard to fall asleep in a room that’s too cold, especially if you’ve got poor circulation, but that’s exactly what Double Stitch’s Cotton Jacquard Quilt Set prevents. The items in this set are made from 100 percent BCI-certified cotton that’s soft, smooth, and 60 percent recycled materials. It’s even naturally vegan and allergen-free. We were able to try this set out for ourselves and can attest to both its comfort and ability to keep cool sleepers toasty all night long. The only downside to this set is that it may make it more difficult to get out of bed in the morning. — Brandt Ranj

Best jacket: Kühl Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket

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Kühl’s name is ironic because the company’s Stretch Voyagr Insulated Jacket will keep the person you gift it to toasty until spring. The jacket is made from polyester but has spandex in the lining, which offers a little bit of give. Its five pockets give you places for your hands and belongings, and we’re especially fond of its internal security pocket, which is a must-have if you don’t want to keep your wallet or phone in your pants pocket. If you get caught in inclement weather unexpectedly, you’ll immediately appreciate this jacket’s hood, which actually stays on your head while it’s engaged instead of immediately slipping off. If you want to match this gift with a couple of other hot pieces of apparel, Kühl’s Hot Ryder pants and a Kühl Flannel shirt are also safe bets.

Best for campers and commuters: Hydro Flask 16oz Insulated Cup

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Hydro Flask’s Insulated Cup is a double-insulated stainless steel mug made from proprietary materials that allow it to keep beverages hot for several hours without requiring any fancy technology. The cup is available in over a dozen colors and three sizes, but we’re partial to the 16-ounce option as it’s the equivalent of a medium-sized coffee or tea from popular cafes. The leakproof lid creates a tight enough seal that Hydro Flask’s Insulated Cup can be stored in a bag or purse without spilling all over the place. The icing on the cake is that this mug can be cleaned in a dishwasher. (Does your gift recipient need some summer hydration help? We have lots of insulated water bottles we recommend.) — Brandt Ranj 

Best for the cook: Fuego Box Spicy Box of Awesome

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Sometimes, you want to be heated from the inside out, so a Fuego Box’s Spicy Box of Awesome is the ideal gift. The box comes with three hot sauces, jalapeño and garlic rub, and Himalayan ghost salt. The site also offers a subscription service that sends between one and three hot sauces to the recipient’s door every month. Sauces can also be purchased a la carte, and each is branded with a heat level from one to four peppers, so you know whether the bottle you’re picking is mild or extra hot. One of our favorite parts about the Fuego Box is that sauces are sent in a wooden crate, making it much more fun to open before you get to the gift itself. — Brandt Ranj

Best for the backyard: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

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We’ve all sat around a fire pit that didn’t provide enough heat unless you were close enough to be pelted with eye-watering smoke, but Solo Stove’s Bonfire fixes all that. The fire pit provides ample warmth while keeping smoke to a minimum thanks to a unique design that catches ash in a pan rather than letting it smolder at the bottom of the pit. We’ve seen the Bonfire 2.0 in action, and the results were impressive—there was still some smoke, but not nearly as much as we’d experienced on a traditional fire pit. Solo Stove’s big innovation with this iteration of the fire pit was building it with a removable ash pan, which can be lifted (once cooled) to dispose of ash in one fell swoop. It’s the type of convenience feature that’ll make whoever receives this smokeless fire pit much more inclined to bust it out more frequently. — Brandt Ranj

Best for cold hands: Öjbro Karg Glove

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You can find gloves and mittens in any of its multiple formats (fingerless, convertible, etc.) for myriad prices, but investing in a high-end pair is absolutely worth it. Öjbro Vantfabrik has a wide range of knitted products, but their four-layer Merino wool gloves and mittens are really something. They’re designed in Sweden with Nordic winters in mind, which means they can keep your hands warm in the coldest climes. Their mittens are even called Varning Varma Vantar, which translates to “warning, warm mittens.” If your friend isn’t a fan of having their hands reduced to tongs, you can always give them a pair of four-layer gloves with mobile-friendly material lining on the index finger and thumbs.

Best for dry hands and chapped lips: Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment

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Let’s face it: There are parts of your body you just can’t put Merino wool on. And since frosty air really does a number on your skin, it’s important to bring out the big guns when it comes to dry hands and chapped lips. Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment is a great low-budget solution both to prevent and treat the whiplash from wintry winds. Its versatile ingredients allow you to use it on most of your body. It also acts as a protective layer to help a healthy dermis stay healthy, while healing already damaged skin.

Best blanket: Pretty Rugged Black TS Luxe Faux

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If you can’t coax your friend outdoors with four layers of mittens, it’s okay; they just need the right blanket. Pretty Rugged’s Pretty Rugged Black TS Luxe Faux is impossibly soft inside but waterproof on the outside. This means occasional autumnal raindrops—or even melting snowflakes—won’t ruin the vibe. We’re especially fond of this blanket’s large size, which can easily accommodate a couple of people. Whether they want a way to snuggle inside their home or out, Pretty Rugged’s blanket won’t let them down.

Best personal heater: Ostrichpillow Heatbag

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If your friend constantly talks about getting a dog that will double as a warm cushion in the winter months, but their landlord doesn’t allow pets, gift them the next best thing. Ostrichpillow’s Heatbag is literally a squishy, energy-radiating pillow your friend can put their arms around. It won’t bark or wag its tail when they come home, but its clay interior can be reheated an unlimited number of times. Plus, it’s soft to the touch, and its memory foam shell will help conform to every weird sleeping position they adopt. The bag can also be used for physical therapy—heat it in the microwave and place it on sore muscles or strained joints for slow relief.

The post The hottest gifts for that friend who is always cold appeared first on Popular Science.

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best for the 5-star camp cook		GOSUN Chillest Electric Cooler		SEE IT	GOSUN’s Chillest Electric Cooler has a compressor and can chill or freeze foods for many hours on a single charge.
Most Practical		VSSL Camp Supplies Kit		SEE IT	VSSL’s Camp Supplies Kit has everything a camper needs in a convenient container.
Best drinkware		Silipint Silicone Pint Glasses		SEE IT	Silipint’s Silicone Pint Glasses are eye-catching and won’t break in your bag.

Shopping for someone who loves the great outdoors can be tough if you don’t share that interest (aren’t all tents the same, you might find yourself asking). But don’t worry, we’re here for you no matter where they might roam. We’ve found the best accessories to give campers, from the essentials to more obscure outdoor gifts they might not have considered. This means you’ll find something for those in your life who plan on taking their first overnight trip, those who’ve fully embraced Van Life™, and anyone in between. Alongside the serious gifts for campers, we’ve included functional gifts for when the person you’re shopping for is just outdoors in the yard or temporarily “setting up camp” at an event like a tailgate.

• Best tent: Kelty Late Start 2P
• Best mattress pad: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad
• Best glasses: Silipint Silicone Pint Glasses
• Best multitool: Leatherman Signal Camping Multitool
• Best bug repellent: Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent
• Best single-use tool: Slice Mini Box Cutter
• Best gear bag: RUX (70L)
• Best sleeping bag: Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree 550 Down Fill Sleeping Bag
• Best mess kit: Hydro Flask Outdoor Kitchen Bowl
• Best cooking utensil kit: Opinel Nomad Camping Kitchen Utensil Kit
• Best coffee tool: Aeropress Go
• Best camping table: GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table
• Best for beach campers: Shibumi Shade
• Best cooler: YETI Tundra 35 Cooler
• Best insulated bottle: Welly Traveler (28oz)
• Best power station: Anker 521 Portable Power Station
• Best fire pit: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0
• Best fire starter: Pull Start Fire Matchfree Pull String Firestarter
• Best light: Klymit Everglow LED Light Tube
• Best for lake campers: Oru Kayak Lake+
• Best car accessory: Rightline Gear Moki Car Door Step
• Best water tank: GoSpout 2 Gallon Portable Water Tank
• Best filtered water bottle: LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle
• Best flashlights: Hoxida Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight
• Best accessories kit: VSSL Camp Supplies Kit
• Best in-case-of-emergencies device: Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator
• Best for the 5-star camp cook: GOSUN Chillest Electric Cooler

Best tent: Kelty Late Start 2P

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For those wanting a tent that will protect them no matter the conditions, Kelty’s Late Start 2P is our top choice. This two person tent—single and four-person models are also available—is made from lightweight but durable polyester fabrics that provide ample coverage from the rain without inhibiting constant airflow. The tent’s pair of pre-bent stakes make it easy to set up and break down the tent, and every piece folds down enough that it fits in an easy-to-carry pouch that resembled a rolled up sleeping bag. If you’re shopping for a camper but don’t know where to start, a brand new tent is the right place to start.

Best mattress pad: Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Camping and Backpacking Sleeping Pad

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Anyone not used to sleeping on the ground will appreciate a sleeping pad, which acts as a buffer to keep you a little more comfortable. This one from Therm-a-Rest can be folded up for easy storage, was designed to trap and radiate heat to help you stay warm, and weighs less than a pound. Campers can easily keep the mattress pad in a backpack to take it from site to site. The dimensions of Therm-a-Rest’s sleeping pad is 72L x 20W inches wide, so it should accommodate any sleeper. And that’s just one of the brand’s many solutions for insulating campers from aches and elements, whether someone is moving fast and light, taking a more leisurely approach to treks and travel, or just camping out of their car.

Best drinkware: Silipint Silicone Pint Glasses

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Broken glass is annoying to deal with at best and dangerous at worst, which is why Silipint’s Silicon Pint Glasses are a wonderful gift. The shatterproof “glasses” are 100% food-grade silicone, so completely safe, available in some cool psychedelic colors, and a fun-meets-functional way to cut down on the amount of plastic campers might use on their trip. Plus, pint glasses are the perfect size for beer, water, and everything in between.

Best multitool: Leatherman Signal Camping Multitool

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Once Leatherman’s Signal Camping Multitool gets into a camper’s go-bag it’ll never come out. This single tool can replace knives, screwdrivers, scissors, and pliers. Space is tight for campers—having more is gear better, but burdensome—so this pocket-friendly multitool is the perfect solution. It’ll come in handy when setting up a tent, cutting fishing line, and plenty of other potentially streaky situations. Whether looking for an everyday carry or more specialized set of save-the-day tools, Leatherman has numerous options.

Best bug repellent: Murphy’s Naturals Mosquito Repellent

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If you’re buggin’ out because the bugs are out, just smear a stripe of this plant-based, DEET-free, non-greasy balm on the brim of your hat and you’ll see what the fuss is about because you’ll see the insects retreat. Anyone who has ever hiked through the gullies and gulches knows how easy it is to get swarmed by flying irritants. So if you want to concentrate on keeping two feet on the river crossings instead of swiping at the air, let this cocktail of castor, lemongrass, rosemary, cedarwood, and peppermint oils drape a protective veil around your head. It’s the perfect stocking stuffer, whether for someone in the back-country or the backyard. And, once settled at the campsite or on the patio, light up a candle and/or incense to expand the protective shield.

Best single-use tool: Slice Mini Box Cutter

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Slice’s Mini Box Cutter is not only great at its namesake purpose (seriously, this may become the MVP of holiday gift opening), but the retractable mini knife will come in handy when opening food packaging or cutting fishing line. The Mini Box Cutter’s biggest strengths are its incredibly compact size and extremely sharp knife. It’s not as versatile as the Leatherman we recommended earlier, but any camper would be excited to see this in their stocking.

Best gear bag: RUX (70L)

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The Rux is a collapsable, waterproof nylon bag that’ll allow campers to pack and carry their gear more efficiently. The Rux’s cube shape is easier to fit into a car than a duffel, and the included straps allow you to carry it like a backpack. When they’re done camping, the person you gift this to can wash the Rux with a hose, then flatten it for easy storage in a garage, closet, or under their bed.

Best sleeping bag: Kelty Cosmic 20 Degree 550 Down Fill Sleeping Bag

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If you’re shopping for someone looking to extend the camping season as far as possible, they’ll be thrilled with this sleeping bag from Kelty, which is designed to keep folks toasty in temperatures as low as 20 degrees. The duck down-insulated sleeping bag has a trapezoidal shape that tapers down at the bottom and insulates heat far more effectively than the more familiar rectangular sleeping bag. Kelty offers the Cosmic 20 in three sizes: small, regular, and long, which can accomodate campers up to 5.6 feet, 6 feet, and 6.6 feet respectively. Each sleeping bag has the same features, but make sure to get the one that’s best suited for the camper in your life.

Best mess kit: Hydro Flask Outdoor Kitchen Bowl

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Hydro Flask’s Outdoor Kitchen Bowl is the perfect complement to the Silipint silicone pint glasses we recommended above, as it serves a similar purpose. This kit comes with three stainless steel bowls and lids that are both BPA- and toxin-free. Hydro Flask used the same insulating material found in its water bottles because of its insulating properties, so these bowls will keep your hot foods hot and cool foods cool for several hours. This is helpful for one-day camping trips, though the Outdoor Kitchen Bowl can keep shelf-stable food like granola fresh for several days.

Best cooking utensil kit: Opinel Nomad Camping Kitchen Utensil Kit

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Founded in 1890 in the French Alps, Opinel makes iconic folding knives and other compact kitchen tools. As much a part of French cultural heritage as a well-stocked camping kit, Opinel tools pair sustainably managed wood handles with anti-corrosive stainless steel blades. The result is purpose-built, made-to-last camping, foraging, boating, backpacking, and kitchen accessories. This set includes a No. 12 serrated folding knife (4.72-inch blade), No. 10 folding corkscrew knife (3.94-inch blade), a No. 6 pocket peeler, beechwood cutting board, and microfiber cleaning cloth/travel pouch. With this selection a camper can make quick work of meal prep, then everything cleans up quick and packs tight, ready as you wander from site to sights. And, once you’re sitting down to eat, Opinel also offers a No. 8 Picnic+ kit with the signature wood handle and interchangeable stainless steel inserts, including fork and spoon.

Best coffee tool: Aeropress Go

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Going into the great outdoors shouldn’t mean giving up coffee. The Aeropress Go Brew has the capacity to make three espresso-style coffees, and comes with a scoop, stirrer, paper filter, and even its own cup. All the person you gift this to will need to supply is hot water. Once they’re done drinking, all of the Aeropress Go’s components fit neatly into the included container, so the entire coffee maker can be easily stored in a backpack. If you’re shopping for someone who doesn’t feel like themselves before a cup of coffee in the morning, no gift will make them happier. While we’re currently recommending gifts for campers, this kitchen tool is equally helpful at home or when traveling in general.

Best camping table: GCI Outdoor Compact Camp Table

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Space is a premium commodity for campers, so GCI’s Outdoor Compact Camp Table is a thoughtful gift. The well-constructed table gives the camper a sturdy, 25-inch surface to prepare food—anything from fresh fish to s’more supplies. It’s even large enough to double as a small dining table once dinner is ready. The fact that this table is collapsable means campers can keep it tucked away when they’re not on a trip.

Best for beach campers: Shibumi Shade

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There’s nothing quite like camping trips at a beach, but nobody wants to deal with the sun getting in their eyes for half the day. If you know someone who struggles with that problem, gift them the Simbumi Shade, which provides up to 150 square feet of coverage. That’s enough space for roughly four people to be seated below comfortably. The shade itself weighs four pounds and breaks down to the size of a standard beach umbrella, and is made from 40% recycled plastic. The shade relies on the wind to stay up, so it should only be used on a beach with a consistent airflow, or on windier days. Two pegs driven into the sand will keep the front section moored to avoid it getting swept away. If you know a camper who parks themsleves in the beach from noon until night, the Simbumi Shade is the ideal gift.

Best cooler: YETI Tundra 35 Cooler

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YETI’s coolers have earned a stellar reputation due to their extreme “bear-proof” durability and ability to keep food cold for several hours (if not days) thanks to their insulation and heavy-duty rubber locks. We recommend the YETI for keeping your drinks cold during a multi-day camping trip or for preserving perishables during the initiatial period of a camping trip. YETI says this cooler’s 35L capacity can hold 20 cans with a 2:1 ice-to-beverage ratio. Like the RUX, the box-like shape of YETI’s cooler makes it easy to transport, and its side handles make it surprisingly comfortable to carry.

Best insulated bottle: Welly Traveler 28oz

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There are a lot of insulated bottles out there, but we haven’t found one that’s better than Welly’s Traveler. This large-capacity bottle is triple-insulated and made from BPA-free and eco-friendly materials, including natural bamboo. Its stainless-steel construction allows it to trap heat or, alternatively, prevent heat from seeping in to keep beverages cold. Welly offers its bottles in several sizes, but we like the 28oz version because it’s big enough to last campers for a day-long hike.

Best power station: Anker 521 Portable Power Station

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Yes, the point of camping is to unplug from the “real world,” but it’s still important to have a power source just in case. Anker’s 521 is a heavy-duty but highly portable power station with three USB ports, a pair of AC outlets, and a car socket. It can be used to charge phones, laptops, or small appliances, and the light bar makes it easy to use at night. This is one of those better-safe-than-sorry gifts that campers will begrudgingly take on a trip but find useful once they’re there. The 521’s LCD screen is especially helpful as it’ll help them ration how much power they use during multi-day trips. And the longer someone will be off the grid, especially if they’re a van-lifer, the larger a capacity of power station, or even a solar generator, should be considered.

Best fire pit: Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

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If you’re shopping for someone who’s into glamping and/or extremely concerned about the very real issue of wildfires, Solo Stove’s Bonfire 2.0 is the fire pit we recommend. It was designed to be “smokeless,” meaning a continuous flow of air, and an intelligently placed ash pan, prevent tons of smoke from billowing out of it constantly. There’ll still be some smoke but not enough to make your eyes water, which means campers can sit closer to it (but not too close) to enjoy its warmth. Solo Stove addressed our one complaint with the original Bonfire by making this model’s ash tray easily removable, which makes cleanup a breeze.

Best fire starter: Pull Start Fire Matchfree Pull String Firestarter

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Starting a campfire can be difficult, especially if the trip happens right after a rainstorm. Campers who have Pull Start’s Fire Starter will be prepared, though. All you have to do is set the logs up, then pull a single string. Kindling and firewood will ignite within the half hour that the starters stay lit, so the person you gift them to will be all set for dinner, s’mores, or a night around the campfire or fire pit. Pull Start is confident that its starter will even work with wet logs. The company offers fire starters in many multipacks, but this three-log box is the perfect choice for gifting.

Best light: Klymit Everglow LED Light Tube

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Klymit’s Everglow Light Tube is a flexible, rechargeable light source that’s easy to hang around a tree branch or keep in the inside of a tent thanks to its magnetic attachment. It gives off 270 lumins of light—enough to see where you’re going when headed to the bathroom or searching for supplies in a pack after night, and can be easily carried around in a backpack. Nobody wants to fish around for batteries or carry a bulky lantern, while they’re on a camping trip, which makes the Everglow Light Tube a wonderful gift.

Best for lake campers: Oru Kayak Lake+

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If you’re shopping for someone who can’t wait to get to the lake once the weather starts getting warmer, splurge an get them the Lake+. This kayak is durable enough to be taken on calm waters, can be assembled with no tools, and is foldable for easy storage. Many folks who would love to have a kayak don’t have enough space to story them, or can’t carry them easily from their home up to a lake house. The Lake+’s design solves that issue. When it’s fully extedned the kayak measures 66-inches long and 24-inches wide; more than enough space to comfortably fit a single passenger regardless of their size. When folded, the kayak’s box measures 42-inches long and 18-inches wide, which is much more reasonable for storage. We can guarantee the person you gift the Lake+ to won’t see the gift coming, and will make the warmer months that much more exciting.

Best car accessory: Rightline Gear Moki Car Door Step

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File this under “practical gifts campers didn’t know they needed but really do.” This door step can be installed onto any of a car’s door latches, and makes it easy to grab items from bags attached to the top of your car. We were surprised that it could accomidate both of our feet during testing. This will come in handy for when camping or going on ski trips when equipment is typically tucked away in a bag on the roof. This gift will save your friends and family from standing on their tippy toes, or precariously perching themselves on the inside of their car door.

Best water tank: GoSpout 2 Gallon Portable Water Tank

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GoSpout 2 Gallon Portable Water Tank is a camper’s dream gift. Pumping the tank’s handle creates pressure, which can be used to wash cars, dirty hands and feet, dishes, a tent, or any other camping essential. The tank is surprisingly small given its capacity, and its sprayer can be switched between different modes with just a twist of its outer rim. You could even use the GoSpout 2 as a shower in a pinch. This is a tool any seasoned camper will find incredibly useful every time they go out.

Best filtered water bottle: LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle

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We mentioned the importance of clean drinking water earlier, and LifeStraw has campers covered when they run out. The “straw” is attached to a filter that removes microplastics, chlorine, organic chemical matter, sand, dirt, and up to 99.999% of both bacteria and parasites from drinking water, making it safe to consume. Campers should still do their research to check on the water quality of the streams or rivers they’re drinking from. Still, campers who like to stay well hydrated while hiking will really appreciate having one of these in their pack.

Best flashlights: Hoxida Magnetic Rechargeable Flashlight

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Flashlights have been a camping staple for time immemorial, but rechargeable ones are new to the scene. If you know a camper who’s been using the same flashlight for 30 years, do them a favor and make this upgrade for them. Hoxida’s flashlights last up to 20 hours per charge, create 10,000 lumins of light, and have seven modes. The strobe and red light modes are particularly helpful if they’re lost and need assistance. Additionally, these flashlights are IPX6 certified, which means they’re dustproof and can be fully submerged underwater without being damaged. This is an extremely practical gift, but an absolute essential for campers.

Best accessories kit: VSSL Camp Supplies Kit

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What if all the accessories a camper really needed were collected in a compact, easy-to-pack container? VSSL considered that question and came up with the Camp Supplies kit, a perfect stocking stuffer that contains a 9.3-inch tube that holds 70 pieces of gear. Insider you’ll find matches, hooks, band-aids, clothespins, antiseptic wipes, a raze, wire saw, mini sewing kit, gear twists, a four hour beeswax candle, and much more. All of this gear is kept in small, individually labeled sealed containers. Any camper will be able to appreciate having all of these tools on-hand at a moment’s notice without having to root around a bag to find them.

Best in-case-of-emergencies device: Garmin inReach Messenger Satellite Communicator

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Give a camper peace of mind in their pocket with the Garmin InReach Messenger, which lets you two-way text without cell coverage. You can use the 4-ounce personal safety device itself, or you can send messages from your phone using the Garmin messenger app. You can even use it as a Wi-Fi hotspot and battery bank to charge your phone. And, with 28 days of battery life, you can travel confident that home is only a phone call away even if hiking far from cell towers. It’s pricier, but making it back safe is priceless.

Best for the 5-star camp cook: GOSUN Chillest Electric Cooler

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At over $500, GOGSUN’s Chillest Electric Cooler is an extremely generous gift for campers, and the most technically impressive recommendation we’re making. The 45L cooler has a compressor, which allows it to actually refrigerate and freeze foods instead of maintaining their temperature through insulation. Its large capacity and 10-hour battery life make it the ideal cooler for carrying a day’s worth of perishable food (even ice cream!). If you’re shopping for a camper who likes to go off the grid for days at a time, consider pairing this cooler with GoSun’s Power 500, a high-capacity solar generator that will extend its life even further. This is a luxe gift, but the ultimate choice for serious campers.

The post Two-dozen great gifts for camping (and glamping) appeared first on Popular Science.

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BEST OVERALL		Ooni Volt		SEE IT	The Ooni Volt turns the dream of professional-tasting pizza at home into a reality.
MOST THOUGHTFUL		MadeIn Engraved 8-Inch Chef Knife		SEE IT	MadeIn’s engraved chef knife is an incredibly thoughtful gift that’ll be used every day.
BEST FOR BAKERS		Silpat Half Size Nonstick Baking Mat		SEE IT	Silpat’s Baking Mat will make it easier for them to get their latest confections out of the oven.

A good home cook will already have the basic tools they need—so you can use the holiday season to buy them the best kitchen gifts they might not even know they need. It could be a big fancy gadget, but it could also be a small upgrade to a simple, classic one. Either way, they can put these accessories to good use cooking delicious food all year long … and maybe sharing some with you. Win-win!

Best multicooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1

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Look, we know this is an obvious choice for a kitchen gift. Instant Pots are just the new sous-vide machines in terms of go-to gadgets. But here’s the thing: They’re popular for a reason. Want to make slow-cooked stews on a weeknight? Or perfectly cooked hard-boiled eggs every time? Who doesn’t? The basic version is affordable, even for the largest size. If you want to upgrade to the 10-in-1, go for it, but rest assured this one will get all the jobs done.

Best smart oven: GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat

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The GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat solves the biggest issue most home cooks face when trying to get food on the table: Time management. The 11-function smart oven requires no preheating; instead, you place your meal inside, set your time and temperature, and hit start. The GE Profile Smart Oven will begin cooking your food immediately rather than requiring you to wait for it to come to temperature, automatically adjusting its heating elements to ensure you get the proper level of doneness based on your recipe. Multi-function smart ovens have become popular, but this is the first one that doesn’t require preheating on any of its modes, which include air fry, bake, pastry, roast, and broil. If you’re shopping for someone who doesn’t have a lot of counter space (or time), this is an amazing gift.

Best water purifier: AquaTru Connect

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All of us should be drinking at least 2.7 liters of water per day, according to the Mayo Clinic, but that’s difficult if you’re uneasy about what’s coming out of your tap. If you know someone in that situation, AquaTru’s Connect makes for an excellent gift. The appliance uses a three-stage filtration system and reverse osmosis to purify water and remove everything from rocket fuel and radium to pesticides and herbicides. Naturally, it’ll also filter out unwanted tastes and odors. We could easily pick up on those last two factors during our tests but felt good about the other nasty stuff getting filtered out, too. Using the AquaTru connect is equally simple. All you have to do is fill up its tank and press a button. AquaTru’s app lets you know the status of all three filters, so you know when they need to be replaced, along with stats on how much water it’s filtered. Looking for other options? Not a problem.

Best pepper grinder: MÄNNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon

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Giving a pepper grinder as a gift may seem odd, but Mäankitchen’s is the exception that proves the rule. We were impressed not only by its ultra-solid build quality but also by the level of control it gave us over our grind. The company says its grinder is 10 times faster than a typical one, and you should believe the hype. A simple knob on the bottom of the pepper grinder allows you to switch from coarser to finer settings, so you can find the perfect one for your salad and steak and switch between them very quickly. Yes, the Mäankitchen Pepper Cannon is overkill, but that’s exactly why it’s such a great gift.

Best toaster: Tineco Toasty One

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If you know someone who can’t start their day without toast, a bagel, or an English muffin, Tineco’s Toasty One will blow their minds. The smart toaster allows you to select your preferred level of doneness using a visual indicator, which is far more useful than figuring out whether you like setting number two or three on a traditional toaster. There’s no app required to use this toaster, as its main feature is the 4-inch touch screen. We were impressed by the performance of this toaster, especially the ability to select individual settings for the left and right slots. It also helps that the toaster actually looks cool on a countertop, with just the right mix of futurism and minimalism.

Best utensil set: Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel 20 Piece Flatware Set

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A set of Fortessa’s stainless steel utensils is the type of practical kitchen gift that’ll be an upgrade used by the person you gift it to on a daily basis for decades. The 20-piece set features enough flatware for four people and includes a salad fork, table fork, table knife, dessert spoon, and coffee spoon. If properly maintained, these dishwasher-safe utensils will last a lifetime.

Best stand mixer: Wolf Gourmet High-Performance Stand Mixer

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Wolf Gourmet’s Stand Mixer is the most luxe gift in our guide, but it’ll astonish any home baker who receives it. The company paid meticulous attention to small details, like how easy the power knob is to turn, the click that happens when the large-capacity bowl is in the correct position, and how long it takes for the mixer to increase its speed. The mixer comes with a whisk, paddle, and dough hook attachment, which we’ve used to make cakes, cookies, and bread, respectively.

This mixer has extraordinary power under the hood, so much so that we casually made double or triple batches of a recipe without thinking twice. A half-full bowl of cookie dough never impeded the paddle attachment from spinning, nor did it make the mixer shake violently, which happened when we tried the same test with another machine. Wolf Gourmet includes an indispensable accessory in addition to its attachments: A plastic shield that goes over the top of the mixer’s bowl to prevent dry ingredients from flying everywhere when you first incorporate them with wet ingredients. The shield has a slot that allows you to slowly feed ingredients into the mixer as it’s being used.

Wolf Gourmet’s Stand Mixer isn’t your average gift, but it’s one that its recipient will treasure for the rest of their lives. We could easily see this mixer get passed down from generation to generation, along with handwritten family recipes. Looking for something more affordable/traditional? We always love a KitchenAid.

Best sheet pans: Great Jones Little Sheet

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Sheet pans are essential for the home cook who bakes or roasts food often, and this eye-catching pair of quarter-sheet trays from Great Jones will liven up every kitchen. They’re dishwasher-safe and the perfect size for a personal pizza, small sheet of cookies, or cornbread. We’re especially fond of their raised lips, which makes it possible to use them for small sheet cakes. Most home cooks have half-sized sheet pans but may be sleeping on smaller ones. Great Jones also offers a bundle that includes these two trays and a larger one.

Best Dutch oven: Smithey Ironware 7.25 QT Dutch Oven

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Smithey Ironware’s 7.25 QT Dutch Oven is a luxe gift for serious home cooks who routinely cook big batches of food for an entire family. One could easily bake a massive loaf of bread, fry an entire broken-down chicken, or slow-cook an entire pork butt while still having room to spare. The company says you’ll be able to cook acidic foods like sauces in it after the first few cooks without the risk of ruining its coating. If you go to one specific person’s house every year for the holidays and have watched them struggle to get enough food out at one time because their cookware was too small, a Dutch oven could seriously help them out.

Best pizza oven: Ooni Volt

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What’s better than a pizza oven that allows you to make pizzeria-quality pies at home? One that can be used whether it’s sunny, rainy, snowy, or anything in between. The Ooni Volt is the company’s first electric pizza oven, the ultimate gift for aspiring pizzaiolos. The oven can reach temperatures of up to 850 degrees Fahrenheit (most conventional ovens top out at either 500 or 550) and has heating elements above and below the pizza stone to ensure even cooking. Dials on the front of the Ooni Volt make it easy to adjust its temperature, bias heat to the top or bottom heating element, or set a cooking timer. When the Volt is at its maximum temperature, you can cook a twelve-inch Neopolitan pizza in under two minutes. Little design touches, like a clear pane on the front door that allows you to monitor your cook, ensure you’ll always get excellent results.

Best electric kettle: Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Tea Kettle

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Fellow’s electric kettle is a thoughtful gift for anyone who loves tea, coffee, or wants to expedite cooking tasks like rehydrating dried vegetables. This kettle has an immaculate, minimalist design, but its understated look belies its impressive technical features. You can set the kettle to a precise temperature, which is displayed on an LCD screen on the kettle’s base. Additional features include the ability to set a stopwatch to fully extract the flavor of your tea and coffee, which is helpful for those who use expensive leaves and beans, respectively. This countertop appliance has a place in almost any kitchen, and the person you gift it to will wonder how they did without one for so long. Know somebody who wants to take pour-over control to the pinnacle? Invest a bit more in the Fellow Stagg EKG Pro Studio Electric Gooseneck Kettle.

Best ice maker: Oraimo Nugget Ice Maker

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Oraimo’s ice maker is the ideal kitchen gift for the host in your life who’s always worried about managing their freezer space. The countertop appliance can make a little over one pound of nugget ice per hour, and up to 33 pounds per day. You can set the ice maker on a timer to begin and stop working on a schedule, which is helpful if you want plenty of ice the day of a party, but don’t want to wake up early to start the first batch. Ice can be made by pouring water into this ice maker’s tank, or by directly hooking it up to a water line. If you’re shopping for someone who can’t get enough of making homemade frozen margaritas or just wants a convenient way to keep a lot of drinks cold during a get-together, this is a very thoughtful holiday gift.

Best cocktail glasses: Fortessa Malcolm Cocktail Glasses

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This set of six cocktail glasses from Fortessa will elevate the drink game of whoever you gift them to. Each 15-ounce glass has two textures, which make them easier to grip and fun to look at. While designed for cocktails and mocktails, the glasses will (nearly) fit an entire pint of beer or water. We’re especially fond of the fact that Fortessa offers these glasses in three colors, so you can get a set that matches the style of the person you’re gifting them to.

Best microwavable cookware: Anyday Everyday Set

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There’s “microwave-safe” cookware, and then there’s the Everyday Set from Anyday. The frosted glass cookware is dishwasher safe, freezer safe, non-toxic, and comes in multiple sizes, so we’re inclined to jump in with both feet and gift the Everyday set. We’ve been pleased not only by how well this cookware performs—our from-scratch and reheated microwaved foods have never been cooked so consistently—but by how each size is perfect for different applications. The home cook with this set will be able to make everything from a full pot of rice to a small chicken completely in the microwave. The company’s website offers a bevy of new recipes for the microwave skeptic, too, in case you’re shopping for a skeptic.

Best pasta maker: MARCATO Atlas 150

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If you’re shopping for someone interested in making homemade pasta, our only gift recommendation is the MARCATO Atlas 150. Made in Italy from steel and colored aluminum, the machine feels solid in the hand and is designed to last a lifetime. The hand-crank pasta maker comes with a clamp to hold it steady and a pair of blades to cut thick and thin noodles. The Atlas 150 can be used to make pasta sheets between .19 and .020 thick, which means it’s suitable for making any well-known pasta shape, including lasagna sheets. Using the Atlas 150 will require some elbow grease—unless you generously gift them a drive motor, too—but the results will be well worth it. Once they start making homemade pasta, it’ll be hard for them to go back to a box.

Best for small kitchen: Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Pot

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Kuhn Rikon’s 4th Burner Pot was specifically designed to be used on the smallest burner found on a stovetop. If you’re shopping for a home cook who cares about efficiency, this gift will please them immeasurably. The pot comes with a steam basket, which can also be used to boil smaller vegetables or thick pasta (think rigatoni) and easily lift them out of boiling water. Small touches, like the covering on the top and side handles that make both parts grippier are especially nice touches. We guarantee the chef in your life doesn’t have this tool in their arsenal, and they’ll immediately begin figuring out the most efficient ways to use it.

Best skillet: Smithey Deep Farmhouse Skillet

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Endgame is the only way we’ve found to articulate how we feel about Smitey’s Deep Farmhouse Skillet. Once you gift this to someone, it may very well be the only pan they use for sauteing, searing, and pan frying everything from steak and eggs to vegetables and tofu. Hand-forged, this is undoubtedly the most beautiful piece of cookware we’ve ever tested. Every detail, from the slope of the handle to the incline at the edges has been thought through to optimize how it feels in the hand. This skillet’s aesthetics are matched only by its performance. The person you gift this to will be amazed at how quickly it gets hot, how evenly heat is distributed, and how easily food slides on and off of it. This gift will not only last a lifetime when properly maintained, it’ll become a tool that’s passed down through several generations of home cooks.

Best cake plate: Lenox Lx Collective Cake Plate

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Any baker who’s proud of their latest creations would find Lenox’s Lx Collective Cake Plate to be the perfect gift. Regal-looking on its own, the marble and wooden kitchen cake plate stands five inches tall and 12-inches around. A raised lip will keep their bakes from unintentionally sliding off, while also acting like a frame to improve their presentation. This is a luxe gift, but it’s a piece of equipment few people would get for themselves. Be prepared to see Lenox’s cake plate featured prominently every time a new cake, crumble, or other confection hits social media.

Best bakeware set: Falcon Enamelware Bake Set

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Falcon’s five-piece Enamelware Bake Set is a great gift for a baker who wants to up their brownie, mac & cheese, crumble, buckle, or crisp game. It’s comprised of one 1 x 14½-inch bake pan, one 1 x 13⅜ bake pan, one 1 x 12¼ bake pan, and a pair of 2 x 7⅞ inch pie dishes. Each piece is made from dishwasher-safe, freezer-friendly, ceramic-covered steel. This bakeware can be used safely in ovens set up to 530 degrees Fahrenheit but is unsuitable for microwaves. One of our favorite aspects of this set is that each piece fits neatly within the others, making it easy to store and grab. Anyone who wants a fully-equipped but clutter-free kitchen will love this gift. It’s even available in three colors: white with a blue rim, pillarbox red, and pigeon grey, so you can find one that matches their style.

Best storage containers: Rubbermaid Brilliance BPA Free Food Storage Containers

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Rubbermaid’s storage containers are actually a two-in-one style gift that the organized home cook will begin to rely on each and every day. Each piece is made from BPA-free plastic and comes with a snap-on lid that keeps air from getting in or out. These containers can be used to store dry goods—think pastas, grains, and flour—for extended periods of time, but they can also be used for leftovers. Both the lids and containers are dishwasher safe, which makes cleaning them up simple after they’re empty. Efficiency and cleanliness are the signs of a harmonious kitchen, and this gift can help the home cook in your life achieve both.

Best for meal prep: Souper Cubes

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We all know at least one person who likes to think ahead and always have a meal ready in advance. Do them a favor and gift them a set of Souper Cubes. The silicon containers have four 250mL (roughly 1.1 cup) cavities, which can be used to store liquid or solid ingredients to be deployed at a moment’s notice. Your giftee could use two molds for soup and leave the other two for flavorful toppings. Pre-shredded vegetables and cheese separated into their own sections could be defrosted and deployed during an at-home taco night. The Souper Cubes are an excellent gift for the efficient home chef or someone who likes to cook at home more often but runs out of time.

Best non-stick cookware: Calphalon Classic Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware Kitchen Essentials Set

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Non-stick cookware is a wonderful gift for the home cook who doesn’t have the time to clean up pans every night—especially if they don’t have a dishwasher. This six-piece set from Calphalon includes two skillets, a saucepan, and a saute pan. Each piece is made using a technology called AquaShield that Calphalon says will extend their life significantly further than traditional nonstick cookware, and two pieces come with tempered glass lids. These pans can be used in an oven at temperatures of up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and are dishwasher-safe for even easier cleanup. This is the ultimate gift if you’re shopping for someone who loves to cook but doesn’t because of how much time it takes to clean up.

Best for apartments: AirHood Wireless

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Anyone who’s cooked in a poorly ventilated kitchen (aka most apartments) knows the frustration of accidentally setting off the smoke alarm while sauteing or searing food on the stovetop. The Airhood Wireless solves this issue, which makes it a must-give gift this holiday season. The battery-powered countertop appliance works like a traditional range hood but is far more compact and easy to move. When turned on, the AirHood Wireless sucks up the air, filters it through a mesh stainless steel oil filter and charcoal filter, and shoots it out the other side. If the AirHood Wireless is set up next to the pan that’ll be used before the fat reaches its smoke point, you’ll end up with a smoke-free kitchen. Home chefs won’t even know this type of kitchen gadget exists, and it’ll blow their mind after using it once.

Best saucier: Misen 3 QT Stainless Steel Saucier

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Misen’s 3 Quart Saucepan is the type of kitchen tool many home chefs aspire to use, and giving it as a gift could make that a reality. The 5-ply stainless steel saucepan heats up evenly, but its handle is designed to be easy to hold and reduce its heat exposure. Three of this saucier’s layers are made of aluminum, which conducts heat more quickly to reduce the cooking time. This construction also allows the saucepan to withstand heat up to 800 degrees if you need to prepare food in the oven. Whether they want a fresh bowl of rice, homemade popcorn, or reheated soup, this is the tool they’ll continue to reach for.

Best bread maker: Panasonic Automatic Bread Machine

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Aspiring bakers can get tripped up in bread baking because so many things can go wrong, from taking a loaf out too soon to accidentally overworking or under-proofing the dough. Panasonic’s Automatic Bread Maker lives up to its name, allowing you to make everything from brioche to sourdough with a few button presses. It even has a slot where you can pour in mix-ins like seeds, dried garlic, and other spices to ensure they’re incorporated evenly. We’re typically skeptical about single-use kitchen gadgets since counter space is such a premium resource (especially in apartments), but the Automatic Bread Maker more than earns its spot. If they make bread often enough, the person you gift it to may never put it away.

Best for bread baking: Emile Henry Modern Bread Cloche

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If the person you’re shopping for this holiday season isn’t interested in using an appliance to bake bread, we have the solution: Emile Henry’s Modern Bread Cloche. This two-piece ceramic baking dish creates the perfect baking environment for an artisan loaf by tightly surrounding it with radiating heat. Additionally, using this Cloche won’t require a baker to lower their dough into a too-hot-to-touch preheated Dutch oven, however carefully. When the loaf is done, the top piece can be easily removed to unveil the loaf, while the bottom piece of the Cloche features a textured pattern, which prevents the bread from sticking to it. Whether they’re making the dough by hand, stand mixer, or machine, Emile Henry’s Modern Bread Cloche will ensure each loaf they’ve proofed comes out perfectly.

Best air fryer: Cuisinart TOA-95

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Cuisinart’s TOA-95 should be one of the first gifts to consider if you’re shopping for someone with limited counter space. The sleek-looking appliance can bake, broil, roast, reheat, toast, and air fry, with dedicated buttons for preheating, slow cooking, and air frying. The TOA-95’s display makes it easy to see which setting is selected, and the function and time/temp knobs are easy to navigate its interface. Many people associate air fryers with french fries (the TOA-95 excels at making them ultra crispy), but it’s large enough to roast an entire chicken. Overall, Cuisinart’s TOA-95 is a winner, and we highly recommend getting it for any home cook. However, we’ve got you if you just want dedicated air fryers!

Best electric knife: BUBBA Kitchen Series Cordless Electric Knife

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Know somebody who has the honor of carving up the main dish at every holiday party? Bubba’s Cordless Electric Knife will become their new best friend. The knife is extremely efficient at cutting through thick cuts of meat—even through bone—to deliver clean-looking, perfectly portioned slices. Bubba includes three blades for different applications, though we typically stuck with the seven-inch carving blade during our time with it. We must admit we were impressed at how well this knife fit in our hand. The curved hilt gave us a solid grip, and the thumb rest on top allowed us to put constant pressure on what we were cutting while keeping the blade steady. Bubba even cared about the quality of its carrying case, which makes the knife easy to store safely when not in use.

Best knife set: Anolon AlwaysSharp Japanese Steel Knife Block Set with Built-In Sharpener

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A dull knife can lead to injuries, so spare your favorite home chef from nicks and cuts by gifting them this eight-piece knife set with a sharpener built into its block. The set comes with a chef’s knife, slicer, bread knife, santoku knife, serrated utility knife, paring knife, and kitchen shears. These are all the tools they’ll need to carve, slice, chop, butterfly, or otherwise slice and dice protein and vegetables. All the knives fit neatly into a single block with a large sharpener built into it for easy access. All they’ll need to do to keep their knives sharp is to run their blades through the sharpener a few times on a regular basis. A knife sharpener on its own would be a great gift, but having it built into a block with an eight-knife set makes it even better.

Best steak knives: Viking Culinary German Stainless Steel Pakkawood Steak Knife Set

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Our final kitchen knife gift recommendation is this six-piece set of stainless steel steak knives from Viking. Each knife is stored in a separate slot within a wooden box, which screams class each time they’re used. The knives are forged from stainless steel, with a pakkawood handle affixed to them with a pair of rivets. This gift has one real use: effortlessly cutting through steak, which is just fine if you’re shopping for a carnivore.

Best for breakfast lovers: MadeIn Carbon Steel Griddle

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Need a gift for someone who wakes up every morning ready to make bacon and eggs? MadeIn’s Carbon Steel Griddle, which is long enough to fit across two burners, has a large surface area for bacon, eggs, french toast, pancakes, and other breakfast delights. Its carbon steel construction is pre-seasoned and naturally nonstick, and its sides are tilted inward to catch grease and keep your kitchen clean. You can use this griddle on gas, induction, and electric cooktops. While we’re recommending this for folks who love breakfast, it’s just as useful for making smash burgers, sauteed vegetables, and plenty of other savory delights.

Best indoor smoker: Weston 2-in-1 Slow Cooker & Electric Indoor Smoker

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Nothing bums out a pit master quite like winter, when the smoker has to go away until springtime, which is why they’ll love Weston Brands’ slow cooker. The appliance doubles as a smoker, with a small canister for wood chips and settings for hot, cold, or combo smoking. A temperature probe will prevent them from overcooking their meat, which is particularly helpful during long cooks. The countertop-friendly appliance can cook a 6-pound chicken or 4-pound roast, which is more than enough to feed a group, especially when you factor in side dishes. There’s nothing quite like this indoor smoker (most home cooks rely on liquid smoke during colder months), so whoever you gift it to will be very pleasantly surprised.

Best kitchen scale: OXO 11-Pound Food Scale

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Everybody knows a home baker who uses measuring cups instead of weighing ingredients, and you can help them seriously up their game by gifting them a kitchen scale. Their bakes will turn out consistently, and the scale can be used in savory applications to portion meat and vegetables before cooking them. We like OXO’s scale because of its magnetic slide-out screen, which makes it possible to use the scale when weighing food in a large container. These containers would block the display of a lesser scale, which defeats the purpose of using it. OXO is one of our go-to cookware companies, and we can recommend its salad spinner as another great gift idea for picky chefs.

Best cordless appliance: KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Mixer

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Counter space is a kitchen’s most premium real estate, and KitchenAid’s new Go Cordless Hand Mixer offers power and precision without taking up an inch. One of six appliances in the company’s new “Go” line, the 7-speed mixer can be used for everything from whipping up egg whites for a meringue to thoroughly mixing batters for cakes and brownies, to whipping cream. One of this hand mixer’s big features is its removable, rechargeable battery, which lasts up to 60 minutes per charge. This battery is compatible with all the handheld appliances in KitchenAid’s Go line, so you can swap them whenever necessary. This hand mixer is the perfect gift if you know a home cook with tired hands but limited space.

Best microwave: Sharp SMC1169HS

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Sharp’s SMC1169HS should be the first kitchen gift you consider for anyone living in a dorm or moving into their first apartment. It has all the standard features of a microwave, including preset buttons for common foods, but has many you wouldn’t expect. Three auto defrost buttons allow you to thaw meat without worrying about times, temperatures, and power levels, while support for Amazon’s Alexa allows you to operate this appliance totally hands-free. The microwave has even been certified by Orville Redenbacher’s® to make popcorn effectively. Microwaves are a common countertop appliance, but the Sharp SMC1169HS’ extras turn what could be mundane into a cool gift.

Best baking mats: Silpat Half Size Nonstick Baking Mat

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Silpat’s nonstick baking mats are legendary for their durability and the ability to keep even the stickiest substances—looking at you, molten-hot sugar-leaking cinnamon buns—from sticking or leaving a mark. This two-pack of half-sized baking mats is designed to fit perfectly inside a pair of 13- x 18-inch baking sheets. These mats can withstand temperatures up to 480 degrees Fahrenheit and only need to be lightly rinsed with water to clean. A baker tired of tearing off sheets of parchment paper each time they bake, which can be especially tedious during long baking sessions, would be thrilled to receive these Silpat Baking Mats as a gift.

Best for bakers: PantryChic Smart Storage System

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It’s ultralux, but PantryChic’s Smart Storage System is a kitchen tool your giftee will treasure for years to come. The appliance allows you to store your dry ingredients in a BPA-free container and then dispense them in the perfect quantity—down to the gram—thanks to a built-in scale. This helps cut down the time it takes to bake by reducing, if not completely eliminating, the need for measuring cups and spoons. PantryChic’s machine can use over 100 ingredients, from flours and coffee grounds to nuts and seeds. Baking is mostly an exact science—though creativity is encouraged—and PantryChick’s Smart Storage System can help amateurs and experienced bakers alike get the best results every time.

Best juicer: Hurom H310A

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Hurom’s H310A is so good it may well convert your favorite home chef from someone who orders overpriced juice at a specialty shop into someone who makes them at home. The juicer’s self-feeding hopper will continually ingest chunks of fruits and vegetables while its blade mimics the amount of force used for manual juicing. Hurom says the H310A wrings as much juice as possible from fruits and vegetables, and that’s been true in our tests. The H310A consistently made tasty juice from whatever we threw at it, and cleaning it by hand was a quick affair. The best part about this juicer is its small size. This juicer offers the same level of performance as a bulkier one in a far more svelte package. Fresh, organic juice is very expensive if you order it out, so gifting this juicer will actually save the person you’re shopping for money without using a lot of time.

Best water carbonator: Ninja Thirsti Drink System

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If you’re shopping for someone who loves fizzy water—or wants to cut down on the number of energy drinks, alcoholic beverages, and sodas they buy—Ninja’s Thirsti Drink System should be your go-to gift. The appliance can make carbonated water at three intensity levels in 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-ounce batches. Water is fed to the machine from an external tank, which should be kept in the fridge for the best results. The Thirsti also comes with a set of flavor pods, and you can flavor the intensity of your drink in addition to its level of carbonation and size. The results are always consistent, and you can even mix the flavor of two pods together for a more customized taste.

Best ice cream maker: Ninja Creami

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The Ninja Creami is the only gift you should consider for someone who loves ice cream. The set-it-and-forget-it nature of the Creami allows you to make ice cream, gelato, sorbet, milkshakes, Italian ice, and other frozen treats with minimal intervention. After freezing the ice cream base in the included pint container overnight, you stick it into the Creami and hit one button, and the machine takes care of the rest. Blades will churn the ice cream to the correct consistency based on your selected frozen treat. You can pause midway through to fold in mix-ins, but beyond that, all you have to do is wait for the machine to do its job. This deluxe package comes with a pair of XL-sized prints, each holding 24 ounces of ice cream. Additional XL pints can be purchased separately if you want a constant supply of ice cream.

Best premium cookware: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Cookware Set

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Luxe doesn’t even begin to describe Le Creuset’s 10-piece Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Cookware Set, the premium set of cookware we could wholeheartedly recommend. The set comes with an enameled Dutch oven, saucier, skillet, roaster, grill pan, braiser, and four lids. Each piece in this collection is at the top of the class in its respective kitchen tool category, and to have them all bundled together will leave the person you gift this to completely gobsmacked. They can reach for these tools while baking bread and brownies, browning a steak, making a sauce, frying foods, and just about everything in between. We’d go so far as to say these are the only kitchen tools a home cook could ever truly need—though the appliances, accessories, and other tools we’re recommending would be a big help.

Best cutting board: Fifth & Cherry F&C 14

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Fifth & Cherry’s F&C 14 is a statement piece that deserves a place in any home cook’s kitchen. The 14-inch cutting board is thick enough to feel substantial but still easy to move around when necessary. Fifth & Cherry went the extra mile to ensure its cutting boards immediately catch the eye, but their attention to detail is more than skin deep. We chopped, scraped, kneaded, and served food on this board, and it held up very well after repeated use. The cutting board will accumulate cut marks over time, but the nicks shouldn’t go deep enough to impact its performance. If they do, Fifth & Cherry offers a free refinishing service. Calling a cutting board beautiful may seem odd, but the F&C 14 earns that distinction—and many more.

Best colander: Dreamroo Collapsible Multi-purpose Colander

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Every sink and recipe is a little different, but your giftee won’t have to worry about that with Dreamroo’s colander, which can expand and contract between 14.5 and 19.5 inches. This feature allows you to use the same colander to clean a pint or quart of fruit without reaching for a separate tool. This is the colander to reach for if you’re cooking pasta for yourself or a couple of friends. We like this colander because it’s a gift nobody expects but will immediately wonder how they lived without it. It’s even offered in multiple colors (we’re particularly partial to the blue), so you can get one to match their style.

Best knife: MadeIn Engraved 8-Inch Chef Knife

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A chef knife is the most versatile piece of cutlery in a home cook’s arsenal and an investment that, with care, can last decades, with many of them costing upwards of $200-$400. MadeIn offers its professional-grade 8-inch chef knife for just $99, allowing you to personalize its blade for an extra $30. This is a really nice touch that a home cook would appreciate every time they chop, dice, or chiffonade their favorite produce. This French-made knife, which combines the approach of German and Japanese blades, is made from a single piece of stainless steel hardened with nitrogen. It’ll make quick work of tomatoes, potatoes, pineapples, avocado, or anything else thrown at it. If it’s taken care of properly, the chef who gets this knife can use it for the rest of their life.

Best knife set: Cangshan N1

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If you need an incredibly generous gift idea for a home cook who’s just moved out onto their own, our top recommendation is Cangshan’s N1. The six-knife block has everything a chef needs to cut, chop, slice, and filet meat, vegetables, fruit, and anything in between. The star of the show is arguably the wooden block, which is cut at an angle so each knife is easy to grab and use. The blades are forged from a single piece of German steel, so you never have to worry about a handle falling apart. If they’re cared for and sharpened a few times a year, this gift will last a lifetime.

Best dinnerware set: Stone + Lain Porcelain 16 Piece Dinnerware Set

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Another great gift for folks leaving home for the first time is a good-looking set of dinnerware, which should be fancy enough to impress guests but comfortable enough to use daily. Stone + Lain knocked it out of the park with this 16-piece set, a table setting for four people. Plates, bowls, and mugs are all included, so they’ll have everything they need in a single package. We loved how nice Stone + Lain’s dinnerware set looked in person, and the porcelain material felt fancier than we expected. Importantly, every piece in this set is microwave and dishwasher-safe.

Best mandoline: Benriner Mandoline Slicer

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It’s not generally good practice to give people products they could hurt themselves with—but if you’ve got a friend or family member who loves cooking up elaborate meals, this mandoline will be a godsend. It lets you quickly shave thin slices off even the hardiest veggies, making everything from salad prepping to gratin layering much faster and easier. Plus, it has a little gripper so your loved ones don’t accidentally slice their fingertips off.

Best grater: Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Grater

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Yes, you could use a microplane to grate your ginger. But that’s assuming you want to clog up the tiny blades with fibers and spend twice as long doing it. Instead, you could just get this little Japanese device designed to perfectly mash up your ginger root (or garlic or fresh turmeric) without the hassle. It’s simple. It’s easy. It’s ceramic. And it’s got a silicone ring on the bottom to keep it from slipping.

Best spice grinder: FinaMill Pepper Mill & Spice Grinder

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FinaMill’s spice grinder is the type of gift an avid home cook wouldn’t expect but would definitely enjoy. The battery-powered grinder comes with clear pods with blades attached and can be filled with whole spices. Sticking the grinder on top of the grinder will initiate the blades and pulverize the spices to your preferred level of coarseness. The best part is that the spice can stay in these pods to retain their freshness over time. And because each spice is sequestered to its own pod, you’ll never get cross-contamination, which can alter their taste. You can also stick spices into the pods and use the FinaMill as a grinder to season your food with pepper or the spice of your choice.

Best for travelers: Nordic Ware Cakes and Cupcakes Carrier

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We all have that one person in our lives who loves bringing baked goods to parties but frets about them getting there in one piece. Nordic Wae’s Cakes and Cupcakes Carrier is the perfect gift for such a kind soul. The kitchen tool will allow them to transport 12 cupcakes or a 9- x 13-inch cake safely. The cupcake holder even has an individual slot, so delicate pipework isn’t ruined by one cake rubbing up against the other. A hard plastic shield prevents anything from accidentally touching the cakes, and handles make it easier for the carrier to take bakes from a car seat into a home and vice versa. Sometimes, you can’t beat practicality. Nordic Ware also has a baking pan and lid set that serves a similar purpose but won’t require them to transfer their bake from its baking dish into a separate container.

Best sous vide: Breville Joule Turbo

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OK, sure … we did start this whole list saying that Instant Pots are the new sous-vide machines. But that doesn’t mean the real things went away. If anything, they’re just hitting their stride. Breville’s Joule Turbo is the latest model in the company’s successful sous vide line, and it solves the biggest issue with this style of cooking: the time commitment. The Turbo modulates the water bath temperature rather than keeping it at a set temperature to reduce the cooking time of certain dishes dramatically. You still get all the benefits of sous vide cooking, including getting consistently perfect results with little to no fuss, just more quickly. The amount of time you’ll save will vary based on what’s being cooked, but some cook 50% faster. The home chef who “already has everything” will undoubtedly love this kitchen upgrade.

To recap …

• Best multicooker: Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1
• Best smart oven: GE Profile Smart Oven with No Preheat
• Best water purifier: AquaTru Connect
• Best pepper grinder: MANNKITCHEN Pepper Cannon
• Best toaster: Tineco Toasty One
• Best utensil set: Fortessa Bistro 18/10 Stainless Steel 20 Piece Flatware Set
• Best stand mixer: Wolf Gourmet High-Performance Stand Mixer
• Best sheet pans: Great Jones Little Sheet
• Best Dutch oven: Smithey Ironware 7.25 QT Dutch Oven
• Best pizza oven: Ooni Volt
• Best electric kettle: Fellow Corvo EKG Electric Tea Kettle
• Best ice maker: Oraimo Nugget Ice Maker
• Best cocktail glasses: Fortessa Malcolm Cocktail Glasses
• Best microwavable cookware: Anyday Everyday Set
• Best skillet: Smithey Deep Farmhouse Skillet
• Best cake plate: Lenox Lx Collective Cake Plate
• Best bakeware set: Falcon Enamelware Bake Set
• Best storage containers: Rubbermaid Brilliance BPA Free Food Storage Containers
• Best for meal prep: Souper Cubes
• Best pasta maker: MARCATO Atlas 150
• Best for small kitchen: Kuhn Rikon 4th Burner Pot
• Best non-stick cookware: Calphalon Classic Hard-Anodized Nonstick Cookware Kitchen Essentials Set
• Best for apartments: AirHood Wireless
• Best saucier: Misen 3 QT Stainless Steel Saucier
• Best bread maker: Panasonic Bread Machine
• Best for bread baking: Emile Henry Modern Bread Cloche
• Best air fryer: Cuisenart TOA-95
• Best electric knife: BUBBA Kitchen Series Cordless Electric Knife
• Best knife set: Anolon AlwaysSharp Japanese Steel Knife Block Set with Built-In Sharpener
• Best steak knives: Viking Culinary German Stainless Steel Pakkawood Steak Knife Set
• Best for breakfast lovers: MadeIn Carbon Steel Griddle
• Best indoor smoker: Weston 2-in-1 Slow Cooker & Electric Indoor Smoker
• Best kitchen scale: OXO 11-Pound Food Scale
• Best microwave: Sharp SMC1169HS
• Best baking mats: Silpat Half Size Nonstick Baking Mat
• Best for bakers: PantryChic Smart Storage System
• Best cordless appliance: KitchenAid Go Cordless Hand Mixer
• Best juicer: Hurom H310A
• Best water carbonator: Ninja Thirsti Drink System
• Best ice cream maker: Ninja Creami
• Best premium cookware: Le Creuset Signature Enameled Cast-Iron Cookware Set
• Best cutting board: Fifth & Cherry F&C 14
• Best colander: Dreamroo Collapsible Multi-purpose Colander
• Best knife: MadeIn Engraved 8-inch Chef Knife
• Best mandoline: Benriner Mandoline Slicer
• Best grater: Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Grater
• Best spice grinder: FinaMill Pepper Mill & Spice Grinder
• Best for travelers: Nordic Ware Cakes and Cupcakes Carrier
• Best sous vide: Breville Joule Turbo

The post The best kitchen upgrades for the everyday cook in 2024 appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best cordless drill		DEWALT 20V Cordless Drill		SEE IT	This powerful drill can reach speeds of up 1,500 rpm and features an LED light for added visibility.
Best pressure washer		Greenworks Electric Pressure Washer		SEE IT	This tool can not only wash the outside of your house, but is great for washing your car, driveway, and patio.
Best stackable toolboxes		beyond by BLACK+DECKER Stackable Storage System		SEE IT	This ingenious storage system helps DIYers organize their tools, protect them from theft, and easily transport them.

DIY is more popular than ever, with 73 percent of millennials identifying as do-it-yourselfers, according to the market research firm The Farnsworth Group. Whether your favorite DIYer is into home renovation, woodworking, or tinkering with their car, you can show your appreciation for their handiwork by rounding out their tool set with some new models. Or give them the gift of bins and boxes to help them organize all those tools (and the storage shed). These are the best gifts for DIYers our writers have used this year.

• Best cordless drill: DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill
• Best cordless drill-driver set: CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit
• Best power drill: CRAFTSMAN CMCD710C2 Power Drill
• Best mechanics tool set: DEWALT Mechanics Tool Set
• Best power tool kit: BOSCH Power Tools Combo Kit
• Best multi-tool: Ryobi 18V Multi Tool
• Best screwdriver set: Klein Tools 80031 Screwdriver Set
• Best impact driver: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hex Hydraulic Driver Kit
• Best angle grinder: DEWALT 4-1/2” Angle Grinder
• Best jigsaw: CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Jig Saw
• Best chainsaw: ​​Worx Nitro 40V Chainsaw
• Best circular saw: DEWALT DCS573B Flexvolt Advantage 20V Circular Saw
• Best random orbital sander: beyond by BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander
• Best heat gun: DEWALT Heat Gun Kit
• Best smart tape measure: LEXIVON 2 in 1 Digital Laser Tape Measure
• Best laser level: DEWALT Line Laser
• Best work table: WORX WX051 Pegasus Folding Work Table & Sawhorse
• Best work light: CRAFTSMAN LED Portable Work Light Bundle
• Best work gloves: Ironclad Workhorse Leather Work Gloves
• Best toolbox: DEWALT Tough System
• Best stackable toolboxes: beyond by BLACK+DECKER Stackable Storage System
• Best cordless vac: DEWALT 20V MAX Hand Vacuum
• Best shop vac: Bissell MultiClean Wet Dry Vac
• Best leaf blower: DEWALT Cordless XR Leaf Blower
• Best log splitter: Fiskars IsoCore 36-Inch Maul
• Best pressure washer: GreenWorks Pressure Washer

Best cordless drill: DEWALT 20V Max Cordless Drill

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This cordless drill is rugged and powerful enough to be worthy of a pro job site while remaining affordable enough for a gift for a DIYer. Powered by a 20-volt battery, DEWALT’s cordless drill can reach speeds of up to 1,500 rpm, making it fast enough to handle jobs that require a lot of fasteners. A slower speed option with a max of 450 rpm adds versatility and maximizes the drill’s torque output. 

At 8-1/2 inches long and weighing 3.6 pounds, this is one of the bulkier drills on the market, but DEWALT makes up for that with an ergonomic handle that makes it comfortable to hold for longer jobs. DEWALT’s drill has other useful features, including a ratcheting chuck that makes it easy to secure bits by hand and an LED light with a 20-second delay for added visibility. — Tony Carrick

Best cordless drill-driver set: CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit

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If you want to fill out a DIYers entire power tool library in one fell swoop, you should start with CRAFTSMAN’s V20 Cordless Drill Combo Kit. This drill set comes with all the essentials, plus a carrying case and impact driver. The star of the show is its powerful 20-volt drill, which can rotate at speeds of up to 3,400 rotations per minute. An impact driver may look like a drill, but it wraps around a screw or lag bolt to rotate them and is best suited for heavy-duty tasks. This isn’t the type of tool DIYers are likely to have in their garage already, and while you may be unfamiliar with it, its applications will become apparent as projects arise. Both of CRAFTSMAN’s tools have an LED light, which will help in dark areas—think attics or nooks and crannies in a basement or garage. — Brandt Ranj

Best power drill: Craftsman CMCD710C2 Power Drill

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We could tell the quality of Craftsman’s CMCD710C2 from the moment we took it out of its packaging, and our expectations were exceeded the first time we used it for a project. It drove screws through plaster and a wooden beam during a TV wall-mounting project like a hot knife running through butter. 

This was the most powerful power drill we tested, but it was also the heaviest. Despite its increased power, it made roughly the same amount of noise as other drills we tested—if not a little less. There’s no technical downside to using this power drill beyond its weight, but you should also consider its price. The CMCD710C2 is expensive, though it does come with a battery and charger. If you want to gift the DIYer in your life the absolute best performance from a power drill and to be safe in knowing they’ll never need to upgrade again, this is the one to get. — Brandt Ranj

Best mechanics tool set: DEWALT Mechanics Tool Set

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If you never want to buy a socket set ever again, then this is a good place to start. The sturdy carrying case includes three 72-tooth ratchets, more than 150 sockets, and a full run of hex keys. Made of steel and hand-stamped for easy identification, this set is designed to endure. It’s great for people who enjoy tinkering around with their vehicles. — Stan Horaczek and Jen McCaffery

Best power tool kit: BOSCH Power Tools Combo Kit

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If someone in your life is just getting started with DIY projects, a basic tool combo set like this one from Bosch is a great place to get started. The 12-volt set features a compact yet powerful 3/8-inch drill/driver that operates at a range of speeds up to 1,300 rpm, a lightweight reciprocating saw, a bright worklight that lasts for three hours on a single charge, two batteries, and a charger. And they all fit back nicely into the included bag. — Jen McCaffery

Best multi-tool: Ryobi 18V Multi Tool

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While it’s easy to get excited about a garage full of tools, sometimes it’s helpful to have some options that are capable of performing more than one function well. Ryobi’s 18-volt Multi-Tool is a great tool for DIYers working with various materials. Capable of up to 20,000 OPM (oscillations per minute), this tool comes with plunge cut and flush cut blades and can be used to cut metal, wood, plastic, and drywall. At 1.5 pounds, it’s relatively lightweight, and it vibrates less than comparable models. The Multi-Tool also comes with a sanding pad to help your DIYer put the finishing touches on their projects. — Jen McCaffery

Best screwdriver set: Klein Tools 80031 Screwdriver Set

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Tools don’t get much more basic than the humble screwdriver. This five-piece set from Klein Tools, which has been making tools since 1857, includes the most commonly used types: two Phillips head, two slotted, and one square-tipped screwdriver. The shanks are chrome-plated, and the tips are cut for precision. And the handles are cushioned for an easier grip. — Jen McCaffery

Best impact driver: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Hex Hydraulic Driver Kit

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Technology sets the Milwaukee M18 Fuel impact driver apart from the rest. Its hydraulic drive sustains torque better than other impact drivers, allowing it to drive faster and with more power. With so much torque, impact drivers always risk stripping out a screw head. The Milwaukee M18 solves this problem by featuring a self-tapping screw mode that helps to start the screw without stripping it out. With its four drive modes, the user can tailor the speed of this driver to suit any job. We also like the small profile of this driver. At less than 5 inches long, this driver is compact enough to fit into tight spaces, and it’s one of the quieter models on the market. Its hydraulic drive technology eliminates the metal-on-metal contact that makes other impact drivers scream like a jackhammer. — Tony Carrick

Best angle grinder: DEWALT 4-1/2” Angle Grinder

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DEWALT’s 4-½-inch angle grinder is a tough, high-quality tool aimed at those who need consistent, trouble-free performance. The 11-amp motor is the most powerful in its class, with a speed of 11,000 rpm. With the correct wheel fitted, this angle grinder will cut concrete or steel with equal ease. Although fairly slender, the tool is 12 inches long and relatively heavy, so it isn’t as maneuverable as some. It’s more a professional tool than one for the average DIY user, but keen home auto restorers and anyone taking on major remodeling could well find it worth the investment.  — Bob Beacham

Best jigsaw: CRAFTSMAN V20 Cordless Jig Saw

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A jigsaw allows users to cut curved lines, circles, and other shapes into a range of materials, including wood, metal, plastic, laminate, and more. This 20-volt model from Craftsman operates at speeds from zero to 2,500 spm (strokes per minute). It comes with three orbital settings that let the user control the aggressiveness of the cut and works with both T and U shank blades. Its beveled shoe also allows the user to cut at 45-degree angles. Plus, it features a contoured handle for a more comfortable grip. — Jen McCaffery

Best chainsaw: ​​Worx Nitro 40V Chainsaw

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Worx offers a number of very versatile tools in its Nitro series, and the chainsaw is no exception. The 16-inch bar is ideal for most typical users who don’t need to go chopping through Middle Earth-style forests. A pair of sturdy grips give both hands a comfortable place to rest and lots of control over the tool. During our testing, we chopped through tons of 3- to 4-inch sticks and some larger, full-grown trees.

With two powerful batteries installed, it quickly gets up to speed, and we barely had any issues with kicking or getting stuck. Installing and adjusting the chain is simple, and it self-lubricates as users run it, so it doesn’t require much in the way of maintenance. We spent several hours cutting away with this tool and ran into almost no issues, which is exactly what we’re looking for.  — Stan Horaczek

Best circular saw: DEWALT DCS573B Flexvolt Advantage 20V Circular Saw

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The DEWALT circular saw offers numerous user-friendly features that suit both professionals and amateurs who are prepared to invest in quality. This powerful 20V cordless model runs at 5,500 rpm, providing faster cutting than many rivals. The brushless motor maximizes battery life. Thanks to the Flexvolt Advantage system, this saw can also use DEWALT’s high-capacity 60V batteries, which the manufacturer claims can result in a 77-percent power increase. An LED light makes it easier to see cut lines and improves accuracy in low-light conditions. An electric brake stops the blade quickly, so it’s safe to put the saw down after a cut. A rafter hook, favored by framers and other carpentry trades, is also included. — Bob Beacham

Best random orbital sander: beyond by BLACK+DECKER Random Orbit Sander

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For those people who want to strip old furniture before repainting, sand lumber, or perhaps ease a sticking door, the Black+Decker could be the ideal tool. This random orbital sander may not be especially powerful, but it will get the job done. The fixed speed doesn’t give it great versatility, but it is fast enough for ripping through old paint or varnish and good for sanding store-bought softwoods. Weight is under 3 pounds, and rubberized areas make it easy to use at different angles. It comes with three sanding disks of different grits, which won’t last very long but will get the new user started, and acclimate them to how each type cuts if this is their first sander. — Bob Beacham

Best heat gun: DEWALT Heat Gun Kit

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A heat gun is a versatile tool that can help with a range of DIY and pro tasks, from thawing frozen pipes and removing tiles to repairing electrical equipment. This compact model from DEWALT comes with an LCD display that allows users to adjust the temperature within 50-degree increments. It also features built-in overload protection, and hang ring for storage, a cord protector, and a kickstand for stability. The heat gun comes with a range of attachments to fine-tune work, including a cone nozzle and fishtail surface nozzle. At 2.3 pounds, this tool is lightweight, and the handle is ergonomically designed for more comfortable use. Note that the battery and charger have to be ordered separately. — Jen McCaffery

Best smart tape measure: LEXIVON 2 in 1 Digital Laser Tape Measure

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Smart DIYers subscribe to the maxim, “Measure twice, cut once.” Lexivon’s 2-in-1 Digital Laser Tape Measure allows them to do just that. This device combines a traditional 16-foot tape measure with a laser that measures out to 130 feet. It features an LCD screen that displays measurements and is accurate up to 1/16th of an inch. Powered by two AA batteries, this tool also allows users to make stud center markings and comes with a rubberized case and belt clip. — Jen McCaffery

Best laser level: DEWALT Line Laser

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DEWALT is known for constructing well-designed, durable tools; this laser level is no exception. Like many other options, it offers both horizontal and vertical leveling. What sets this model apart is the durable construction that ensures you won’t be buying another one should it happen to take a tumble or spend time out in the rain. That’s because DEWALT protects this level with an over-molded housing that can endure drops from heights of up to a meter. It also has an IP54 rating, which means it will withstand being splashed with water. 

In addition to being ruggedly built, this laser level is also easy to use, thanks to its self-leveling capability and a versatile mounting system that’s compatible with a tripod. Its 100-foot range is ample distance for most indoor and outdoor applications. — Bob Beacham

Best work table: WORX WX051 Pegasus Folding Work Table & Sawhorse

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With all these tools, a DIYer also needs a reliable workspace. This folding work table from WORX that converts into a sawhorse fits the bill. Made of durable ABS plastic with steel reinforcements, it supports up to 300 pounds as a work table and up to 1,000 pounds at a workhorse. Yet at just 25 pounds, this work table is relatively lightweight and easy to store. It features two integrated clamps and a lower shelf that’s great for storing power tools. If your DIYer needs more workspace, these tables can also attach together to expand the work surface. — Jen McCaffery

Best work light: Craftsman LED Portable Work Light Bundle

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DIYers also need dependable lights that can illuminate dark corners when fixing things around the house or under the hood. This Craftsman work light features an LED light that provides up to 2,000 lumens of light. At just three pounds, this cheery red light is easily transportable, and it has a 5-foot power cord. The head rotates 360 degrees, so DIYers can point it in whatever direction they need light. It’s also rated IP65, so it’s safe to use in wet locations. And when the project is completed, this lamp is also great for camping, fishing, and hiking.

Best work gloves: Ironclad General Utility Work Gloves

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Reliable safety protection is essential for DIY projects. These classic work gloves from Ironclad are made of synthetic lever and feature thermoplastic protection on the fingers to protect the knuckles from impact and abrasion. The gloves have a hook-and-loop closure for a secure fit and even include a terrycloth sweat wipe at the back of the thumb. When the job is completed, these gloves are also machine-washable. 

Best toolbox: DEWALT Tough System

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The DEWALT Tool Box is a medium-sized hand-carry case that’s a great choice for home use or on a busy job site. This toolbox comes with a deep storage compartment that is large enough to fit a drill, saw, or a cordless tool battery and a charger. Sitting on top of this compartment is a removable tray where users can store hand tools, like screwdrivers, wrenches, or a hammer. 

This box is made with durable structural foam that protects against impact damage, cuts, slices, dust, and water. Made with metal locking brackets and awarded an IP65 water- and dust-resistance rating, this is an excellent option for DIYers and pros alike. — Tim Dale

Best stackable toolboxes: beyond by BLACK+DECKER Stackable Storage System

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Tools can get heavy and disorganized, especially when a DIYer needs everything from a cordless drill, hammer, tape measure, and nails to complete a job. BLACK+DECKER provides an ingenious solution with its stackable storage system. The three-piece set features a rolling tote with rubber wheels designed for power tools, a deep toolbox for hand tools, and a small organizer toolbox divided into compartments. The stackable set is designed with lockable latches, and DIYers can roll the whole set together to a job or easily remove one of the toolboxes. This unit can also double as storage, so DIYers can also set the boxes against the wall in the garage and use them there. — Jen McCaffery

Best cordless vac: DEWALT 20V MAX Hand Vacuum

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When it comes time to clean up, an easy-to-use vac is indispensable. This hand vacuum from DEWALT is designed with 20 volts of power, making it capable of removing debris and removing water. This versatile wet-dry vac comes with a half-gallon tank, a utility nozzle for targeting messes, and an extendable rubber hose. Powered by a DEWALT battery pack, this cordless vacuum is easy to transport and lightweight at 4.5 pounds. It also features a washable HEPA filter that traps more than 99 percent of dust.

Best shop vac: Bissell MultiClean Wet Dry Vac

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There’s the fun of working on a DIY project … and then there’s the cleanup. If they’d appreciate a wet-dry shop vacuum that handles anything, the Bissell MultiClean vac covers all the bases. This versatile cleaning tool comes with a variety of features and functions, including a blowing function for clearing leaves or blowing up inflatables, a wet suction tool, and a toolkit of different brushes for vacuuming various surfaces and crevices. The tank is on wheels for easy movement while vacuuming, and its balanced body keeps it from tipping over when it’s pulled. This machine is sleek and easy to use for both small at-home messes and bigger shop cleanups. — Amanda Reed

Best leaf blower: DEWALT Cordless XR Leaf Blower

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DEWALT’s cordless leaf blower offers an excellent combination of both power—courtesy of its 20V motor—and cost. This battery-powered model can push out air at up to 125 miles per hour, covering an area of 450 cubic feet per minute. A flat concentrator nozzle helps blow away heavier debris. At 5.4 pounds, this leaf blower is lightweight, and it’s designed with an ergonomic handle and also quieter than most at about 68 decibels. It is worth noting, however, that the battery generally only lasts from 15 to 20 minutes per charge — David King and Jen McCaffery

Best log splitter: Fiskars IsoCore 36-Inch Maul

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This manual log splitter is built to last with a forged, heat-treated steel head with a rust-resistant coating. Plus, the sculpted, soft-grip handle fits the contour of your hand and promises to transfer two times less shock and vibration than wood handles. The wedge-shaped maul head is specifically designed for, and highly efficient at, splitting—significantly better than the thin, relatively lightweight head of an axe. At only 7.43 pounds and requiring almost no storage space, this tool punches well above its weight. — Mark Wolfe

Best pressure washer: GreenWorks Pressure Washer

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Does your resident DIYer start to turn green when they notice the outside of the house needs a good wash? They’ll appreciate the range of the Greenworks Electric Pressure Washer. The pressure hose can extend up to 20 feet, and the 35-foot power cord is safe to use with exterior outlets. It also comes with two nozzle tips, a soap applicator, and an attachable detergent bottle for added convenience at clean-up time. This GreenWorks pressure washer blasts at an impressive 1,600 PSI to dislodge dirt and get your house looking primo once again. This pressure washer is also great for cleaning your car, fence, patio, and more. — Jeremy Helligar and Jen McCaffery

The post The best gifts for DIYers appeared first on Popular Science.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best bike computer		Garmin Edge 1040 Solar		SEE IT	This computer provides nutrition and hydration alerts, ride-specific maps, turn-by-turn directions,  group ride features, and more.
Best headphones		Shokz OpenRun Pro		SEE IT	These comfortable, lightweight headphones allow cyclists to stay aware of their surroundings while listening to their favorite tunes.
Best multi-tool		Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool		SEE IT	Lightweight and encased in durable aluminum, this gadget features 19 tools that should help cyclists fix all kinds of bike emergencies.

Whether the cyclist in your life commutes to work on a bike or trains for triathlons, having the right gear is important. But it can get expensive. In the United States, households collectively spent about $8 billion a month on bicycles and accessories, according to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics. In the interest of cutting down on waste and gear that never gets pulled out of the closet, we’ve rounded up the best devices and accessories available to help cyclists ride safely, track performance and health metrics, and still have fun. Here’s some of what your favorite cyclist might be hoping they get to unwrap before their next century.

• Best bike computer: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar
• Best power meter pedal: Garmin Rally RS100 or Rally RS200
• Best heart rate monitor: Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor
• Best indoor trainer: Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainer V6
• Best indoor bike with classes: Peloton Bike Plus Indoor Stationary Bike
• Best electric bike: Ride1Up Rift
• Best phone mount: Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount + Mobile Universal Adapter
• Best bike bag: Rapha Bar Bag
• Best multi-tool: Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool
• Best headphones: Shokz OpenRun Pro
• Best tail light: Garmin Varia RTL515
• Best bike light: Garmin Varia UT 800 Smart Headlight
• Best bike lock: Kryptonite Combo Bike U-Lock 
• Best bib shorts: Pearl Izumi Pro Bib Short
• Best water bottle: Camelbak Podium Chill

Best bike computer: Garmin Edge 1040 Solar

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Even if the cyclist in your life isn’t focused on collecting data from their rides, a bike computer is still an important and worthwhile tool. The Edge 1040 provides nutrition and hydration alerts, a range of ride type-specific maps, turn-by-turn directions, incident detection, bike alarm functionality, and group ride features. It will help keep your rider safe, fueled up, and on course. The Garmin Edge 1040 also accurately tracks distance, provides training tools and recommendations, syncs training plans, and measures cycling dynamics. The large display is easy to see at a glance, and the solar display adds to the already impressive battery life that can last up to 45 hours in demanding use cases. If you like the idea of picking up a bike computer but want a more budget-friendly option, the Edge 530 is also a fantastic device.

Best power meter pedal: Garmin Rally RS100 or Rally RS200

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Power meters are a must if the cyclist in your life is data-obsessed or serious about their performance. These devices measure the force on the bike pedals using strain gauges and convert that to power, measured in watts. The Garmin Rally series provides extremely accurate data, and lots of it. It can provide insight into power, cadence, left and right balance, pedal smoothness, and time spent standing or sitting. The Rally is very easy to swap between pedal bodies using a conversion kit, making it the best choice for those who may have a bike for mountain biking and one for road rides. It pairs seamlessly with Garmin’s bike computers as well.

You can purchase a single pedal (RS100) to save some money or a dual-sensing version (RS200) for even more precise data. Also, Garmin makes different versions of the Rally that are compatible with different types of cleats. The RK line works with Look Keo cleats, the RS line is for Shimano SPD-SL cleats, and the XC line is made for Shimano SPD cleats. Functionally, they are all the same, but the cleat compatibility differs.

Best heart rate monitor: Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

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The Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor works with many different sports watches and fitness apps, including Garmin, Apple, Strava, and Nike. It can support iOS mobile devices with iOS 13 or later, BS Android mobile devices with Bluetooth 4.0 capability, and Android 7 or later. That versatility makes this chest strap one of the best heart rate monitors for cycling. But it excels as one of the best monitors for Peloton and cycling in general, as its accurate reader and comfortable fit don’t falter at high speeds thanks to silicone dots that help it stay firmly in place. — Andrew Waite

Best indoor trainer: Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainer V6

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For most of us, there are, unfortunately, days when getting outside on the bike isn’t feasible. Whether it’s because of a gnarly ice storm or nonstop rain, riding inside can unlock new training opportunities. The Wahoo KICKR Smart Trainer V6 is among the best trainers, thanks to its accurate speed, distance, cadence, and power data. It’s easy to set up and provides a smooth, realistic, yet silent ride, so your cyclist can easily watch a movie during their ride without turning the volume way up. The built-in WiFi also makes this direct drive trainer stand out from the competition, as it allows for faster data transfer and easier firmware updates.

Best indoor bike with classes: Peloton Bike Plus Indoor Stationary Bike

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If the cyclist in your life is motivated by live instruction and competition, the Peloton Bike provides an unrivaled experience. Purchase of the bike and a $44 monthly membership provides access to thousands of classes, including live sessions, bike boot camps, boxing, and yoga. The 21.5-inch HD touchscreen lets you feel like you’re right in the studio, and the two stereo speakers help complete the immersive experience. With a 4-foot by 2-foot footprint, this bike can fit in a range of spaces. Peloton also tracks your heart rate, output, and cadence in real-time and you can measure your progress against other members.

Best electric bike: Ride1Up Rift

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Think your favorite cyclist would appreciate a new electric bike? Consider the Ride1UP Rift for those leisurely days when they want to stretch their legs, but their calves and quads need a little rest and recovery. Almost ready to go out of the box, it provides a stupendously smooth ride whether they’re upgrading from a different electric bicycle or have always ridden an analog bike. It strikes the right balance between easy assembly, ease of use, comfort, and overall design. Learn more about our picks for the best electric bikes. — Brandt Ranj

Best phone mount: Peak Design Out Front Bike Mount

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The Out Front Bike Mount easily installs onto bike handlebars, putting the phone front and center at an optimal viewing angle. Your cyclist will be able to quickly see their maps or keep an eye on the time. The mount also flips up so that they can film their ride. They will need either the Mobile Universal Mount Adapter or a Peak Design phone case, as the bike mount utilizes the company’s magnetic locking system, called SlimLink. This magnetic system is ultra secure, so they won’t need to worry about their phone falling off when they hit some bumps on the road. And it makes their phone compatible with all sorts of other Peak Design accessories like the phone tripod, wallet, and more.

Best bike bag: Rapha Bar Bag

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Having a space to stow essentials like your phone, keys, and maybe a snack is important on a commute or long ride. Rapha’s sleek bike bag is made of waterproof polyester, so essentials will stay dry during an unexpected downpour. It provides a roomy 2 liters of space and comes with two durable straps cyclists can attach either to their handlebars or the frame. The buckles are quick-release, and once the rider arrives at their destination, this versatile bag easily converts into an over-the-shoulder bag.

Best multi-tool: Crankbrothers M19 Multi-Tool

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A bike multi-tool is a must for every cyclist, both on rides and in a home tool kit. This Crankbrothers tool includes a range of hex wrenches, spoke wrenches, multiple screwdriver types, a t-25 drive, and a universal chain tool. All in all, there are 19 different tools in this one device. Whether you’re fixing your bike or adjusting your cleats, this multi-tool likely has the right option. Everything is encased in lightweight aluminum and only weighs 6.2 ounces. And the 3.5-inch length means that it will easily fit in a small saddle pack for rides.

Best headphones: Shokz OpenRun Pro

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Bone conduction headphones are great for cyclists because they allow you to hear your music and podcasts while still staying alert to the world around you. The Shokz OpenRun Pro headphones offer a secure, lightweight fit under your helmet that’s comfortable even for long rides. They produce clear, high-quality sound with plenty of volume, even when you’re near traffic. They also feature a mic so that you can call your cyclist when they are out. And the 10 hours of battery life will keep them from needing to charge their headphones constantly.

Best tail light: Garmin Varia RTL515

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A quality tail light is a crucial safety item for road cyclists, whether riding day or night. It alerts drivers to your presence long before they would otherwise see your bike. The Garmin Vari RTL515 is a bit of a splurge, but it is the best out there, thanks to the built-in radar. This light pairs with your phone, Garmin Edge bike computer, or other Garmin wearables and alerts you with both visual and audio queues that cars are approaching from up to 153 yards away. It’s super bright, providing daylight visibility up to one mile away. There are multiple modes, including a low-intensity light for group rides. And it offers up to 16 hours of battery life in day flash mode to last for your longest rides.

If you want the utmost safety for your rider, you can bundle the front light below with the Varia RTL515. Or, if the Garmin is too much of a splurge, the Bontrager Flare RT is also a great rear light with a budget-friendly price, albeit without the radar.

Best bike light: Garmin Varia UT 800 Smart Headlight

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When the days are shorter, your favorite cyclist is likely getting some miles in when it’s dark. A reliable bike light is essential for safety. Garmin’s Varia UT 800 Smart Headlight is visible up to a mile away. It provides 800 lumens of light for up to 1.5 hours—about the same amount as a traditional 60-watt incandescent bulb. Cyclists can switch between five light modes: high, medium, low, night flash, and day flash. This bike light can also sync with compatible Garmin Edge computers, which can detect the ambient light to control brightness. And it’s available in versions that attach either to the handlebars or to a helmet.

Best bike lock: Kryptonite Combo Bike U-Lock 

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As much fun as biking can be, theft is unfortunately common. More than 200,000 bikes are stolen in the United States each year, according to the FBI. That’s why a reliable bike lock is important. Kryptonite’s Combo Bike U-Lock is designed with a 12mm steel shackle that protects against wire cutters. The U shape makes it easy to attach the lock to a variety of locations, from bike racks to fences. It features a combination lock that you register with the company website, so you don’t have to worry about lost keys. And weighing in at just a pound, it’s lighter and more affordable than many of the other bike locks on the market.

Best bib shorts: Pearl Izumi Pro Bib Shorts

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A quality pair of bibs can make a surprising difference in the comfort of your bike ride. After trying numerous brands, Pearl Izumi’s bibs, including the Pro version, have firmly landed the spot as my favorite thanks to the material the company uses. It is incredibly soft, smooth, and stretchy, unlike anything from other brands. It breathes well and easily wicks away sweat, keeping me comfortable even on the hottest, most humid days. The seamless design means that there’s less chance of chafing even on long rides. And the chamois offers just enough padding in all the right places without being overly thick. They come in both men’s and women’s and are available in a handful of colors and designs.

Best water bottle: Camelbak Podium Chill

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Most of us can’t have too many water bottles. They have a tendency to get scuffed and dented, start leaking, get lost, or stay filled up for far too long and start molding, needing replacement. However, weight has to be considered when it comes to a ride. The Camelbak Podium Chill is an insulated bottle that keeps drinks cool even on hot rides. It is designed to fit securely in most bottle cages and is easy to squeeze to get water out efficiently. The cap is self-sealing, so it won’t leak when it inevitably gets thrown in the backseat of the car. And it’s available in a range of colors, so you can pick something up that matches the color scheme of your cyclist’s bike.

The post The best gifts for cyclists from Garmin, Wahoo, Peloton, and more appeared first on Popular Science.

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